Some folks hear “barbecue chicken” and think of seriously sauced-up pieces that are slick and slippery and sweet. I like that kind of chicken just fine and have my own recipe for it, which I call “Wishbone Chicken” (page 36). However, in the traditional barbecue world, “barbecue chicken” is dry-rubbed, without sauce. This is my personal favorite way to prepare barbecue chicken. If you like, you can serve it with some sauce on the side. Sometimes, if we’re not doing a Lowcountry Boil, I make this at our cooking school’s Friday night dinner. It’s simple to make and a great way to test out a new smoker and get your feet wet. I like to use eight-piece cut-up chickens instead of halves or quarters; this way you get more pieces with options for white and dark meat, and it’s better for those who want only one piece. Notice this recipe calls for just chicken and rub—that’s it.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Heat a smoker to 250˚F.
Step 2
Wash the chicken pieces thoroughly and pat them dry with paper towels. Apply the chicken rub all over the exposed areas of the chicken pieces. Place the seasoned chicken pieces in a deep aluminum baking pan, and place the pan in the smoker. Cook for 1 1/2 hours.
Step 3
Remove the wings, wrap them in aluminum foil, and keep them warm in an oven on the lowest setting. Return the rest of the chicken to the smoker and cook for an additional 1 1/2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the white meat reaches 165°F and the dark meat reaches 180°F.
Step 4
Remove the pan from the smoker. Allow the chicken to rest, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Then serve immediately.
