Lemon Butter Basted Chicken Halves

Print Recipe

Difficulty: easy

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken halves, easy smoked chicken, easy smoked chicken recipe, smoked chicken, smoked chicken halves

Total Time 1 hr 45 mins

Servings 4

Ingredients

One whole chicken cut in half
Your favorite poultry seasoning

Chipotle Sauce

2 tablespoons of mayo
1 tablespoon of chipotle sauce
Juice of 1/2 of a lemon
Salt, and pepper to taste

Lemon butter

1 stick of butter
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 teaspoons of dried parsley
3 teaspoons of garlic paste

Instructions

Use kitchen shears to remove spine of chicken and cut chicken breast in half to make 2 equal pieces.
Season the chicken with your favorite poultry seasoning and let it sit in room temperature for at least 30 min.
Preheat your smoker to 350°F (175°C).
Place the chicken on the smoker and smoke for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
While the chicken is smoking, prepare the chipotle dipping sauce. In a small mixing bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of mayo, 1 tablespoon of chipotle sauce, the juice of 1/2 lemon, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Also prepare the lemon butter by melting 1 stick of butter in a small saucepan, and then stirring in juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 tsp of dried parsley, and 3 tsp of garlic paste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Once the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 155°F (68°C), baste it with the lemon butter and continue to smoke until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Remove the chicken from the smoker and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Slice the chicken and serve with the chipotle dipping sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Notes

It's important to note that internal temperature is the most reliable way to know that the chicken is properly cooked. The recommended safe temperature for fully cooked poultry is 165°F (74°C) and will prevent any foodborne illness. And allowing the chicken to rest for a few minutes before slicing allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, which makes for a more moist and flavorful final product.