Introduction: Smoked Chicken Thighs
Creating amazing chicken thighs on the smoker that don't dry out.
Step 1: Buying Quality Meat.
When you go through all the work smoking food, buy good meat, I get mine from a local butcher.
Step 2: Prepping the Chicken
Remove the skin from the chicken thighs and set them aside and remove any excess fat from the chicken.
Step 3: Adding the Rub
You cam buy your rub but I make my own since it makes the chicken taste much more vibrant flavor.
Chicken Rub:
1/2 Cup cane sugar
1/4 Cup onion salt
1/4 Cup garlic salt
1/4 Cup Paprika
1 Tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 Tbsp Black Pepper
1/2 Tbsp Lemon Pepper
1/2 Tbsp Cayenne
1/2 Tbsp Rubbed Sage
1/2 Tbsp Dried Basil
1 Tsp Dries Rosemary
Add a generious amount to the chicken then wrap the chicken shin back around it to help hold in the moisture and add more more rub on the outside.
Step 4: Preping the Smoker
I use a smoker you could also uses a gas grill or a charcoal grill. I start my smoker up at least and hour to preheat it and at the same time I start soaking my peach wood.
Step 5: Placing on the Smoker
Place the chicken on the smoker, make sure the chicken are not touching. Add the lid and cook at 225 degrees F for 3-4 hours. Adding wood once a hour.
Tips:
1. DO NOT OPEN THE LID
2. CONSISTENT TEMPERATURE
Step 6: Half Way Point
After 2 hours rotate the chicken.
Step 7: All Done
The best way to check if the chicken is done take a themometer and make sure it is 165 degrees F. If you have smoked the chicken right i you will have an amazing bark on the outside of the chicken.

First Prize in the
BBQ Contest
14 Comments
Question 5 years ago on Step 4
My (electric) smoker does not get much hotter than 140 degrees, what can I do to properly smoke ? Right now I smoke the meat for about 4-5 hours and then bake it in my oven for another hour, but I do not know if this is safe.
5 years ago
Made it this past weekend. I don't think I've ever made chicken that was this simple that tasted anywhere near as good as this tasted. It was a huge hit at my dinner party.
10 years ago on Introduction
I am at a smoking competition right now, and I have never smoked chicken before. I need to smoke chicken thighs at this event, so I looked up Instructibles and found this. Looks perfect. Getting ready to try this one.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
the trick is to not over smoke the chicken. Some wood has too too strong flavor such as mesquite. Try something more subtle like apple, plum, or as this indestructible uses peach. If you only have the stronger wood only apply the the smoke for the first 20 minutes. Try Turkey as well it smokes just fabulous. good luck
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Good luck to you
10 years ago on Introduction
Congratulations!!!
10 years ago
If anyone has any question just ask I love helping out people smoke food no matter. How you cook the food.
10 years ago on Introduction
Beautiful! Have you every tried other types of wood in your smoker?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
i've used all kinds of wood. A couple tips about wood do not listen to all the hype, to most people each different kind of wood tastes the same. So don't go out and buy expensive wood. Larger pieces of wood works the best like i used on charcoals wood chips just burn up even after soaking. Wood chips work the best if you are using a wood grill and you make a foil pouch.
10 years ago on Introduction
Egads! Step three is sheer genius!
Seasoning the meat and the skin separately and rewrapping them. Guaranteed tender and to die for flavor. Bravo!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
the best psrt the skin is like BBQ candy
10 years ago on Introduction
great
10 years ago on Introduction
Yum! Looks delicious!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I was very good. :)