• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Vindulge

BBQ and Grilling Recipes with Wine Pairings

  • Home
  • About
    • About Mary
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work With Me
  • Cookbook
  • Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Resources
    • Fundamentals For Learning How to Grill
    • Guide to Pellet Grills – Common Q and A
    • Best Pellet Grill – MAK Two Star General – Versatile American Made Pellet Smoker
    • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop Wines
  • Cookbook
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Wine Guides
  • Blogging Resources
  • Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Home » Food » Pellet Grill Whole Chicken Roast

    Pellet Grill Whole Chicken Roast

    June 2, 2021 By Mary 1 Comment

    Sharing is caring!

    75 shares
    • Facebook10
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe
    Pellet Grill Chicken Pin
    Pellet Grill Chicken Pin
    Pellet Grill Chicken Pin
    Pellet Grill Chicken Pin

    Chicken is one of the most popular cuts of meat for live-fire cooking and this recipe will show you how to roast a whole chicken right in your pellet grill. This pellet grill whole chicken is easy to prepare, full of flavor, and a great one to use as meal prep for the rest of the week.

    Want to modify this recipe? Consider spatchcocked chicken versus the whole roast where you remove the backbone and flatten the bird.

    A whole pellet grill roasted chicken on a cutting board

    Pellet Grill recipes are made for convenience while still achieving authentic smoke flavor using wood. And roasting chicken is no exception. This recipe works because it’s so easy to prepare a roasted chicken for your pellet grill.

    Jump to:
    • Buying Chicken
    • Preparation
    • Grilling a Whole Chicken in a Pellet Grill
    • Pellets
    • Other Pellet Grill Recipes
    • Leftover Chicken Recipes
    • Wine Pairing for Pellet Grill Whole Chicken
    • Pellet Grill Whole Chicken Recipe

    Buying Chicken

    Not all chicken is created equally. The flavor and tenderness starts with finding a locally sourced chicken that is around 4 – 5 pounds in weight. Smaller chicken (under 4 pounds) won’t cook as well and have very little yield.

    Consider sourcing from farmers that balance free range with good feed. Another great option are purveyors like D’Artagnan foods who focus on consistent high quality chef-to-table meats that are delivered fresh right to your home.

    Preparation

    Remove any giblets from the chicken cavity. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and then season. For seasoning we use ¼ cup of our Poultry Seasoning with savory herbal flavors and salt. Be sure to season the inside of the cavity also.

    A whole chicken coated in poultry rub and stuffed with lemon, herbs, garlic, and onion.
    Liberally season the roast.

    The final step is to add the aromatic flavors from onion, garlic, thyme, and lemon into the cavity. The flavor elements of the stuffing adds to the flavor and moisture of the chicken in a small way. If the wings are sticking out, simply tuck them under the body as you place it on the grill.

    Grilling a Whole Chicken in a Pellet Grill

    The key for achieving crispy skin on pellet grill whole chicken is to balance the heat and time. We have found 375 degrees is the minimum temperature to set the grill at to both render the fat in the skin and avoid a dried out chicken. Another option is adding corn starch to your dry rub to enhance the crispy texture.

    We are cooking our whole roasted grilled chicken on our MAK Two-Star General Grill.

    A whole chicken cooking on a pellet grill
    1. Preheat grill to 375 degrees using a fruit wood like cherry or apple. Oak is another good flavor for chicken.
    2. Place seasoned and stuffed chicken on the grill and insert a wireless blue tooth thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. Continue to grill until the internal temperature of the chicken at it’s thickest part is 160 degrees F. This should take around 90 minutes.
    3. Remove from smoker and let stand loosely covered in foil for 15 minutes allowing juices to redistribute. Slice and serve.

    While the USDA recommends chicken cooked to 165 degrees F at the thickest part, the answer is a little more complicated when you consider holding temperature and time. Check out one of the best discussions on when chicken is done from Thermoworks.

    If you don’t have a smoker you can just roast your chicken in the oven at the same temperature.

    Pellets

    We use fruit wood pellets for chicken like Cherry or Apple. Oak is another alternative with a more distinct smoke flavor.

