Smoked Chicken Drumsticks with Bourbon Honey Orange Glaze

These drumsticks are tender, smoky, spicy, and delicious, and the skin gets super crispy. I used 6 drumsticks since I was making this for 2 people, but this recipe makes plenty of rub and glaze if you want to make more. I recommend serving these with my Chipotle Sweet Potato Purée.

Ingredients:

6 chicken drumsticks
3 tbsp. light brown sugar
2 tbsp. kosher salt
2 tbsp. smoked paprika
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. dried mustard
1 tsp. cayenne
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin


Glaze:

1/2 cup orange juice
5 tbsp. bourbon
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix light brown sugar, kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried mustard, cayenne, chili powder, and cumin. Rub on drumsticks and refrigerate drumsticks for at least 2 hours before smoking. Take drumsticks out of refrigerator at least 30 minutes before smoking.

In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, bourbon, honey, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Preheat smoker to 300˚. Using indirect heat, smoke drumsticks until they reach an internal temperature of about 145˚. This should take around an hour and 15 minutes. Raise heat to 450˚. Mop or spray chicken with glaze. Using direct heat, cook chicken for about 20 more minutes, glazing about every 5 minutes. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165˚. Remove from smoker.

Smoked Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

These ribs are perfect for watching football on Sunday funday. They have a deep smokiness and will just about fall off the bone.

Baby Back Ribs:

Ingredients:

2 racks baby back ribs
2 tbsp. light brown sugar
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried mustard
1 tsp. hot paprika
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions:

Mix all ingredients (other than the ribs) together in a small bowl. Rub mixture into both sides of ribs. Stack ribs and wrap with plastic wrap and then wrap with aluminum foil. Refrigerate overnight.

Preheat smoker to 225 - 250°. (I used hickory chips for smoking.) When smoker comes to temperature, place both racks of ribs in smoker. Smoke ribs, meatier side up, for 3 hours, making sure temperature stays between 225 and 250°. Remove ribs from smoker and wrap each rack of ribs tightly in aluminum foil. Return ribs to smoker. Cook, meatier side up, for another hour and a half. Remove from aluminum foil and return to smoker, meatier side up. Smoke for about 30 minutes to an hour, basting meatier side periodically with bourbon barbecue sauce and allowing to caramelize. When ribs feel tender but before they start falling apart, remove from smoker. Let rest at least 15 minutes before serving. 

Bourbon Barbecue Sauce:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 cups ketchup

1/2 cup bourbon

1 heaping tbsp. dijon mustard

1 tbsp. worchestershire 

2 tbsp. molasses

1 small yellow onion, diced

3 gloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp. light brown sugar

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup water

Coat bottom of medium saucepan with olive oil and heat over medium. When hot, add onion and sprinkle with salt. Cook about 5 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to simmer, and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into food processor and pulse until smooth. 

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Eastern North Carolina Barbecue Sauce and Watermelon Radish Slaw

This was my first attempt at using the Big Green Egg. I decided to go with a southern favorite, pulled pork. I am not a fan of mayonnaise based coleslaw but wanted something to compliment the sweet and juicy pulled pork. I made a vinegar based slaw with watermelon radish, which added a great crunch to the sandwich and the bitterness of the radish balanced out the sweetness of the pork.

Pulled Pork:

Ingredients:

Bone in pork shoulder, about 7 lbs, fat cap trimmed (I think it is juicy enough without the extra fat)
1 tbsp light brown sugar
1 tbsp mild paprika
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Hamburger buns

Directions:

In small bowl, mix all dry ingredients together. Rub on pork. Marinate overnight in refrigerator.

Remove pork shoulder from refrigerator at least an hour before cooking. Heat smoker to 250°. Cook for about 10 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 190°. Wrap pork shoulder tightly in aluminum foil and let rest for 30 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 195°. Remove bone and using two forks shred pork, removing excess cartilage and fat. Serve on hamburger bun with slaw and barbecue sauce.

Eastern North Carolina Barbecue Sauce:

Ingredients:

2 cups apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced
Dash hot sauce (I used Texas Pete to keep it a true NC sauce) 
1 tbsp crushed red pepper 
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper 
1 tbsp honey 

Directions: 

In small saucepan, combine vinegar, garlic, hot sauce, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil for 15-20 minutes. Take off heat and whisk in honey. Let cool before serving.

Watermelon Radish Slaw:

Ingredients:

1 watermelon radish, julienned 
3/4 head green cabbage, julienned
1 large carrot, peeled and julienned 
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp honey
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:

In large bowl, mix the radish, cabbage, and carrot. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. Pour sauce over cabbage mixture and stir to combine. Put in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.