Smoked Whole Chicken on a Pellet Grill

Step 1

To dry brine for crisp skin, pat the chicken dry with paper towels, and then generously sprinkle with salt and rub into the skin. Stuff the chicken cavity with the lime wedges and use kitchen or butcher twine to tie the legs to keep them tight. Place the chicken in the refrigerator uncovered for at least four hours, though overnight is ideal. Do not wipe off the salt after brining.

Step 2

Prepare the smoker according to the manufacturer’s directions, fill the water pan and set the temperature to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. As the smoker heats, make the spice rub by simply stirring together the chili powder, brown sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin and mustard powder.

Step 3

Rub the spice mixture all over the skin. Gently lift the skin and rub some spices directly onto the meat as well. Place the chicken in the smoker with the breast-side up and thighs closest to the heat source. If possible, try to tuck in the wing tips.

Step 4

Close the smoker and smoke the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees. Replenish the wood if necessary while cooking. Open the smoker, brush the skin with olive oil and BBQ sauce if desired and crank up the heat to 350 degrees to finish cooking. The chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees in the thickest part of the breast meat and 175 degrees in the thickest part of the thigh meat. Make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone.

Step 5

Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes to allow the juices to settle and then carve with a sharp knife. If desired, serve with additional BBQ sauce. Enjoy!