Simple and Delicious Traeger BBQ Chicken Recipe

This recipe from Traeger Grills offers a flavorful and easy way to prepare BBQ half chickens using a Traeger Wood Pellet Grill. The process involves splitting a fresh young chicken, seasoning it with Traeger Chicken Rub, grilling, and finishing with Traeger Apricot BBQ Sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh young chicken (3 to 3.5 lbs)
• Traeger Chicken Rub (to taste)
• Traeger Apricot BBQ Sauce (to taste)

Steps:

1. Preheat the Grill:

   • Set the Traeger temperature to 375°F and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes.

2. Prepare the Chicken:

   • Place the chicken breast-side down on a cutting board.
   • Remove the backbone by cutting along both sides.
   • Splay the chicken open, remove the breastbone, and split the chicken in half.
   • Tuck the wings under each half and season with Traeger Chicken Rub on both sides.

3. Grill the Chicken:

   • Place the chicken halves skin-side up on the grill grates.
   • Insert a probe into the thickest part of a chicken breast.
   • Close the lid and cook until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (about 60-90 minutes).

4. Apply the Sauce:

   • Brush Traeger Apricot BBQ Sauce all over the chicken skin.
   • Close the lid and cook for an additional 10 minutes to set the sauce.

5. Serve:

   • Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes:

• This recipe is designed to capture the wood-fired flavor typical of Traeger grills.
• The use of apple wood pellets is recommended for a mild, sweet smoke flavor.

Thought-Provoking Insights:

1. Wood Pellet Flavor Variations:

   • How might different wood pellets, like hickory or cherry, affect the flavor profile of the chicken?

2. Seasoning and Sauce Combinations:

   • What other seasoning blends or BBQ sauces could be experimented with for unique flavors?

3. Cooking Techniques:

   • What are the advantages of grilling chicken halves versus whole chickens in terms of flavor and cooking efficiency?

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