Smoked Cajun-Spiced Whole Chicken

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Whole chicken rubbed with bold Cajun spices and smoked over hardwood for juicy, flavorful meat with a crisp, smoky skin. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 200 minutes, pairs whole chicken, olive oil, cajun seasoning for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 180 min Serves 6 American cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 lbs whole chicken and rub all over with 3 tbsp olive oil to help spices adhere.
  2. Step 2: Mix together 3 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper; rub the mixture evenly over the entire chicken, including under the skin.
  3. Step 3: Stuff the chicken cavity with 1 halved lemon and 4 thyme sprigs for added aroma.
  4. Step 4: Preheat smoker to 275°F and add 2 cups soaked hickory wood chips for a strong smoky flavor.
  5. Step 5: Place the chicken breast side up on the smoker rack and smoke for 2.5 to 3 hours, until internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
  6. Step 6: Remove chicken from smoker and rest tented with foil for 15 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.

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