Smoked Pulled Chicken
This smoked pulled chicken turns budget-friendly chicken quarters into mouthwatering, fall-apart tender BBQ that puts dry, stringy pulled chicken to shame. Juicy, flavorful, and ready in just over an hour!
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 473kcal
Ingredients
- 4 chicken quarters bone-in, skin-on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons chicken rub your favorite or my homemade chicken rub
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- PREHEAT & PREP: Preheat your Traeger or pellet grill to 300°F. While preheating (about 15 minutes), pat chicken quarters dry with paper towels. Brush lightly with olive oil, then generously season with chicken rub on all sides.
- SMOKE: Place chicken quarters skin-side up directly on grill grates. Close the lid and smoke undisturbed for approximately 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 175°F in the thickest part.
- SAUCE: About halfway through the chicken's cooking time (around 20-25 minutes in), combine BBQ sauce and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Place the pan on the grill beside the chicken to warm.
- REST & SHRED: Remove the chicken when done, cover with aluminum foil, and let rest for 10 minutes. Shred using two forks, keeping some crispy skin pieces for extra flavor and texture.
- FINISH: Transfer the shredded chicken to a foil pan and toss with the warmed sauce mixture. For caramelization (optional), return to 300°F grill for 5-10 minutes, uncovered, until the sauce caramelizes.
- SERVE: Enjoy on buns with coleslaw, in tacos, over nachos, or any way you like!
Video
Notes
- For the best flavor, use my Homemade Chicken Rub. You can also substitute with your favorite store-bought chicken rub, or a simple mix of 2 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon each of salt, smoked paprika, and garlic powder, plus ½ tsp onion powder and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Use a meat thermometer - chicken quarters reach perfect shredding texture at 175°F.
- Apple, cherry, or hickory wood pellets provide excellent flavor.
- Save any juices that collect while resting and add to your shredded chicken.
- If skipping the final caramelization step, simply toss shredded chicken with sauce and serve immediately.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months in airtight containers.
Nutrition
Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 481mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg
