Smoked Pheasant with BBQ Glaze

User Reviews

5.0

12 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    20 mins

  • Cook Time

    4 hrs

  • Brining Time

    12 hrs

  • Total Time

    16 hrs 20 mins

  • Servings

    2

  • Calories

    1354 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    American

Smoked Pheasant with BBQ Glaze

This smoked pheasant recipe is so full of flavor and makes such a beautiful presentation. Spatchcocking the pheasant makes for a stunning dish but also helps the bird cook evenly.

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Ingredients

Servings

Pheasant:

  • 2 cups cherry smoking chips
  • 1 whole pheasant, skin-on
  • 2 qt water
  • ½ cup kosher salt
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 7-8 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 6 cloves garlic, smashed

BBQ Glaze:

  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
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Instructions

Brining Pheasant:

  1. Combine water, salt, brown sugar, thyme, bay leaves, and garlic in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil.
  2. Let the brine cool slightly and transfer it to a non-reactive container. Let the brine cool to room temperature. Add in the whole pheasant.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
  4. Rinse the pheasant with cool, running water and place it on a cooling rack on top of a sheet pan. Pat dry with paper towels and return to fridge, uncovered, for 2-3 hours.

Spatchcocking Pheasant:

  1. Flip the pheasant over to expose the backbone. Using a sharp pair of kitchen shears, cut alongside one side of the backbone.
  2. Once you've cut from the neck all the way to the tail on one side, repeat on the other side of the backbone. Remove the backbone and discard.
  3. Flip the pheasant over. Press firmly with your palm on the breastbone until you hear the bone crack.
  4. Pull the legs from the ends so that they are fully extended.
  5. Flip the bird back over and insert 2 skewers across the back of the body. Start by inserting the skewer into the thigh, then insert it again just below the wing on the opposite side of the body. Repeat with the other skewer. Skewers should be in an "x" position when finished.

Smoking Pheasant:

  1. Soak smoking chips for 20 minutes before using.
  2. Place soaked smoking chips into the wood chip compartment of the smoker and preheat smoker to 200°F.
  3. Once the smoker is heated, place the spatchcocked pheasant onto the smoking rack. Smoke for 1 hour before adding the sauce.
  4. Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup. After the pheasant has been smoking for 1 hour, brush the sauce all over the pheasant liberally.
  5. Continue brushing with sauce every 30 minutes - 1 hour or until internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 3-4 hours total.
  6. Turn the temperature of the smoker up to 250°F for the final hour of smoking to help caramelize the glaze.
  7. Let pheasant rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 1354kcal (68%) Carbohydrates 17g (6%) Protein 156g (312%) Fat 69g (106%) Saturated Fat 22g (110%) Polyunsaturated Fat 8g Monounsaturated Fat 31g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 500mg (167%) Sodium 1290mg (54%) Potassium 1781mg (51%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 1644IU (33%) Vitamin C 48mg (53%) Calcium 157mg (16%) Iron 9mg (50%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 1354 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 1354kcal 68%
Carbohydrates 17g 6%
Protein 156g 312%
Fat 69g 106%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Polyunsaturated Fat 8g 47%
Monounsaturated Fat 31g 155%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 500mg 167%
Sodium 1290mg 54%
Potassium 1781mg 38%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 1644IU 33%
Vitamin C 48mg 53%
Calcium 157mg 16%
Iron 9mg 50%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

5.0

12 reviews
Excellent

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