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Smoke Roasted Pellet Grill Whole Chicken on a cutting board
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4.80 from 5 votes

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.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Resting Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American, barbecue, Grilled Chicken
Keyword: pellet grill chicken, pellet grill recipes, pellet grill whole chicken, whole chicken on the grill
Servings: 4 people
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

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.

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