These flavor-packed Smoked Chicken Halves are a barbecue classic, simple to prepare with more surface area for smoke, seasonings, and sauces. Make these and you’ll see why they are a huge hit for the family and parties.
Lighting up the smoker is all about the long process of cooking, creating deep flavors for the food. When the family is getting hungry and you don’t want to wait 6-7 hours for smoked chuck roast or brisket, smoked chicken halves are here to save the day! Much less time, and by splitting the chickens there’s a flavor for everyone.
Smoking half a chicken is a great way to get juicy, flavorful chicken with a great smoky taste. But how long does it really take to smoke half a chicken? The total cooking time depends on a few important things.
Overview of Smoking Half a Chicken
Here’s a quick overview of the basic process for smoking half a chicken:
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Split the chicken in half by removing the backbone and cutting through the breastbone
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Prepare a brine and soak the chicken halves for 1-4 hours. Brining infuses flavor and moisture.
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Remove from brine, rinse, pat dry and coat with your favorite rub.
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Set up your smoker for indirect cooking at 225-275°F. Add smoking wood for flavor.
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Place chicken skin-side up on the smoker grates.
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Smoke for around 2-3 hours until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
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Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
How long the chicken takes to cook will depend on its size and a few other things. A typical half chicken takes right around 2. 5-3 hours at 225-250°F. Now, let’s look more closely at how different things affect the cooking time.
Factors That Affect Cook Time
1. Chicken Size
The overall size and weight of the chicken halves will impact total cook time. A small 3-4 lb chicken may only take 2-2.5 hours, while a very large 5-6 lb bird may need 3.5-4 hours to fully cook and tenderize.
As a general guideline, plan for around 15-20 minutes per pound at 225-250°F.
So for a 4 lb half chicken, estimate around 60-80 minutes. And for a 6 lb half chicken, plan for 90-120 minutes. Check for doneness by temperature, not time.
2. Smoker Temperature
The temperature you set your smoker to will have a big effect on how long it takes to cook everything. The smoking process will take longer at 225°F because it is low and slow.
Here are some general cook time estimates based on smoker temp:
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225°F – Approximately 18-25 mins per lb (2.5 – 3.5 hours for half chicken)
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250°F – Approximately 15-20 mins per lb (2 – 3 hours for half chicken)
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275°F – Approximately 12-18 mins per lb (1.5 – 2.5 hours for half chicken)
The best way to tell when the chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh and breast. For optimal safety and texture, cook to 165°F.
3. Using a Water Pan
Putting a water pan on your smoker can make the whole cooking process take longer. It takes a little longer to cook because the water pan helps keep the temperature even and adds moisture.
When using a water pan, expect cook times to be about 10-15% longer on average.
4. Type of Smoker
The type of smoker you use can also impact cook times. Small bullet smokers tend to cook faster, while large offset stick burners cook more slowly and gently.
Electric and pellet smokers typically provide very consistent temps for moderate cook times. Charcoal and kamado style smokers offer flexibility to cook low and slow or hot and fast.
Tips for Delicious Smoked Half Chicken
Here are a few quick tips for maximizing flavor and texture when smoking half chickens:
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Brine for 1-4 hours to increase moisture. A simple brine of 1 cup kosher salt to 1 gallon of water works great.
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Apply a flavorful rub on the meat and skin. Try spices like paprika, garlic, onion, mustard, salt, pepper and more.
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Smoke with fruit woods like apple, cherry or pecan for mild, sweet flavor.
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Smoke at 225-250°F for best results. 300°F+ can cause drier meat.
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Use a drip pan to collect juices for making sauce or gravy later.
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Flip the chicken halves over about halfway through smoking to ensure even cooking.
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Let rest for 5-10 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
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Serve with your favorite barbecue sides like beans, slaw, potatoes and bread!
Smoking half chickens takes around 2.5-3 hours at 225-250°F for most backyard smokers. A 3-4 lb half chicken may only need about 2 hours, while a 5-6 lb half may require up to 3.5 hours.
