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Aleppo Cherry-Smoked Firecracker Chicken

Lee - Smoke & Sear
Servings: 4 Total Time: 50 mins Difficulty: Beginner
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Bold, Smoky, and Perfect for the Ninja Woodfire

Say hello to the Aleppo Cherry-Smoked Firecracker Chicken, your new BBQ favourite! These chicken leg quarters soak up a flavour-packed marinade overnight, featuring Aleppo chili flakes for a moderate kick, honey for sweetness, and a smoky finish from cherry wood pellets. Cooked to perfection in the Ninja Woodfire, this recipe guarantees tender, mouth-watering chicken that’s great for backyard parties or a casual dinner with mates.

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Aleppo Cherry-Smoked Firecracker Chicken

Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 30 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 50 mins
Chicken
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Author: Lee - Smoke & Sear Cooking Method: , Cuisine: Courses: Recipe Keys: Show Stopper Show Stopper
Difficulty: Beginner Cooking Temp: 190  C Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: £ 10 Calories: Approximately 400 per serving Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Marinade:

    In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Aleppo chili flakes, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, minced garlic, coriander, dark soy sauce, white vinegar, and honey until well combined.

  2. Marinate the Chicken:

    Coat the chicken leg quarters thoroughly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight to let the flavours meld.

  3. Preheat the Ninja Woodfire:

    Set your Ninja Woodfire Oven to air fry mode at 190°C. Load the smoker box with sweet cherry wood pellets for that irresistible smoky finish.

  4. Cooking Preparation:

    Line the oven tray with baking paper. Place the marinated chicken on the tray, spooning over any leftover marinade for extra flavour.

  5. Air Fry the Chicken:

    Cook the chicken quarters in the Ninja Woodfire for 20 minutes. Flip them over and cook for another 10 minutes to ensure even cooking.

  6. Check Internal Temperature:

    Ensure the chicken is fully cooked by checking that the internal temperature reaches at least 75°C.

  7. Rest and Serve:

    Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes after cooking to let the juices settle. Serve hot with your favourite sides like grilled veggies or a fresh salad.

Equipment

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product using these links, we get a commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep the BBQ magic alive, and we thank you in advance!

Note

Extra Smoky Tip: Add more cherry wood pellets midway through cooking for an additional punch of smokiness.

Alternative Cooking: If you don’t have a Ninja Woodfire, you can use any smoker or even an oven, but you’ll miss out on that authentic cherry wood flavour.

Storage Hack: Leftovers (if any!) can be shredded and tossed into a salad or wrap for an epic next-day meal.

Keywords: Aleppo chicken, smoked chicken, Ninja Woodfire recipes, BBQ chicken recipe, cherry wood pellets, smoky chicken
Lee Bishop - Smoke & Sear

smoke.sear

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Today at 10:28am (Tuesday 22nd April 2025) I witnessed the best @typhoondisplayteam of the year — 100% the best I’ve seen!

Squadron Leader Nathan Shawyer absolutely smashed it over @rafconingsby

There I was . . . iPhone in one hand, Wren (the dog) strapped to my waist, being swarmed by flies (note to self: change aftershave), trying to capture the magic.

Worth every buzz and bite — turn your sound up and enjoy this beauty!

P.S. Don’t worry, the dog you can hear barking in the video occasionally wasn’t Wren . . .

Others had come out to watch the display with their lovely dogs too — one clearly less keen on the noise from the jets haha.

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Today at 10:28am (Tuesday 22nd April 2025) I witnessed the best @typhoondisplayteam of the year — 100% the best I’ve seen! Squadron Leader Nathan Shawyer absolutely smashed it over @rafconingsby There I was . . . iPhone in one hand, Wren (the dog) strapped to my waist, being swarmed by flies (note to self: change aftershave), trying to capture the magic. Worth every buzz and bite — turn your sound up and enjoy this beauty! P.S. Don’t worry, the dog you can hear barking in the video occasionally wasn’t Wren . . . Others had come out to watch the display with their lovely dogs too — one clearly less keen on the noise from the jets haha.

When the kids ask for smashburgers . . . who am I to argue?
And being kids, they like ’em just so. No greenery in sight – ha!

Toasted @stpierreuk brioche buns, a slather of @angusandoink Comeback sauce, double smash patties with properly melted cheese, topped off with our own bacon jam – made fresh, same way every single time. A proper house favourite. Bit of crispy onions on top and that’s it. Simple. Smashy. And they all leave with full bellies and big smiles – that’s what it’s all about.

All cooked on the mighty @blackstoneproducts griddle, and yep . . . even air-fried the chips while making the jam and burgers. We don’t mess about.

