how long to cook a chicken on a smoker
1 If you're using a horizontal smoker, place the chicken on a raised rack in a shallow baking pan. 2  Smoke for 1-1/2 to 3 hours. 3  When the breast reaches 160 and the thigh is 170, remove it and let it rest for 20 minutes.here's really not that much to it. 1  Rinse a whole chicken. 2  Trim off excess skin and fat. 3  Soak the chicken in a simple brine for 4 hours. 2 quarts cold water 1/3 cup non-iodized salt 1/4 cup sugar. 4  Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit, and up to 325 degrees if your smoker can do it.