Smoked Chicken Breasts
10 Comments
Posted: 05/21/21
Updated: 05/29/21
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Tender, juicy Smoked Chicken Breasts with a homemade BBQ Dry Rub that are smoked to perfection. These chicken breasts are so easy to make and healthy. They make a great dinner paired with a vegetable, perfect for meal prep or topping a salad with! A great, easy smoker recipe that anyone can make even the most novice smoker.
How do juicy, smoked chicken breasts with a homemade BBQ Dry Rub sound? If you are nodding your head in agreement that they sound amazing then I have a treat for you today! These chicken breasts have a BBQ Dry Rub that’s homemade, then they are smoked on a pellet grill. They are so juicy and delicious with tons of flavor.
If you are looking for an easy smoker recipe to get your feet wet in using your pellet grill or if you are looking for a smoker recipe that you can make quickly this is it!
A lot of pellet grill or smoker recipes require you to be round all day but this is one of the quicker recipes that we love!
Ingredients Needed
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – You’ll want to pound these to about an even 1/2” thickness before smoking.
- Olive Oil – This will keep that chicken breast nice and moist.
- Seasoning – We use our homemade BBQ Chicken Rub that is amazing, but you can use your favorite seasoning!
That’s it! These are such an easy recipe that you can make them any night of the week!
Steps to Prepare
Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees. We used competition blend pellets in our pellet grill, but hickory, apple, pecan and maple would be great too!
Pound chicken breasts until they are about 1/2” thick. This will help them cook evenly. Drizzle with olive oil and rub it so the breasts is covered. Sprinkle on your dry rub and rub it around until the breasts are covered.
Place chicken breasts on smoker. Close pellet grill lid and cook at 250 degrees for about a hour or until chicken breasts reach 160 degrees F.
Remove, place on plate and tent with foil. Let rest 5-10 minutes this will raise the temperature to 165 degrees F which is recommended cooking temperature
When you’ve mastered this recipe be sure to try Smoked Ribs next!
FAQs
What type of wood pellets should I use?
We used competition blend pellets in our pellet grill, but hickory, apple, pecan and maple would be great too!
What should the internal temperature of the chicken breast be?
The USDA recommends cooking chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. We pull these off the smoker at 160 F degrees, let them rest for 5 minutes which lets the internal temperature raise the 5 degrees while the juices redistribute to get you that juicy chicken breasts you want.
How long does it take to smoke a chicken breast?
This really depends on the size of your chicken breast. Ours were larger and they took about 1 hour. We recommend that you pound the chicken breast to even thickness about 1/2” to help them cook at the same rate. If you have one thin side and one thick side it’s going to be done at different times which leads to dry, chew chicken.
How should I store leftovers?
Let the chicken breasts cool then store in an air tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Leftovers are great for meal prep, putting on salads and so much more!
Can I put BBQ Sauce on these?
Yes! During the last 10 minutes of smoking slather them with your favorite BBQ sauce. It will take 1/4 – 1/2 c. of BBQ sauce.
Make it a Meal!
- Delicious charred Romaine from the grill that’s perfectly crispy! This Grilled Caesar Salad is seasoned with salt and pepper then topped with Caesar Salad Dressing and Parmesan crisps.
- Light, fluffy Baked Potatoes on the Grill with a crispy, seasoned skin is the best way to enjoy your baked potatoes during the summer!
- The perfect sweet ending to any summer meal is a slice or two of Grilled Pineapple. Better yet, top a scoop of vanilla ice cream with it!
Tag me on Instagram when you make this @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling – love to see your delicious eats!!
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Shop Now!Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!
Smoked Chicken Breasts
Quick and easy Smoker Chicken Breasts that are tender and juiyc with a homemade dry rub.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1-2 Tbsp BBQ Chicken Rub
Instructions
- Preheat pellet grill to 250 degrees. We used competition blend pellets in the pellet grill.
- Pound chicken breasts flat, about 1/2'' thick. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken breasts making sure to cover the front and back. Rub dry rub all over chicken breasts.
- Place chicken breasts on smoker. Insert temperature probe into middle of chicken breasts. Close pellet grill lid and cook at 250 degrees for about 1 hour or until the chicken reaches 160 degrees F.
- Remove from pellet grill, tent with foil and let rest 5-10 minutes.
Tips
What type of wood pellets should I use?
We used competition blend pellets in our pellet grill, but hickory, apple, pecan and maple would be great too!
What should the internal temperature of the chicken breast be?
The USDA recommends cooking chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. We pull these off the smoker at 160 F degrees, let them rest for 5 minutes which lets the internal temperature raise the 5 degrees while the juices redistribute to get you that juicy chicken breasts you want.
How long does it take to smoke a chicken breast?
This really depends on the size of your chicken breast. Ours were larger and they took about 1 hour. We recommend that you pound the chicken breast to even thickness about 1/2” to help them cook at the same rate. If you have one thin side and one thick side it’s going to be done at different times which leads to dry, chew chicken.
How should I store leftovers?
Let the chicken breasts cool then store in an air tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Leftovers are great for meal prep, putting on salads and so much more!
Can I put BBQ Sauce on these?
Yes! During the last 10 minutes of smoking slather them with your favorite BBQ sauce. It will take 1/4 – 1/2 c. of BBQ sauce.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 163kcal (8%), Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 24g (48%), Fat: 7g (11%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 73mg (24%), Sodium: 132mg (6%), Potassium: 426mg (12%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 60IU (1%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 16mg (2%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Katie says
I love the smokiness in this chicken. It’s so deeply flavorful. Truly a family favorite!
Julie Evink says
Glad to hear you enjoyed them!
Megan Stokes says
I set my pellet smoker at 265, 40 mins later chicken still raw, everytime I smoke chicken the chicken is never done in the time the recipe calls out. Dont get it.
Julie Evink says
Hi Megan! I’m sorry to hear that! What type of smoker are you using and/or brand? Are other cuts of meat done in the correct time? Have you checked the temperature inside the smoker using something other than the probe on the grill to see if it’s correct?
Bears Butt says
I thought the taste was excellent, however after 30 minutes it was WAY TOO done! If I do this again, I will monitor the temp of the chicken beginning at about the 20 minute mark.
Julie Evink says
Hey! Thanks for leaving a comment this could totally be true depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts!
Bee says
These look so tender and juicy! Can’t wait to make these for dinner! Thank you!
Julie Evink says
Hope you enjoy them!
Char says
WOW! These chicken breasts were GREAT! Definitely a keeper recipe. Thanks Juloe!
Julie Evink says
These are so delicious!