Tuscan Rosemary Smoked Whole Chickens Recipes

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium. In a small saucepan, bring 1/3 cup water and rosemary to a boil; remove from heat, cover, and let steep 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender. Add oil and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth; let cool.
• Combine chicken and rosemary oil in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag, and turn to coat. Cover, and let marinate at least 15 minutes at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator, turning chicken occasionally.
• Remove chicken from marinade; place on grill. Discard marinade. Cook, basting frequently with lemon juice and turning as needed to prevent burning, until cooked throughout, 20 to 30 minutes. Serve with Grilled Zucchini and Squash.

Steps:

• For the BBQ seasoning: Combine the brown sugar, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard and cayenne in a small bowl.
• Preheat your smoker or grill to 275 degrees F.
• If using a charcoal or gas grill, prepare for two-zone cooking with heat or coals on one side of the grill and none on the other. If using a gas grill, prepare your smoking pouches by tearing off 2 large pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil and layering them flat on your work surface. Place two cups of dry wood chips on the center of your foil. Fold up each long side and crimp to secure. Then roll up the ends to make a sealed wood chip pouch. Poke holes in the top of your pouch to allow the heat from the fire to singe the wood chips inside the pouch and make some gorgeous smoke that will be released through the holes and add a delicious smoke flavor to your food. Repeat this process so you have a total of 3 pouches.
• Combine the softened butter and the BBQ seasoning in a small bowl. Use your fingers to loosen the skin of the chicken and spread the seasoned butter up under the skin. Spread any remaining butter on top of the chicken skin.
• Use butcher twine to tie the legs together and tuck the wing tips behind the shoulder joint. Place your chicken directly on the grill grates over indirect heat on your smoker or grill. Add the wood of your choice; I recommend apple, cherry, maple, or pecan. If using a grill, place the smoking pouch on the direct heat. Close the lid and smoke for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, replacing the smoking pouch as necessary. Breasts should be about 160 to 165 degrees F. The thighs should be about 170 to 175 degrees F. If needed, rotate the chicken once during smoking.
• While your chicken is smoking, prepare your BBQ sauce. Combine the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, honey, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove sauce from heat and allow to cool.
• Baste the chicken with the honey BBQ sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking (this is optional). Once the chicken has reached the correct internal temperature, remove it from the grill, rest for 10 minutes, slice, and serve.

Steps:

• Prepare chicken for even cooking: Lay chicken on a flat surface, breast-side up. Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut through the breastbone, then all the way down to the opening at the other end. Open the chicken like a book, exposing the cavity, and flatten it; the backbone should crack a bit, which is normal.
• Brine: In a 1-gallon container, combine water, salt, and sugar. Seal and shake to dissolve salt and sugar. (Alternatively, stir with a whisk.) Place brine into 2-gallon container, followed by the chicken; make sure the chicken is fully submerged. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 15-24 hours, optimally 20 hours.
• Smoke the chicken: After chicken has been brining for 20 hours, light the smoker and heat to 250 degrees F. Remove chicken from brine, and place skin side up on a flat surface. Pat dry with paper towels. (Chicken will be about ½ pound heavier from absorbing brine.) Flip over and dry the other side.
• Sprinkle BBQ Spice Rub on both sides of the chicken, then rub it into the chicken, making sure the entire bird is covered. Place chicken onto the grill, cavity side down. Cover and cook undisturbed for 2 hours. Add charcoal and use vents as needed to maintain a temperature of 250 degrees F through the duration of cooking.
• After 2 hours, flip chicken over so it's skin side down. Cover and cook for 20-30 more minutes. (Removing the lid of the smoker will reduce the temperature, so bring it back to 250 degrees F by adding more charcoal.)
• After 20-30 minutes, check chicken for doneness by gently tugging on the legs. They should be loose, but not pulling away from the bird. A digital thermometer placed into the thickest part of the thigh, not touching the bone, should register 165 degrees F.
• Carving the chicken: Cut chicken in half along the backbone. Cut each half in half again, so the breast and wing (white meat) form one serving and the drumstick and thigh (dark meat) form another. Serve.