Budget BBQ: $12 Smoked Chicken Feast on a Z Grills Pellet Grill
Budget BBQ: $12 Smoked Chicken Feast on a Z Grills Pellet Grill
When you're feeding a crowd on a budget, you don’t have to sacrifice flavor. In this cook, we fired up the new Z Grills 10002B2E — part of their crowdfunding lineup — and made a smoked chicken feast for 6 to 8 people… all for around $12.
Whether you're stretching your grocery bill or just want a low-cost, high-reward cook, this one's for you. Grab some chicken legs and thighs, fire up your pellet grill, and let’s get to it.
🍗 The Budget Breakdown
We started with:
- One big pack of drumsticks
- One small pack of chicken thighs
Total cost: right at $12. Enough to feed 6–8 people or have leftovers for the next night’s dinner.
🧂 Seasoning the Chicken
Start by patting the chicken dry with paper towels. This helps the skin crisp up and lets the rubs stick better. We gave the chicken a light coat of spray oil, then seasoned generously.
🔥 Grill Setup on the Z Grills 10002B2E
This was our first cook on the Z Grills 10002B2E, and it handled it like a champ. It’s part of Z Grills’ crowdfunding effort — a solid, budget-friendly pellet grill with serious potential.
• Z Grills 10002B2E Crowdfunding Grill
• Z Grills WiFi Controller Upgrade
• Drip EZ Prep Tub
• Paudin Boning Knife
• Cooling & Smoking Racks (Amazon)
⏱️ The Cook
We started the cook at 200°F, letting the chicken smoke low and slow for about an hour until it reached an internal temp of 160°F. Then we cranked the heat to 350°F to crisp the skin and finish it off around 190–195°F.
The WiFi controller upgrade made it easy to track temps using the Z Grills app. We inserted a probe in the biggest drumstick to stay on point throughout the cook.
🥄 Saucing and Finishing
Once the chicken hit 195°F internal, we pulled it off and gave it a dunk in a simple sauce mix — your favorite BBQ sauce thinned out with a little apple cider vinegar. This helps it coat evenly and gives it that backyard tang.
Back on the grill they went for another 10 minutes to let that sauce set and glaze up nice. Then we pulled them, tented with foil, and rested for 10–15 minutes. The skin crisped, the fat rendered, and that meat stayed juicy.
📄 Download the Recipe
Prefer a print-friendly version for your next cookout? Download it below:
📥 Download $12 Chicken Recipe (PDF)
🎥 Watch the Full Cook
🔥 Final Thoughts
This $12 chicken cook was a huge success — flavorful, juicy, and downright affordable. Whether you’re breaking in a new grill or just looking for a budget-friendly BBQ dinner, this one hits the mark every time.
Got your own spin on budget grilling? Drop a comment below — we love hearing your backyard tips and tricks.
🎣 Also love fishing and the outdoors? Check out TexasRodandReel.com for seasonal fishing reports, gear breakdowns, and fish fry favorites.
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❓ Chicken Cookin' on a Budget – FAQ
Can I use a different rub if I don’t have BBQ by Biggs?
Absolutely — use what you've got! But for the best results, the combo of SPG Gold and Honey BBQ really delivers a bold, sweet heat that shines in the smoke.
What internal temp should I cook the chicken to?
We smoked to 160°F, then bumped the heat to finish around 190–195°F for perfect texture and flavor. Always use a meat thermometer to be sure!
Can I do this cook on a different pellet grill?
Yes! While we used the Z Grills 10002B2E, any pellet smoker that holds steady temps will work. Just follow the same timing and temp cues.
What’s the sauce you used at the end?
We mixed a standard BBQ sauce with a splash of apple cider vinegar to thin it out — helps it glaze and soak in faster when finishing the chicken.