The most accurate doneness indicator is to check internal temp in the thickest part of the breast and thigh for 165°F. Resting for 5-10 minutes after smoking allows juices to reabsorb for tender, juicy meat.
Brining, applying rubs and using fruit woods like apple or cherry will take your smoked half chickens to the next level. Enjoy your deliciously smoky poultry!
Smoking the Chicken Halves
How to Serve Smoked Chicken
Now that you have gorgeous smoked chicken halves, hopefully, you have something to go alongside them!
BBQ sauce – The obvious choice, but the flavor is totally up to you! Chicken is the blank canvas to your barbecue imagination. I like to use my own Maple Chipotle BBQ Sauce, the spicy Buffalo BBQ Sauce, the Korean Honey Mustard, or my own Teriyaki Sauce.
Pickled stuff – Bright, acidic flavors really add a lot of amazing flavor to the chicken. My favorite would be Smoked Pickled Jalapenos, but that Pickled Mustard Seeds are a close second.
If you want to try something new, make chicken tacos! There are a lot of different ways to mix salsas, but some of my favorites are Hatch Chile Salsa Verde, Fire-Roasted Santa Maria Salsa, Pico de gallo, and Creamy Corn Salsa.
It usually takes about 20 hours to smoke both halves of a chicken, but it can take less time depending on how big the chickens are.
It’s close, just a little less time for the half chickens. The benefit is being able to maneuver them easier around on the grill and serve smaller, customizable portions.
Absolutely, and I highly recommend it.
The USDA recommends 165°F as a safe temperature for chicken. I do like to pull the bbq chicken halves off the smoker just before that, around 158°F or so, and let the carry-over cooking bring it to the safe 165°F.
The JUICIEST Way to Smoke Barbecue Chicken…
FAQ
How long does it take to smoke a chicken?
It takes about forty-five minutes per pound of meat to cook a chicken through smoking. Halving a chicken reduces the cook time to two and a half to three hours. Smoking chicken halves is more straightforward than tackling larger barbecue cuts like brisket and pork butt, but it still requires thoughtful planning. Here is what you need to know. 1.
How long should you smoke chicken halves?
Smoke the chicken halves for 10 minutes. Flip and continue smoking over direct heat until the internal temperature in the breast part reaches 160°F and about 185°F in the leg/thigh parts.
How do you smoke half chicken?
From cutting the chicken in half to brining and applying the rub, every step is crucial for creating a succulent, flavor-packed smoked half chicken. The first step in our chicken smoking journey is cutting the chicken in half.
How do you smoke a half chicken on a pellet grill?
Fill your pellet grill with wood chips, and preheat to 225°F. Smoke the chicken for 1 to 2 hours until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, basting every 30 minutes with apple cider or beer. Making a smoked half chicken on a pellet grill is similar to smoking a whole chicken, but it takes a little more prep work and a little less time to smoke.
Are smoked chicken halves good?
Smoked chicken halves are a great item to serve when you have eaters with hefty appetites. There is nothing quite as wonderful as giving a hungry guest, their own half chicken and watching their face light up as they realize that that big chunk of meat is all for them.
What are smoked chicken halves?
Grilled chicken halves are a traditional dish. To make them, you cut a whole chicken in half and cook them over indirect woodsmoke heat. Smoking meat is the process of exposing food to smoke to preserve, brown, and add flavor. It’s one of the oldest cooking techniques, likely developed right after cooking with fire.
How long should half chicken be on the grill?
Grilling the Half Chickens Cook for 20 min and then flip skin side up. Cook for another 20 min and then rotate the chicken for even cooking. Cook for another 20-30 minutes and then check internal temperature. At 165 F, take the chicken out of the oven. If you want the skin to be crispier, cook it a little longer.
Can you smoke a chicken in 2 hours?
How Long to Smoke a Whole Chicken. It depends on the size of your chicken. A 4-pound chicken usually takes around 2-3 hours, but you have to keep checking the internal temperature of the chicken to make sure that it reaches 165°F.