Chicken Thighs (Hickory Smoked)

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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?
I love the skin & never remove it. It wasn't overly crispy, but not at all rubbery. Just right to me.

I bumped it up to 250* at 3:30, and then 275* at 4:15, and pulled it at 5:00 PM. (275* is my Max)

Bear
 
Then there is my issue, I need to adjust my temps at the end.   Thanks oodles Bear!  I'll give it a try.
Yup, many of those who can bump it up higher than 275*, but my MES 40 only goes to 275*, but it seems to be high enough.

Before I had a grill, Mrs Bear used to bake the thighs & drums until they were actually done, and then I would brush a little BBQ sauce on the pieces & flip them around on my gas grill to crisp up the skin.

My smoking way is better, because it doesn't burn the skin, or stick to the grill.

Bear
 
Nice , Bear.
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 Gotta do me some more of those, been a while; Trish don't like Thighs , only Breastes.
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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.
Thank You!!

This forum doesn't do my waistline much good either!!
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Bear
 
Great post , bear. Very entertaining and informative. Chicken thighs are one of my favorite things to smoke. The smoked potatoes and corn just complete that meal so nicely. Great home cookin , brother! :grilling_smilie:
 
Great post , bear. Very entertaining and informative. Chicken thighs are one of my favorite things to smoke. The smoked potatoes and corn just complete that meal so nicely. Great home cookin , brother!
grilling_smilie.gif
Thank You Hambone!!!

Hard to believe how much awesome smoke flavor those Taters pick up in such a short time!!

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.
It's not the forum making you fat... It's your taste in good food! It made me fat a long time ago!
 
That sure looks plenty tasty!!. I made Mrs. Bears stuffed potatoes and they were a big hit. Now i have the rest of my family making them and some friends. Reinhard
 
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.




Closer look at thighs:




 

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More confirmation that skin can be done at lower heat!!

Looks great Bear
 
That sure looks plenty tasty!!. I made Mrs. Bears stuffed potatoes and they were a big hit. Now i have the rest of my family making them and some friends. Reinhard
Thank You Reinhard !!!

It's amazing how things like that spread through family & friends. We had them at Mr & Mrs Bear Jr's house, and next thing you know we made them at our house.

Bear
 
Awesome looking thighs. I sure hope mine looks close to that this weekend when I try some for the first time. It's a good thing that I am a marathon runner because of all the great looking food on here, I will need to add a few extra miles a week to keep the weight in check.
 
Awesome looking thighs. I sure hope mine looks close to that this weekend when I try some for the first time. It's a good thing that I am a marathon runner because of all the great looking food on here, I will need to add a few extra miles a week to keep the weight in check.
Thank You Much!!!

Yours will be Great !!!

I hated running 1 1/2 miles every morning, in the Army!!!

Before that, and since, my running was done around the bases---Seemed to have more purpose.
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Bear
 
These look amazing!  I've been looking for a thigh recipe for my first cook in my MES 30 I picked up.  I cant wait to give it a try.  If you were to sauce these would you do it in the last 30-45 min of the cook @ 275?

Thanks! 
 
These look amazing!  I've been looking for a thigh recipe for my first cook in my MES 30 I picked up.  I cant wait to give it a try.  If you were to sauce these would you do it in the last 30-45 min of the cook @ 275?

Thanks! 
Thank You PHX !!!!

Yes, if I were to sauce them, I would add a light coat for that last 30 to 45 minutes @ 275*

Bear
 
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