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Lemon & Thyme Smoked Chicken
We are going to start this recipe with great lemon flavor, add some wonderful garlic and fresh black pepper and then finish it up with just a little cinnamon for the earthy grounding.
Let's begin by gathering the following ingredients:
  1 large lemon
1/2 medium sweet onion, coarsely chopped
1 four pound chicken
1/2 cup butter
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Since we are not going to be preparing the gimlets remove them and set aside for another time. Next, rinse your chicken with cold water and pat dry. In order to get the lemon flavor going squeeze one half into the cavity of the chicken. Go ahead and place the lemon core along with the coarsely chopped onion inside your chicken.
In a small bowl combine the remaining ingredients and blend well. In order to get the flavor into the meat gently, using your fingers loosen the skin from the meat. You do this by gently pushing between the skin and the meat while lifting the skin from the meat, however do not tear the skin or remove it. Place half of the butter mixture evenly under all of the skin and use the rest over the outside of the chicken. This will give a nice golden brown appearance.
Place your chicken inside the smoker and cook to 160° 165° internal temperature. You should measure the temperature between the breast and the thigh in the deepest part of meat without touching the bone.
Enjoy!
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