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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Cajun Smoked Chicken

Published February 18, 2017. Last Updated April 17, 2019 By Alyssa Brantley 10 Comments

Cajun Smoked Chicken

  • Dairy free
  • Gluten free
  • Grain free
  • Low carb
  • Nut free
  • Whole 30
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Cajun Smoked Chicken Recipe from www.EverydayMaven.com

This Cajun Smoked Chicken Recipe uses an electric smoker to slow cook dry rubbed chicken. No brine needed. Tender and perfectly cooked every time! 

Cajun Smoked Chicken Recipe from www.EverydayMaven.com

We got a smoker! My husband is in food heaven. He is pretty obsessed with BBQ meats and smoked foods and has been wanting a smoker for years. It is literally his new favorite cooking appliance and he wants to smoke everything.

When we first got it, we were determined to make a brisket but after talking it to death, we decided we should test it out on classic smoked chicken – sort of like the equivalent of mastering roasted chicken in the oven.

Then, it was brine or no brine? Dry rub or marinade? Cook directly on the rack or use a tray? So many decisions! Of course we tested a bunch of variations and this is our foolproof How To Smoke a Chicken tutorial for all of you who have or are considering getting an electric smoker. We got this one from Char-Broil and it has a remote control that alerts you when the desired temperature is reached. It’s handy, super hands-off and really easy to use!

How to Smoke Chicken from www.EverydayMaven.com

So, some tips from our testing:

  • You do not *need* to brine the chicken. You can but the difference in taste and texture is negligible compared to the mess and pre-planning needed to manage the brine.
  • Dry rubs are a lot easier to manage. Marinades work but be prepared for a lot more cleanup (see a theme here?). I used Black Magic by Spiceologist. It is a Cajun spice rub and free from junk as well as sugar! It’s reaallllllyyyyyy good!
  • Start with a more mild wood – we settled on Apple Wood Chips and it imparts a wonderful flavor without being overwhelming.
  • Spatchcocking the chicken really saves time and renders a better finished product. I briefly explain How To Spatchcock a Chicken below in the recipe but if you want a more in-depth tutorial, I like this one by Jamie Oliver.
  • Cook directly on the rack. Just be sure to remove any racks not in use to save them from getting drippings and needing to be cleaned.
  • Don’t forget to fill the water bin! This helps keep the bird nice and juicy.

Cajun Smoked Chicken Recipe from www.EverydayMaven.com

Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!

Cajun Smoked Chicken
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Total Time: 4 hrs 10 mins
 

This Cajun Smoked Chicken Recipe uses an electric smoker to slow cook dry rubbed chicken. No brine needed. Tender and perfectly cooked every time! 

Course: Mains
Cuisine: Cajun
Keyword: Cajun Smoked Chicken
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 312 kcal
Author: Alyssa Brantley
Cajun Smoked Chicken Recipe from www.EverydayMaven.com
Print
Ingredients
  • 1 4 1/2 to 5 pound whole chicken, spatchcocked
  • 1 large handful cajun spice mix
Special Equipment:
  • Kitchen Shears
  • Apple wood chips
  • Digital Electric Smoker
Instructions
  1. Begin by grabbing the whole chicken, kitchen shears, paper towels and spice rub.
  2. Turn chicken over so breast side is down. Use kitchen shears to cut along each side of spine to remove backbone. Reserve backbone for making broth or stock.
  3. Turn chicken back over so that breast-side is up and press breasts until you hear wishbone crack so that the chicken is flat. Turn legs in.
  4. Use paper towels to blot the chicken dry.
  5. Grab a large handful of cajun spice mix and spread onto both sides of chicken until well coated. For reference, I used a small jar of Black Magic (which is a little over 1oz) and used about half of the jar.
  6. Place spiced chicken, breast side up, on smoker cooking rack. Insert thermometer into thickest part of chicken, taking care not to touch bone, and set inside of smoker.
  7. Fill wood chip holder with apple wood chips.
  8. Fill water container with water. Close door, lock and set to 165F. Cooking time is approximately 20 to 30 minutes per pound.
  9. Cook undisturbed until temperature alarm beeps on remote. Remove, allow to rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Slice, serve and Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Cajun Smoked Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 312 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 108mg36%
Sodium 101mg4%
Potassium 274mg8%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 285IU6%
Vitamin C 2.3mg3%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.

Cajun Smoked Chicken Recipe from www.EverydayMaven.com

Filed Under: By Diet, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Freezer Meals, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Kid Friendly, Low Carb, Nut Free, Paleo, Poultry, Primal, Uncategorized, Whole30

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BBQ On Main says

    December 31, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    Hey Alyssa, Just wanted to let you know we love your recipe so much we featured it as part of our 101 favorite smoker recipes! You can check it out here – https://bbqonmain.com/101-smoker-recipes/

    Thank you for sharing, it’s great to see good BBQ recipes coming out of the PNW =]

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      January 4, 2018 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you so much and thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  2. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says

    February 26, 2017 at 7:47 am

    I’m so jealous! I’ve been wanting a smoker forever! This chicken looks amazing!

    Reply
  3. Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

    February 22, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    Smoking is the bomb!! I have a Masterbuilt digital smoker – it looks almost identical – and I’ve been smoking everything from chicken to homemade sausages & brats and smoked ham hocks for soup. Next up I’m making my own bacon & pancetta. It’s a blast! Have fun!

    Reply
  4. Amanda|The Kitcheneer says

    February 22, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    I need a smoker now! This looks amazing!

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      February 22, 2017 at 3:03 pm

      Right? We are obsessed – my hubs is smoking everything.

      Reply
  5. lauren Kelly Nutrition says

    February 22, 2017 at 2:22 pm

    What a fabulous recipe! I love everything about this!

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      February 22, 2017 at 3:03 pm

      Thanks so much Lauren!

      Reply
  6. Pat says

    February 18, 2017 at 2:00 pm

    Do you know if you can follow the same recipe for pellet smoker, non electric?

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      February 18, 2017 at 2:35 pm

      Hey Pat! The dry rub and spatchcock should work just fine. You’ll have to manage the cook time and temperature according to how your smoker works!

      Reply

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