Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs - How to brine a chicken before smoking. You can brine a whole chicken or pieces of chicken. Our most recent smoking episode had us brining the breasts, legs, and thighs from four large chickens.

How much do we love chicken? Let us count the ways. It’s such a versatile ingredient, whether you choose lean chicken breasts or cook up a casserole with chicken thighs.

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Smoke the turkey legs slow on low. Turkey drumsticks have a lot of connective tissue and the low heat is key to liquefying the collagen. Conceptually it is just like grilling chicken drumsticks over indirect heat but with the smoking element included. You can have Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs using 15 ingredients and 7 steps.

Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs Ingredients

Prepare 2 of whole chickens 3-5 lbs each.
Prepare 1 package of turkey legs.
Prepare 1 of orange.
You need 1 of lemon.
Prepare 2 sprigs of rosemary.
You need 4 sprigs of tarragon.
You need 5 cups of sugar.
Prepare 3 1/4 cups of kosher salt.
Prepare 2/3 cup of chili powder.
You need 1/4 cup of onion powder.
You need 1/4 cup of garlic powder.
You need 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
You need 6 of dried bay leaves.
Prepare 1 tablespoon of chopped dehydrated onion.
Prepare 3 gallons of water.

Whole smoked chicken is so much better than chicken roasted in the oven or rotisserie. It's tender, incredibly juicy, and full of flavor. Take a few hours to brine the chicken for the best results, stuff it with some onion, garlic, and lemon, and finally, rub it with delicious chicken dry rub. Add more smoker wood chips periodically as they burn out.

Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs step by step

Combine 3 cups of kosher salt, 4.5 cups sugar, 6 bay leaves, 1 tbsp chopped dehydrated onions and 3 gallons water to make the brine. Soak the chickens and turkey legs in the brine and refrigerate over night or minimum 4 hours..
Make the rub. I used Myron Mixon's 'The only other barbecue rub you need' recipe. Combine 2/3 cup chili powder, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup kosher salt, 1/4 cup onion powder, 1/4 garlic powder and 1 tsp cayenne pepper.
Soak your choice of wood chunks in water (I used mesquite). Light the charcoal in the smoker. Slice up the orange and lemon into approximately 12 pieces each..
Rinse the chicken and turkey in cold water and pat dry..
Stuff each chicken with half an orange, half a lemon, 1 sprig rosemary and 2 sprigs of tarragon..
Cover the chickens and turkey legs on all sides with the rub..
Put the chicken breast side up and the turkey legs on the smoker. Smoke at 275° for 3.5 hours or until the white meat hits 160 and the dark reaches 180. Check the temp periodically and add more charcoal and wood chunks as needed..

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Delicious Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs Recipe - This can vary depending on the size of your legs and the temperature fluctuations in your smoker. Make sure to avoid lifting the lid to keep the temperature consistent. To measure the temperature of a whole chicken, insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. Barbecued chicken is best when smoked over the right wood chips. It's the best technique to improve the flavor profile of your smoked meat.

I believe you can make great and tasty Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs recipe even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!