Chicken Thighs (Hickory Smoked)

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Bearcarver

Gone but not forgotten RIP
Original poster
OTBS Member
Group Lead
Sep 12, 2009
45,279
18,182
Macungie, PA
Chicken Thighs (Hickory Smoked)

First I gotta say, I'm not usually big on chicken, however these thighs were the best chicken I have ever eaten.

I'll give a short Step by Step, just to show how I did mine:

I started out with 9 Chick Thighs.

Brined them for 6 hours in a Poultry Brine I got from a Buddy of mine.

Coat well with a good rub on top of EVOO.
Then I wrapped them in plastic wrap & put them in the fridge.


The rest went like the following:

1:15PM--------------Fill AMNPS with Hickory Pellets, and light one end.
1:30PM--------------Pre-heat MES 40 to 225˚, and put AMNPS in bottom left.
1:45PM--------------Remove Thighs from fridge, and put all 9 Thighs on one grill rack.
2:00PM--------------Put full rack of Thighs in 2nd position of smoker, and empty rack above it.
3:30PM--------------Change heat to 250˚.
3:30PM--------------Also flipped all thighs over, and lost one to my crummy porch floor (Thigh last seen flying over pet cemetery into woods).
4:15PM--------------Change heat to 275˚.
4:30PM--------------Put Stuffed Taters (Mrs Bear made) in pan on top rack.
5:00PM--------------Remove All from smoker.




Thanks for looking,
Bear




Thighs soaking in Poultry Brine:




Through the Looking Glass:



Better look of what's going on:



Stuffed Taters ready for Half hour in smoke:



Everything pulled from smoker:



Closer look at thighs:



Taters smoked & ready to eat:



Bear's first helping:


__________________
 
Bearcarver, those look great!  You photos are always the best! 
drool.gif
 
Awwww buddy, you had me rolling with that 'last seen flying over the pet cemetery' crack.....I can just see you flinging that thigh like a Frisbee. Good looking thighs that are left....sweet color & skin looks crispy edible. I know you're not a big briner.....what's the Bear verdict on that??.......Willie
 
Bearcarver, those look great!  You photos are always the best! 
Thank You Frosty!!!

Good to see you!

Bear
Awwww buddy, you had me rolling with that 'last seen flying over the pet cemetery' crack.....I can just see you flinging that thigh like a Frisbee. Good looking thighs that are left....sweet color & skin looks crispy edible. I know you're not a big briner.....what's the Bear verdict on that??.......Willie
Thanks Willie!!

I had it pinned to the grill with the back of my hand, but it got away to the floor.

Good it cleared the Pet Cemetery. Mrs Bear wouldn't like chicken parts on Shadow's (Lab) grave!!

The brine was real good, but not needed for thighs. I should have saved it for breasts.

Bear
 
Bear, if I ever learn to smoke half as good as what you do time and time again,  I'll be .. well fat.. but happy and full of good yummies. lol     Awesome job!!
 
Thank You Very Much FishinChik !!!
icon_redface.gif


You'll probably blow right by me!!

Bear
 
This forum is making me fat! I have to try this. Thanks for including the detail, really helps. Those tatters look as good as the chicky. I'm starting to believe I could sell my stove to buy more meat for the smoker. I may never cook inside again.
 
Question Bear...   I keep coming back to this thread looking at those thighs for learning options.  

It looks like you left the skin on.. and from the lack of char, didn't grill them after the smoke.  Did the skin come out bite thru?      My dad is a huge fan of smoked chicken so I make it for him often.  If I pull the skin off, naturally it's not as flavorful or juicy.   When I leave skin on,  it' has a rubbery texture and all the rub flavors and smoke seems to be lost on the skin.   I usually grill them off right out of the smoker but that always chars the sugars in the rubs.  Any advice?
 
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