Smoked Whole Chicken (How to Cook a Whole Chicken on a Traeger)

Never made a Smoked Whole Chicken on a Traeger? Don’t fret, it’s easy! In this post, we give step by step instructions on how to smoke a whole chicken. It is juicy, tender and packed with flavor. You might even like it more than our Traeger Chicken Breast, smoked chicken thighs, or our smoked chicken wings.

Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken Recipe

Whole chicken recipes are really difficult to sort through. I’ve made enough of them, all of which claimed to be the best of the best but all were just cooked chicken. I mean, just because it’s a whole bird does not mean it has to be difficult, time consuming and especially not bland.

So I got all obsessed. We love our slow cooker whole chicken, our whole roasted chicken and our spatchcock chicken, but we needed a smoked version! I decided to make a whole chicken that you’d order in a restaurant over the steak. I know, I know, but really, this smoked whole chicken is going to knock your dang socks clean off of you.

Why, why is that a saying? Knock your socks off? What about your shoes? Why didn’t we knock those off first? Who are all of these people walking around in socks?

Actually, it’s me.

If you know me, if you’re a friend or a neighbor you know that I’m ALWAYS in socks because my feet are ALWAYS cold.

Smoked Whole Chicken Ingredients

Believe it or not, you only need a handful of ingredients to make a Traeger smoked chicken. This Traeger whole chicken recipe has three main components: the dry rub used to flavor the smoked chicken, the few extra ingredients needed to actually smoke the chicken, and the ingredients needed to make a gravy from the pan drippings.

Here’s what you’ll need to make a smoked whole chicken on a Traeger:

• Fresh Thyme Leaves
• Salt and Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Cumin
• Smoked Paprika
• Ground Mustard
• Cayenne
• Dark Brown Sugar
• Garlic
• Chili Powder
• Butter
• Apple Juice
• Cornstarch

Note that adding a pan of apple juice to the smoker creates a delicious steam that keeps the meat moist and adds flavor as well.

How to Smoke a Whole Chicken

Smoked whole chicken does not need much time or attention at all. The most important step starts

The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken [+Video]

Discover the secret to perfectly cooked and juicy whole chicken in the air fryer. This easy and delicious recipe is sure to become a family favorite, with minimal prep and cook time. You’ll have perfectly crispy skin and tender juicy chicken in just 1 hour!

Serve it up with our creamy mashed potatoes or crunchy roasted herb potatoes and a side of grilled asparagus and you’ve got a comforting, family-friendly meal!

Ingredients for Airfryer Whole Chicken

Cooking an entire chicken in an air fryer couldn’t be easier! It tastes just like the yummy rotisserie chicken you can buy at the grocery store only you control all the ingredients. Here is what you will need:

• Whole Chicken
• Olive Oil
• Butter
• Seasonings: Smoked Paprika, Kosher Salt, Garlic Powder
• Thyme
• Honey

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below. This is just meant to be an overview of what you will need.

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer

Airfrying a whole chicken is so simple! All you need to do is pat it dry, season it and let it cook in the air fryer. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Dry: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
2. Rub: Mix the butter and spices together in a small bowl and then rub it all over the outside of the chicken and under the skin.
3. Tie: Using kitchen twine, tie up the legs and wings.
4. Air Fry: Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer preheated to 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
   • NOTE: If you don’t have an air fryer, I would recommend following our roasted chicken recipe and just cook it in the oven.
5. Flip: Using paper towels, turn the bird over and cook for another 20-30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should be 165 degrees F.
6. Rest: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let

Lemon Herb Spatchcock Chicken Recipe

If you want the juiciest chicken with crispy skin and the most incredible flavor, then you have to make this lemon herb spatchcock chicken!

When I was pregnant with our second child I was not in any kind of position to cook, eat or even think about either thing. But it was like taking a surfer away from the ocean, I was determined to make better than ever meals when I had the baby. And spatchcock chicken was strangely at the top of my list. I have absolutely no idea why I hyper-fixated on chicken, but it ended up being a blessing. It gave me something to look forward to. To decide without ever deciding that I was going to not only survive, but thrive post traumatic pregnancy.

I’m not saying that anyone who is going through something hard should just think about chicken to fix things, because again, I WOULD NOT think about chicken during that time. But maybe there’s something about positive psychology that could take us from A-B that is found in the kitchen. So without telling you what I think… yet… what is the happiest memory you have around food?

Why does food more often attach itself to happiness than sadness?

I’ll move on, I know you just want the recipe, but it’s something to think about. Is there a secret about food and cooking that might make a difference in your happiness in the midst of your trial?

What is a Spatchcock Chicken?

A spatchcock chicken is the same thing as a butterflied chicken. It is a method for cooking chicken where you remove the backbone of a whole chicken and flatten it so that it lays flat and roasts more evenly. For some reason, this little bird’s legs curled up again at the end, but otherwise it will lay far more flat than this.

Why Do You Spatchcock a Chicken?

When you roast a whole chicken, the chicken breasts sit higher and cook first and dry out while the rest of the chicken comes to temperature.

With a spatchcock chicken, everything is at the same level and roasts evenly resulting in juicy chicken breasts, thighs, legs…the whole bird!

And the skin gets so crispy and delicious! I dare say that once you spatchcock, you’ll never go back to roasting a chicken any other way.

Do You Flip a Spatchcock When Cooking?

No, a spatchcock does not need to be flipped while cooking. You roast it with the meat side up and it will come to temperature just fine without flipping.

What Do I Need to Make Spatchcock Chicken?

All you need to do is grab a whole chicken and then hit the produce section for some fresh herbs and citrus. You’ll likely have everything else you need in the pantry already. BONUS…this recipe is so budget friendly! Here is what you will need:

• Whole Chicken: a 4-5 pound chicken works best, skin on<