Traeger 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.

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.

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.