Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken with Chili Lime Rub

This is a smoked whole chicken with lime slices on a gray platter.

5 from 1 vote

Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken with Chili Lime Rub

Tender, juicy, and smoked to perfection, this is the best Traeger smoker chicken recipe! Seasoned with a homemade chili-lime dry rub, this smoked whole chicken recipe is full of fresh and zesty flavors.

Prep Time10

Cook Time2 35

Resting Time30

Total Time3 15

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 422kcal

Author: Holly Lee

Equipment

Traeger Pellet Grill

Ingredients

4-5 pound whole chicken giblets removed
1-2 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large lime or 2 small

Instructions

Turn on your Traeger or other pellet grill smoker per the manufacturer's instructions and heat it to 225 degrees F.
Make your dry rub. Add all of your spices and seasonings to a bowl. Wash and dry your lime and zest the whole lime into the bowl of seasonings. Whisk to combine. Slice your lime into 6 slices and set the lime slices aside to stuff under the chicken skin.
Dry chicken off with paper towels, then pour about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over your chicken and rub it in with your hands. Peel the skin up on the breasts and thighs and get a little oil under the skin directly onto the meat, too.
Rub the dry rub all over the chicken, both on top of the skin and under the skin directly onto the meat. Take the lime slices and slide them under the skin on top of both breasts and the thighs. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast.
Place your chicken right on the grill grates, breast side up. Close the lid on your grill and allow it to smoke for about 2 hours.
After two hours, turn the heat up to 375° F. Finish out the cook at this temp to crisp up the skin. When the chicken reaches 165 degrees F internally, pull it off the smoker.
Place chicken on a platter and let the chicken rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Notes

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3-4 days.

Leftover chicken reheats well making this a great recipe for meal prepping. I recommend slicing the chicken before heating, and heating in short bursts in the microwave to prevent it from getting rubbery.

Alternatively, but the chicken in a baking dish and cover it with foil and reheat it in the oven at 325 for 10-15 minutes or until it reaches your desired warmth.

Nutrition