Smoked Lemon Pepper Chicken on the Drum Smoker

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier and provides a similar richness.

whole chicken

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Chicken thighs are less expensive and still flavorful.

Peel the skins off 6 lemons using a potato peeler and cut them into even-sized pieces.

Set the oven to 170°F and place the lemon peels on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Bake the lemon peels for 1 hour, rotating every 15 minutes until they are dried and look good.

Grind the dried lemon peels in a coffee grinder until they become a powder.

Combine the ground lemon peels with 1 tablespoon and 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder in a bowl.

Sift the mixture through a strainer to remove any large chunks.

Reserve 1 teaspoon of the rub for later use.

Trim excess fat and loose skin from the chicken, then pat it dry with paper towels.

Rub vegetable oil over the chicken to help the rub stick.

Generously apply the lemon pepper rub all over the chicken, including under the wings and legs.

Tie the chicken legs together and place it on a rack in a pan.

Refrigerate the seasoned chicken for 1 hour.

Prepare the drum smoker using Cowboy Oak and Hickory blend lump charcoal, adding some apple wood for flavor.

After 1 hour, remove the chicken from the fridge and place it in the smoker.

Set the smoker temperature to 275°F and cook the chicken for 1.5 hours without opening the smoker.

After 1.5 hours, check the chicken's internal temperature with a thermometer, aiming for 165°F.

Melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a saucepan and add 1/3 cup honey and the juice from one lemon.

Add the reserved teaspoon of lemon pepper rub to the glaze mixture.

Bring the glaze to a frothy boil, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, then remove from heat.

Continue stirring the glaze as it cools and thickens.

Once the chicken reaches 165°F, check its temperature and rotate it if necessary.

After 15 more minutes, apply the lemon pepper honey glaze to the chicken and let it cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens