Smoked Orange Five Spice Chicken

Smoked Orange Five Spice Chicken

Smoked Orange Five Spice Chicken

Orange and five spice is a popular combination to rub and roast whole geese during the holidays. I decided to change it up and do it to a chicken. But I also brined and smoked the chicken. Before the chicken gets smoked, it is stuffed with orange wedges, garlic, ginger, and green onions. These aromatics will permeate throughout the chicken; adding to the multiple layers of flavor.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Brining Time8 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: Chicken, Chinese, East Asian, electric smoker, main course
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • Electric Smoker

Ingredients

  • 4-5 lb whole chicken
  • 1 orange quartered
  • 1” ginger sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 green onions

Brine

  • 1/2 gallon water
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 shallots sliced
  • 5 garlic cloves sliced
  • 1” ginger sliced
  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns

Rub

  • zest of an orange
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp five spice powder
  • 2 tsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tsp shaoxing cooking wine
  • 4 garlic cloves minced

Wood Chips

  • 1/2 pecan
  • 1/2 cherrywood

Garnish

  • orange slices

Instructions

  • Mix together all of the brining ingredients. Brine the chicken for 8 hours in a gallon sized storage bag.
    Smokers, main course, chicken
  • Mix together the rub ingredients.
    Chinese, main course, chicken
  • Stuff the inside of the cavity with the quartered orange, garlic, ginger, and green onions. Massage the outside with the rub. Let rest at room temperature for an hour before smoking.
    Chinese, main course, chicken
  • Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees. A 4lb chicken will take about 3 hours. A 5lb chicken will take 4 hours. Take the temp in the thickest part of the thigh with a probe thermometer. It should read 180 degrees.
    Chinese, main course, chicken
  • Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes before carving.
    Chinese, main course, chicken
Chinese, main course, chicken
Squeeze a little bit of orange juice over the chicken. Garnish with orange slices.
Chinese, main course, chicken
This chicken pairs great with tiger salad.