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    Home » Recipes » Smoker Recipes

    Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken

    Published: Jun 14, 2022 · Modified: Apr 22, 2025 by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Do you want smoked whole chicken that is juicy and flavorful chicken all Summer long? You have to try this recipe for chicken. Don’t even bother trying all those recipes that say Rotisserie style chicken in the slow cooker or oven because you know what? A slow cooker isn't a rotisserie!

    Finished whole smoked chicken on a wooden cutting board next to lemons and rosemary.

    If you liked smoked foods try Smoked Almonds, Smoked Corn on the Cob, How to Smoke Cheese, or Easy Smoked Salmon Recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Like This Recipe
    • Ingredients Needed for Whole Smoked Chicken
    • Substitution Tips
    • How to Make Whole Smoked Chicken
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Pro Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Smoked Whole Chicken

    Why You Will Like This Recipe

    As someone who’s spent years testing and tweaking smoked chicken recipes on everything from offset smokers to pellet grills, I can confidently say this Smoked Whole Chicken is a foolproof winner—whether you're a backyard BBQ beginner or a seasoned pitmaster.

    Smoking a whole chicken low and slow ensures the meat stays tender and moist, while the gentle heat allows the smoke to penetrate deeply.

    This recipe is very beginner friendly like these easy Smoking BBQ Ribs for Beginners (3-2-1 Method) I’ve simplified the process so even first-time smokers can get impressive, delicious results—no overnight prep or complicated techniques needed.

    Ingredients Needed for Whole Smoked Chicken

    • Whole Chicken - for this recipe I like to use my Basic Chicken Brine Recipe because it is simple and only requires 3 ingredients.
    • Seasoning of Choice - Trader Joe's has some pretty good seasonings like their 21 Seasoning Salute or All Purpose Seasoning. Lemon Pepper would also be good even Lawry's Seasoning Salt. 
    • Oak Pellets for Smoking

    Substitution Tips

    • Oil: Use spray oil to reduce WW points or ghee for a richer flavor.
    • Seasonings: Try Cajun rub, lemon pepper, or a sugar-free BBQ rub.
    • Brine option: For extra juiciness, you can brine the chicken overnight in saltwater and spices.
    • No smoker? Roast in the oven with a touch of liquid smoke added to the seasoning mix. You can also cook a whole chicken in an air fryer. The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    How to Make Whole Smoked Chicken

    Step 1: Make my recipe for a basic chicken brine and follow the instructions for how to make it. Let the chicken brine overnight or for 8 to 10 hours.

    Note: This step is optional. You do not need to brine a whole chicken before smoking it on the grill.

    Step 1: Once the chicken is ready to smoke or grill rinse the chicken off and pat it dry with some paper towels or whatever you hand on hand. Season the entire chicken with your favorite seasoning of choice.

    Seasoned whole smoked chicken with  a dry rub seasoning.

    If your smoker requires preheating, preheat it.

    Step 2: Set your smoker to 230 to 250 degrees and smoke your whole chicken for 3 to 4 hours. The temperature inside your chicken should read 165 when done. Let the chicken rest for 30 minutes before cutting into it or when it is ready to serve.

    Finished seasoned whole smoked chicken on a smoker.

    Serving Suggestions

    • Serve with smoked veggies, potatoes, or Easy Traeger Smoked Corn on the Cob
    • Make sandwiches, wraps, or tacos with leftovers
    • Shred the chicken for Chicken Dorito Casserole, Weight Watchers Chicken Salad with Grapes, Weight Watchers Buffalo Chicken Pizza, or even put it in soups
    • Use carcass for homemade smoky bone broth

    Craving more smoked goodness? Try Spicy Smoked Chicken Thighs - Ninja Foodi Grill, Traeger Smoked Asparagus, or Smoked Queso (Tiktok Inspired)

    Pro Tips

    Keep your smoker clean. Any pellets inside the smoker will keep on smoking and might start fires if you don’t put them out. I learned that the hard way.