#smashburger #blackstonegriddle #familyfavourite #bbqfamily #baconjam #doublecheese #blackstonecooking #ukbbq #stpierreuk

125 22
Open
When the kids ask for smashburgers . . . who am I to argue? And being kids, they like ’em just so. No greenery in sight – ha! Toasted @stpierreuk brioche buns, a slather of @angusandoink Comeback sauce, double smash patties with properly melted cheese, topped off with our own bacon jam – made fresh, same way every single time. A proper house favourite. Bit of crispy onions on top and that’s it. Simple. Smashy. And they all leave with full bellies and big smiles – that’s what it’s all about. All cooked on the mighty @blackstoneproducts griddle, and yep . . . even air-fried the chips while making the jam and burgers. We don’t mess about. #smashburger #blackstonegriddle #familyfavourite #bbqfamily #baconjam #doublecheese #blackstonecooking #ukbbq #stpierreuk

First cook on the new Blackstone – had to break it in with a kid-friendly Full English!

Went with the classics: sausages, hash browns, bacon, beans, fried eggs, griddled tomatoes, fried bread and of course… potato waffles (because kids).

Set the Blackstone up with different zones for each bit – sausages and waffles in the hotter section, eggs and bread on the low zone. Used the integrated air fryer basket for the hash browns and the warm drawer came in clutch for holding bits while the rest cooked.

Cooking on the Blackstone is FAST.

You’ve got to juggle it all a bit, but it’s mad satisfying once you get into the rhythm. This wasn’t a fancy cook – just a proper hearty breakfast to get used to the griddle.

The kids? They rated it 10,000,000 out of 10, which either means I’m a breakfast legend or they need a maths lesson.

Either way, I’ll take it.

Plenty more cooks coming – this was just the start.

#BlackstoneGriddleUK #FullEnglishOnTheGriddle #BBQBreakfast #BlackstoneCooking #FamilyBBQVibes

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Open
First cook on the new Blackstone – had to break it in with a kid-friendly Full English! Went with the classics: sausages, hash browns, bacon, beans, fried eggs, griddled tomatoes, fried bread and of course… potato waffles (because kids). Set the Blackstone up with different zones for each bit – sausages and waffles in the hotter section, eggs and bread on the low zone. Used the integrated air fryer basket for the hash browns and the warm drawer came in clutch for holding bits while the rest cooked. Cooking on the Blackstone is FAST. You’ve got to juggle it all a bit, but it’s mad satisfying once you get into the rhythm. This wasn’t a fancy cook – just a proper hearty breakfast to get used to the griddle. The kids? They rated it 10,000,000 out of 10, which either means I’m a breakfast legend or they need a maths lesson. Either way, I’ll take it. Plenty more cooks coming – this was just the start. #BlackstoneGriddleUK #FullEnglishOnTheGriddle #BBQBreakfast #BlackstoneCooking #FamilyBBQVibes

🍍🔥 Pineapple Express Pulled Pork — with shatter-crisp crackling so savage, you’ll hear it from three streets over.

Massive love to @villagebutchers for sending me this absolute unit of a pork leg (9kg of bone-in, rind-on beauty). Injected it with pineapple rum, spun it low ‘n slow on the rotisserie, then crowned it with crispy shards of crackling like some kind of BBQ king 👑

Cooked this beast on the @everdurebyhestonblumenthal Hub 2 — first time I’ve fired it up in ages. Truth be told, I was sent it back in May 2023 to review . . . but with the house move, life chaos and all that jazz, it’s been sat in the garage gathering dust. Good job I kept hold of it — it’s the only kit I own that could handle the sheer size and weight of this bad boy.

Wanna try it yourself? Full step-by-step recipe is live now:

👉 https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/pineapple-express-pulled-pork-with-shatter-crisp-crackling/

#SmokeAndSear #PineappleExpressPulledPork #CracklingKings #RotisserieLife #BBQUK #EverdureHub2 #PulledPorkPerfection #OutdoorCooking #PineappleBBQ #BBQCrackling #BBQMad #MeatMatters #VillageButchers #BackyardBBQ #LowAndSlow #BBQGoals #BBQRecipe

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🍍🔥 Pineapple Express Pulled Pork — with shatter-crisp crackling so savage, you’ll hear it from three streets over. Massive love to @villagebutchers for sending me this absolute unit of a pork leg (9kg of bone-in, rind-on beauty). Injected it with pineapple rum, spun it low ‘n slow on the rotisserie, then crowned it with crispy shards of crackling like some kind of BBQ king 👑 Cooked this beast on the @everdurebyhestonblumenthal Hub 2 — first time I’ve fired it up in ages. Truth be told, I was sent it back in May 2023 to review . . . but with the house move, life chaos and all that jazz, it’s been sat in the garage gathering dust. Good job I kept hold of it — it’s the only kit I own that could handle the sheer size and weight of this bad boy. Wanna try it yourself? Full step-by-step recipe is live now: 👉 https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/pineapple-express-pulled-pork-with-shatter-crisp-crackling/ #SmokeAndSear #PineappleExpressPulledPork #CracklingKings #RotisserieLife #BBQUK #EverdureHub2 #PulledPorkPerfection #OutdoorCooking #PineappleBBQ #BBQCrackling #BBQMad #MeatMatters #VillageButchers #BackyardBBQ #LowAndSlow #BBQGoals #BBQRecipe