    Other Pellet Grill Recipes

    We have a an entire collection of pellet grill recipes, from low and slow to hot and fast. Here are a few of our favorites:

    • Smoked Whole Chicken (a low and slow version of whole smoked chicken)
    • Pellet Grill Ribs
    • Pizza on the Pellet Grill

    Leftover Chicken Recipes

    If you happen to double or triple this recipe and end up with leftover smoked chicken, here are a couple recipes that are fantastic:

    • Smoked Chicken Chili
    • Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • BBQ Chicken Pizza

    Wine Pairing for Pellet Grill Whole Chicken

    Whole roasted chicken on the grill is tender, slightly charred and has a deep rich flavor. A great white wine is Chardonnay, specifically a California or Oregon with some oak. For red wine consider a Pinot Noir or Gamay Noir. Their rich fruit and mineral flavors stand up well to the savory seasoning.

    A whole chicken grilled in a pellet smoker on a cutting board

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link, we may receive a small commission if you purchase through the link. We partner with brands we know and love and use and it helps keep the blog going!

    This recipe was originally published in May 2015, and updated in June 2021 with new photos and more detailed instructions. The recipe remains the same.

    If you like this recipe we’d truly appreciate it if you would give this recipe a star review! And if you share any of your pics on Instagram use the hashtag #vindulge. We LOVE to see it when you cook our recipes. 

    Smoke Roasted Pellet Grill Whole Chicken on a cutting board

    Pellet Grill Whole Chicken Recipe

    Add mild smoke flavor with this pellet grill whole chicken recipe. It starts with a savory poultry rub, and then aromatics stuffed into the cavity. Roast for 90 minutes in the grill for a juicy and flavorful chicken.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Resting Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 96kcal
    Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge
    Cost: $20

    Ingredients

    • 1 (4-5) pound whole roasting chicken
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, for coating
    • ¼ cup poultry rub
    • ½ white onion, cut into 4 chunks
    • 1 head garlic, cut in half lengthwise
    • 1 lemon, quartered
    • 10 sprigs thyme
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat grill to 375 degrees using a fruit wood like cherry or apple. Oak is another good flavor for chicken.
    • Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Coat with olive oil, and season liberally, including inside the cavity. Stuff the chicken with the onion, garlic, lemon, and thyme. Tuck the wings under the chicken to keep them close to the body.
    • Place on the grill and insert a wireless blue tooth thermometer into the thickest part of the breast (if you have one). Continue to grill until the internal temperature of the chicken at it's thickest part is 160 degrees F. This should take around 90 minutes.
    • Remove from smoker and let stand loosely covered in foil for 15 minutes allowing juices to redistribute. Slice and serve.

    Notes

    About Timing: The time it takes to roast your chicken will depend on the exact size of your bird (even one pound will make a big difference). It’s important to not focus on exact cooking time, but rather cooking until the temperature of the bird reaches 160 degrees in the thickest part of the chicken. At 375 degrees, this should take around 90 minutes for planning purposes. 
    Modification: You can also use a technique called spatchcocking chicken to flatten the roast for faster cooking.
    Find the perfect wine pairing at the Vindulge Wine Shop

    Nutrition

    Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge

    « Riesling Wine Guide
    Grilled Smashed Potatoes with Tarragon Cream Sauce »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jason Link says

      December 16, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      5 stars
      Tried this recipe and it was fantastic. Truly the best smoked whole chicken I’ve ever made, thanks for the recipe.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Fire and Wine Cookbook Cover.

    Get Ready for Summer

    Smoked Brisket

    What’s on our Grill

    The Best Gluten Free Drop Biscuits – 5 Ingredients

    Smoked Hot Honey Ribs Recipe

    Vegetarian Chorizo Recipe with Cauliflower

    Hot Honey Pizza on a serving dish

    Hot Honey Pizza with Prosciutto and Ricotta

    More

    As Seen On

    Products we love

    taking the temperature of a porchetta roast on the grill
    We use Thermoworks Signals BBQ Alarm to monitor the internal temperature of the meat while it’s cooking, then double check with an instant read thermometer, like the Thermapen One.

    Vindulge Wine Club

    join the wine club side bar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Vindulge

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    75 shares
    • 10