How to Make Smoked Pulled Chicken - A Step-by-Step Guide

Smoked pulled chicken is a mouthwatering dish that requires minimal effort and delivers maximum flavor. This recipe yields tender, juicy, and smoky chicken that is perfect for sandwiches, tacos, salads, or simply enjoyed on its own. The slow smoking process gives the chicken a unique depth of flavor that is difficult to replicate with other cooking methods.

One of the best things about making smoked pulled chicken is that it allows you to infuse the meat with a rich smoky flavor that ...

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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups plain low-fat yogurt
  • 3 cloves garlic, mashed to a paste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 (4 pound) whole chicken, split lengthwise
  • cherry wood chips

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 50 mins
  • Additional Time: 8 hrs 10 mins
  • Total Time: 9 hrs 15 mins
  • Servings: 10
  • Yield: 10 servings

  • Combine yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, pepper, salt, paprika, and cumin in an extra-large zip-top bag. Add chicken halves, making sure they are completely coated. Squeeze out excess air, seal the bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
  • Thirty minutes before cooking, soak the wood chips in water. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  • Sprinkle the soaked wood chips directly over the hot coals. Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Place chicken, skin-side down, on the hot side of the preheated grill. Discard the remaining marinade.
  • Cook chicken until grill marks form, about 4 minutes. Flip and transfer to the cooler side of the grill. Cover and cook, occasionally rotating 180 degrees, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 175 degrees F (79 degrees C), about 45 minutes.
  • Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Remove and discard skin. Pick all meat from the bones and shred it using 2 forks.
  • Nutrition

    254 cal.

    • Total Fat: 14g
    • Saturated Fat: 4g
    • Cholesterol: 80mg
    • Sodium: 293mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 3g
    • Dietary Fiber: 0g
    • Total Sugars: 3g
    • Protein: 27g
    • Vitamin C: 1mg
    • Calcium: 83mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 314mg