I used to be all about the charcoal smoker. There’s something undeniably old-school about it. I learned some great lessons while smoking meats on that thing, but I have to admit, it was a TON of work. Trying to maintain even temperatures was like a full-time job, and let’s not even talk about how I ended up smelling like I’d been marinated in smoke myself!
But this summer, smoking got a whole lot easier in my life, thanks to a thoughtful gift from my husband: a brand-new electric smoker. Hallelujah!
The first few times I smoked meats on this beauty, I was almost convinced I was doing something wrong—it was just too easy! If you’re into smoking (meat, of course), let me tell you, an electric smoker is definitely worth the investment.
For those of you new to the smoking world, chicken quarters are a great place to start. They’re affordable and turn out delicious, making them the perfect introductory meat to try out on your new smoker.
Equipment
- 1 electric smoker (preferably pellet)
Ingredients
- 6 chicken quarters
- 4 T butter, softened
- 1 T garlic, minced
- 1 tsp kosher salt more or less to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper more or less to taste
- 1 T fresh thyme, chopped (plus 1-2 sprigs)
- 1 T fresh rosemary, chopped (plus 1 sprig)
- 2 C apple cider or juice
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 225℉.
- Allow the chicken to come to room temperature while the smoker heats up—about 30 minutes.
- Prepare the chicken by patting each quarter dry with a paper towel, then generously season with salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, garlic, and 1 tablespoon each of thyme and rosemary. Carefully lift the skin off one chicken quarter, and using your fingers, create a pocket between the skin and meat of the thigh and leg. Generously rub some of the butter mixture inside the pocket and over the outside of the skin on each quarter. Set aside.
- Pour the apple cider or juice into the drip pan of the smoker, then add the sprigs of rosemary and thyme to the liquid.
- Place each chicken quarter directly on the smoker racks, ensuring they don't touch each other. Insert a meat probe into the thickest part of one of the chicken quarters.
- If using wood chips* add them to the smoker and replenish every 30 minutes for the first hour. Smoke the chicken for approximately 2 hours or until the probe indicates an internal temperature of 165°F. Once done, remove the chicken from the smoker, cover it with foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
