Smoked Pulled Chicken

Make juicy, flavorful Smoked Pulled Chicken with tender shredded meat and deep smoky seasoning—perfect for sandwiches, tacos, bowls, or meal prep. Use a pellet grill, electric smoker, or charcoal setup with simple rub and low-and-slow heat for foolproof results.

We love to use our smoker for meal prep and this smoked pulled chicken recipe has come in handy so many times. Sure, we can make up some Chicken Breasts to go with a meal, but this recipe for pulled chicken makes two birds so you’ve got plenty of shredded smoked chicken to last your family for a few lunches and suppers if you plan it right.

Our homemade rub only enhances the smoky flavor of the chicken and it’s made with pantry staples. It is quick to prepare so you can get your chickens on the grates quickly. I know you’re going to love your family’s new weekly food prep tradition!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• You only need two ingredients to make mouthwatering smoked shredded chicken.
• This recipe makes two chickens at a time so it is perfect for your weekly meal prep or for feeding a crowd. Plus if you have kids that love to help prepare meals, this is great because you can each work on a chicken.
• It really doesn’t get any easier than this. Rinse, pat, rub, smoke, shred and enjoy!

Ingredients For Smoked Pulled Chicken

• Whole chickens – About 4 pounds is the perfect size for a nice even smoke. Don’t forget to remove the giblets!
• BBQ rub – Make your own homemade rub with brown sugar, salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and ground oregano or use a store-bought rub.

How To Make Smoked Pulled Chicken

1. Rinse the chickens and pat them dry with paper towels. Trim any excess fat or skin.
2. Generously apply 6 Tablespoons of BBQ rub all over the chickens, making sure to cover both the inside and outside.
3. Place the chickens in the preheated smoker for 3-4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Remove the chickens from the smoker and let them rest for 15-20 minutes before shredding.
5. Use your hands or two forks to shred the meat, discarding any skin or bones.
6. Place the shredded meat in a 9×13 pan and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of BBQ Rub on the chicken and toss the chicken to mix in the rub.
7. Serve warm.

You are going to love the smoky flavor this chicken adds to your meals. Perfect for meal prep so you don’t get decision fatigue this week!

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Smoked Pulled Chicken Recipe

Juicy Smoked Pulled Chicken—tender, shredded, and smoky. Easy rub and low-and-slow smoking for sandwiches, tacos, bowls, and meal prep.

Prep:15 minutes mins

Cook:3 hours hrs

Resting Time:20 minutes mins

Total:3 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

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8

Equipment

• Smoker
• Meat Thermometer
• Paper towel
• Measuring spoons
• 9×13 dish

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 whole chickens about 4 pounds each, giblets removed
• ▢ 8 Tablespoons BBQ Rub divided

Instructions

• Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Rinse the chickens and pat them dry with paper towels. Trim any excess fat or skin.
• Generously apply 6 Tablespoons of the BBQ rub all over the chickens, making sure to cover both the inside and outside.
• Place the chickens in the smoker and smoke for 3-4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the chickens from the smoker and let them rest for 15-20 minutes before shredding.
• Once the chickens are cool enough to handle, use your hands or two forks to shred the meat, discarding any skin or bones.
• Place the shredded meat in a 9×13 pan and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of BBQ Rub on the chicken and toss the chicken to mix in the rub.
• Serve warm.

Tips

STORAGE

Fridge: Store leftover pulled chicken in an airtight container for up to four days.

Freezer: Freeze leftovers in a single layer on a baking sheet before storing in a freezer bag or airtight container. Another great way to store is in portions in individual sized freezer bags. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat shredded chicken in the microwave until hot through. If you are reheating a lot, you can also put it on a baking sheet and reheat in the oven. Just keep a close eye on it so the chicken doesn’t dry out.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 541kcal (27%), Carbohydrates: 3g (1%), Protein: 43g (86%), Fat: 39g (60%), Saturated Fat: 11g (69%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 214mg (71%), Sodium: 172mg (7%), Potassium: 514mg (15%), Fiber: 0.5g (2%), Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 2199IU (44%), Vitamin C: 6mg (7%), Calcium: 65mg (7%), Iron: 5mg (28%)

© Gimme Some Grilling ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

Storage And Reheating

Fridge: Store leftover pulled chicken in an airtight container for up to four days.

Freezer: Freeze leftovers in a single layer on a baking sheet before storing in a freezer bag or airtight container. Another great way to store is in portions in individual sized freezer bags. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat shredded chicken in the microwave until hot through. If you are reheating a lot, you can also put it on a baking sheet and reheat in the oven. Just keep a close eye on it so the chicken doesn’t dry out.

How To Serve Smoked Pulled Chicken

Smoked pulled chicken can be added to just about any meal! Whether you are adding it into a casserole or salad or using it as your protein surrounded by side dishes, there are so many ways to enjoy it. Speaking of side dishes, our whole family enjoys Smoked Baked Beans and Grilled Green Beans, so you may as well get your whole meal going outside tonight!

We love dousing this smoked chicken in our favorite BBQ sauce and loading it with Coleslaw on a bun or adding it to our tacos and nachos.

More Great Smoked Chicken Recipes

• Looking for a new way to achieve super moist and flavorful chicken on your smoker? You have got to try Smoked Beer Can Chicken! Seriously, the beer makes this chicken so moist.
• A fun flavorful twist on your typical chicken drumsticks, Smoked Chicken Lollipops are a hit with everyone at the dinner table. This unique dish isn’t too tricky to make and it super fun to eat!
• Let’s face it, the thighs are the best part of the bird! Tender Smoked Chicken Thighs will not disappoint and the smoky flavor really just takes them over the top.
• The best game day appetizer just got even better thanks to your smoker. Chicken Wings are always a crowd pleaser and when you’ve got lots of mouths to feed, there will be more than enough to go around.