We have put together a list of the best smoker recipes for chicken. Some are our own, others are some of the best smoker recipes we have found, tried out and know to be well worth your time and effort.

Chicken in the smoker is always a family favourite. It’s flavoursome, cheap, and takes much less time to smoke than other meats such as brisket or pork butt.

It’s a great meat to smoke for beginners, especially if you want to do chicken wings which are easy and quick to smoke.

We’ll have you producing awesome smoked chicken recipes in no time!

Internal Temp of Chicken

Always cook your chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F. This applies to all cuts of chicken – chicken breast, thighs, wings and drumsticks.

Smoker Recipes for Chicken 1 – Whole Chicken in the Smoker

Let’s start off as we mean to go on with impressively smoking the whole bird.

You’ll need a whole chicken (preferably organic) and the following ingredients for the rub:

• 1 tablespoon fine sea salt
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chilli powder
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons onion powder

You will also need butter or oil for brushing. The result should be moist, smoky and packed with flavour if you follow the instructions step by step.

If you want to follow the optional chicken in the smoker brine you’ll also need salt, sugar and water. 

It will take around 4-6 hours in the smoker at 225°F depending on the size of your chicken. The internal temperature of your meat should be 165°F.

Try out our chicken in the smoker recipe with this sweet, salty, slightly spicy dry rub here:

https://bbqsmokergrill.org/chicken-in-the-smoker-recipe/

Smoker Chicken Recipes 2 – Smoked Chicken Thighs

This is a great recipe for beginners, and has a really tasty rub for the chicken thighs. 

Better still it will only take you 1 1/2 to 2 hours to smoke your chicken thighs for a crispy and tasty result.

The ingredients you will need according to this recipe are:

• 8 pieces Chicken Thighs
• 1 tbsp Paprika
• 1 tbsp Salt
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar

Have a look at this great smoked chicken thighs recipe here:

https://meateatingmilitaryman.com/smoked-chicken-thighs/

Smoker Recipes for Chicken 3 – Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are fantastic to smoke and don’t take too long to cook either.

This is a classic chicken wings recipe done Buffalo style with crispy skin that you’ll be super proud of.

All in only 90 minutes of smoking time.

You’ll need these ingredients: 16-20 chicken wings, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, 2 tbsps of butter and 1 cup of Frank’s Red Hot sauce.

Check out this really great smoker recipe for chicken wings here:

https://www.vindulge.com/smoked-chicken-wings/

Smoker Recipes for Chicken 4 – Chicken on a Beer Can

This one is great for theatre and presentation. Smoking a whole chicken on a beer can allows for a moist and tasty bird.

Throw in some hickory wood smoke, a spicy rub and a beer barbecue sauce and you’re onto a winner.

For the rub you will need; 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon chilli powder, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper.

For the beer barbecue sauce you will need; 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 3/4 cup lager, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

Check out this great Oklahoma Joes Recipe here:

https://www.oklahomajoes.com/recipes/smoked-beer-can-chicken

Chicken in the Smoker Recipes 5 – Korean BBQ Chicken

Korean BBQ has become increasingly popular and is trending worldwide. 

This is a great recipe for smoking Korean BBQ chicken which will win your guests’ praise at any barbecue.

The marinade is spicy, salty, sweet and zingy and it produces an excellent end result.

You will need 2 lbs of chicken wings as well as: 1/2 cup soy sauce, 2 tsp fresh grated ginger, 2 tbsps fresh lime juice, 2 cloves grated garlic, 1 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds, 3-4 spring/green onions finely chopped, freshly ground black pepper to taste, and1 tbsp of brown sugar.

Try this fantastic Korean BBQ chicken wings recipe here:

https://www.umami.site/recipes/korean-bbq-chicken-wings/

6 – Smoked Chicken Breast

Chicken breast can be dry and bland if not prepared and cooked properly.

This straightforward smoker recipe for chicken breast is anything but that.

It uses a waterpan in the smoker to keep the chicken moist and makes sure the chicken breasts are rubbed with Dijon mustard to give the rub something to stick to.

The simple rub only needs these ingredients; garlic powder,  paprika, onion powder, brown sugar, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. 

It will only take around 1 1/2 to 2 hours at 225°F and produce a really flavourful smoky outcome.

Have a look at the recipe here:

https://grillingsmokingliving.com/smoked-chicken-breast/

7 Smoked Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks have a lot more meat on them than chicken wings. They are also a lot juicier than chicken breast.

They are also very affordable and very tasty when properly smoked.

It will take around 2 to 2 1/2 hours to smoke these drumsticks. 

This is a great recipe for beginners and has a very simple rub. You will need; 10-12 chicken drumsticks, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/3 cup of hot sauce (Frank’s hot sauce or a similar brand).

Try out this simple but great smoker recipe for chicken drumsticks here:

https://www.theblackpeppercorn.com/smoked-chicken-drumsticks/

8 Smoked Pulled Chicken

When you think of pulled smoked meat you tend to think of pork first, and beef second, but you can also pull chicken.

This method and recipe involves marinating the chicken in the following ingredients; 1 ½ cups plain low-fat yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

You split the whole chicken lengthwise and then cook it in the smoker until it reaches an internal temperature of 175°F.

It’s a really interesting recipe to try, and well worth it. Check it out here:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/282957/smoked-pulled-chicken/

If you enjoyed this article you could try our Chicken in the Smoker article here:

Related article – Best Meats to Smoke Guide.

Watch us smoking beer can chicken in the Instagram video below.