    Use a drip tray for easy clean up.

    Make sure your pellet basket is full to the top with pellets. I went outside one night to check them and the basket was running pretty low, and the temperature had dropped to 53 degrees.

    Recipe FAQs

    Do you have to brine chicken before smoking?

    Brining the chicken before smoking isn't necessary but I like to do it because it makes the chicken really moist and juicy.

    How long does it take to smoke a whole chicken at 225?

    Depending on the size of the chicken, it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. You have to go by pound.

    Can you grill a whole chicken instead of smoking it?

    You can grill a whole chicken, and it’s delicious! Grilling gives you juicy meat with crispy, flavorful skin—and it’s quicker than smoking. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to do it, plus a few popular methods:

    Do you have to preheat the smoker?

    My Traeger requires a pre-smoke before turning it to the temperature that it needs to be at. I forget this EVERY Summer and If I don’t put it on smoke for 5 minutes and just turn it to the temp right away the temperature inside the smoker shoots all the way up to 500. I’m pretty sure that is how my pellets inside caught fire.

    If you tried this Whole Smoked Chicken or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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    Smoked Whole Chicken

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
    • Author: Jenna
    • Prep Time: 8 hours
    • Cook Time: 3 hours
    • Total Time: 13 hours
    • Yield: 8 1x
    • Category: Medium
    • Method: Smoker
    • Cuisine: Americn
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Smoked Whole Chicken - Do you want juicy and flavorful chicken all Summer long? You have to try this recipe for chicken. Don’t even bother trying all those recipes that say Rotisserie style chicken in the slow cooker or oven because you know what? A slow cooker isn't a rotisserie!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 3 to 6 pound Whole Chicken
    • 1 recipe for Basic Chicken Brine
    • ¼ cup of seasoning of Choice
    • Oak Pellets for Smoking

    Instructions

    1. Make my recipe for a basic chicken brine and follow the instructions for how to make it. Let the chicken brine overnight or for 8 to 10 hours.
    2. Once the chicken is ready to smoke or grill rinse the chicken off and pat it dry with some paper towels or whatever you hand on hand. Season the entire chicken with your favorite seasoning of choice.
    3. If your smoker requires preheating, preheat it.
    4. Set your smoker to 230 to 250 degrees and smoke your whole chicken for 3 hours. The temperature inside your chicken should read 165 when done. Let the chicken rest for 30 minutes before cutting into it or when it is ready to serve.
    5. Grilling Instructions:
    6. Make my recipe for a basic chicken brine and follow the instructions for how to make it. Let the chicken brine overnight or for 8 to 10 hours.
    7. Once the chicken is ready to smoke or grill rinse the chicken off and pat it dry with some paper towels or whatever you hand on hand. Season the entire chicken with your favorite seasoning of choice.
    8. Set your grill for medium heat (375 to 400 degrees)
    9. Place chicken, breast side down, on grill rack coated with cooking spray over direct heat; cover and cook 7 minutes. Turn chicken over; cook 7 minutes. Move chicken over indirect heat; cover and cook 45 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in meaty part of thigh registers 165°.

    Notes

    You do not need to brine the chicken before smoking. 

    Just use your favorite seasoning to flavor the chicken with. 

    3 points with skin removed


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1
    • Calories: 272
    • Sugar: 10g
    • Fat: 6g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Carbohydrates: 15g
    • Fiber: 2g
    • Protein: 39g

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    More Smoker Recipes

    • Smoked Chicken Tenders
    • Traeger Smoked Asparagus
    • How to Smoke Cheese (Using Smoker Tube)
    • Spicy Smoked Chicken Thighs

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    Hey, I'm Jenna! I'm a graphic designer, photographer, and home cook from From Fargo ND. I love my Ninja Creami, Air Fryer, and Blackstone. I created this blog to share recipe tips and tricks with everyone, enjoy!

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    Whole Smoked Chicken