Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs. I tried this for the first time and it turned out great! Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey Wings and Cornbread This smoked turkey legs recipe is a favorite snack at Disneyland, so I decided to make my own version at home!
Apple wood is my first choice for chicken and turkey.
Hickory, cherry, pecan are all great wood selections for smoking turkey legs as well.
This whole chicken is brined, seasoned with our Big Game rub, lemon, garlic, fresh thyme and mesquite smoked for some smokin' flavor.
You can cook Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs using 15 ingredients and 7 steps. Here is how you cook it.
Ingredients of Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs
- You need 2 of whole chickens 3-5 lbs each.
- It's 1 package of turkey legs.
- Prepare 1 of orange.
- It's 1 of lemon.
- It's 2 sprigs of rosemary.
- It's 4 sprigs of tarragon.
- You need 5 cups of sugar.
- Prepare 3 1/4 cups of kosher salt.
- It's 2/3 cup of chili powder.
- Prepare 1/4 cup of onion powder.
- You need 1/4 cup of garlic powder.
- It's 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- You need 6 of dried bay leaves.
- Prepare 1 tablespoon of chopped dehydrated onion.
- It's 3 gallons of water.
Smoked turkey legs are popular at state fairs, amusement parks, and harvest festivals. Fortunately, there's no need to wait for one to roll around before enjoying your very own smoked turkey leg. Fire up your smoker, or adjust your grill for smoking, and enjoy homemade smoked turkey legs! Chicken can be smoked in less time than many other meats, and is often inexpensive.
Smoked whole chicken and turkey legs step by step
- Combine 3 cups of kosher salt, 4.5 cups sugar, 6 bay leaves, 1 tbsp chopped dehydrated onions and 3 gallons water to make the brine. Soak the chickens and turkey legs in the brine and refrigerate over night or minimum 4 hours..
- Make the rub. I used Myron Mixon's 'The only other barbecue rub you need' recipe. Combine 2/3 cup chili powder, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup kosher salt, 1/4 cup onion powder, 1/4 garlic powder and 1 tsp cayenne pepper.
- Soak your choice of wood chunks in water (I used mesquite). Light the charcoal in the smoker. Slice up the orange and lemon into approximately 12 pieces each..
- Rinse the chicken and turkey in cold water and pat dry..
- Stuff each chicken with half an orange, half a lemon, 1 sprig rosemary and 2 sprigs of tarragon..
- Cover the chickens and turkey legs on all sides with the rub..
- Put the chicken breast side up and the turkey legs on the smoker. Smoke at 275° for 3.5 hours or until the white meat hits 160 and the dark reaches 180. Check the temp periodically and add more charcoal and wood chunks as needed..
It also pairs well with a variety of seasonings and flavors. Whole chickens require a little more attention. Some will have giblets and the neck stuffed inside the body cavity, and there's. Place the turkey in a roasting pan fitted with a rack. Brush the entire turkey with the oil and season liberally with salt and pepper.