Smoked Chicken Halves

 

1 whole chicken, halved

Kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper, to taste

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp poultry seasoning

1 tsp ground cumin

Cayenne pepper, to taste

Vegetable oil for rubbing

White wine and water, for spritzing

 

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SAUCE

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp dark brown, or light brown sugar

1 tsp sea salt or kosher salt

1 pinch cayenne pepper

1 pinch red pepper flakes

 

1. Set up your smoker for dual-zone smoking – direct heat and indirect heat. Preheat the smoker to 225F at the grate level in the indirect heat zone.

2. In a spray bottle, or small pump bottle, mix 1 part wine and 1 part water. Set aside for spritzing.

3. While the smoker is preheating, combine apple cider vinegar sauce ingredients in a small bowl or a cup and stir or whisk well. Set aside until ready to use.

4. Rub the chicken with oil and evenly sprinkle the seasonings on both sides of the chicken halves. Pat down to make the seasonings stick.

5. Transfer the chicken to the smoker, skin side up and smoke over indirect heat for about 1.5 hours or until the internal temperature in the breasts reaches 140F. Spritz the chicken every 30 minutes, or so, during the entire cook.

6. Flip the chicken (the halve will be skin side down now) and transfer to the direct heat zone. Smoke for 10 minutes. Flip and continue smoking over direct heat until the internal temperature in the breasts reach 160F and about 185F in the legs and thighs.

7. Remove the chicken from the smoker and let rest for 10 minutes.

8. Cut the chicken into serving pieces, douse with the apple cider vinegar sauce and serve with your favorite side dish.