Smoked Chicken
Author: Valerie@Snap-Peas
Smoked Chicken
Ingredients
  • For the spice rub:
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoons. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon celery seed
  • For the mop sauce:
  • ½ cup distilled white vinegar
  • ¼ cup Dijon mustard
  • ¼ cup beer
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco
  • For the barbecue sauce:
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • sweet onion, minced (about ½ cup)
  • ½ cup chopped celery
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 large lemons)
  • ⅓ cup Dijon mustard
  • 1 c ketsup
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • For the chicken:
  • 2 3-1/2- to 4-lb. chickens
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil; more for the grill
Instructions
  1. Make the spice rub:
  2. In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients with a fork.
  3. Make the mop sauce:
  4. In a medium bowl, mix all of the ingredients.
  5. Make the barbecue sauce:
  6. Melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onions and celery and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients, increase the heat to medium, and simmer gently, whisking often, until the sauce has thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  7. Prepare the wood chips and chicken:
  8. Put 1-1/2 cups of wood chips (preferably oak) in a large bowl and cover with water. Let soak for 30 minutes, then drain.
  9. Put each chicken breast side down on a cutting board. Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut the chicken into halves through the breast bone, removing the back bone and discarding. Pat the chicken halves dry with paper towels. Using your hands, rub 1 Tbs. oil over the skin of each chicken half, then rub each half with a quarter of the spice rub. Let stand at room temperature while preparing the smoker.
  10. Smoker:Each smoker or grill used for smoking has directions - follow your manufacturers instructions, remember to subtract 10-15 min of cooking time for the final grilling step.
  11. Grill: Transfer the chicken to the grill and brush with the barbecue sauce. Grill on medium heat for 10-15 min, basting frequently until done.
  12. Transfer the chicken halves to a platter and let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe by snap-peas at https://www.snap-peas.com/2013/07/24/smoked-chicken/