2024’s Ultimate Guide to Perfect Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast: Timing, Temps & Tips
Traeger Chicken Breast
What To Do With Smoked Chicken Breast
This smoked chicken recipe is great for smoking other meats. Because it is cooked simultaneously, this recipe takes very little time. Smoked chicken does not have to be your main dish. It can be frozen or refrigerated for future use.
Infuse a smoked flavor to dishes by adding sliced smoked chicken to:
Through lots of trial and error and experimenting with flavors, the best rub for smoking chicken is the rub in this recipe. A nice zesty, smokey rub that compliments many dishes and sides such as Smoked Macaroni and Cheese.
You are ready to enjoy the most delicious smoked chicken breasts!
VOTE HERE!
Which non-meat is the best to cook on a Traeger?
Got a vegetarian in your family? Fresh smoked vegetables and other non-meaty treats will be a hit with them. Or maybe you are just bored of smoking piles of meat and want to try something different. You can use a Traeger grill to smoke some fun things.
- Cheese: You must keep the temperatures low to make cheese. You’ll use an ice bath to prevent the cheese from melting when smoking in your Traeger. It is best to keep the cheese at 90°F until it has set.
- Condiments: Okay, we aren’t suggesting that you sit down and eat a plate of ketchup, but after you smoke it, you might want to. Smoked condiments like mayonnaise and mustard are delicious. To prevent burning, you will need to use an ice bath.
Faq
These are some frequently asked questions regarding smoking chicken breasts.
It is important to brine the chicken breasts so it does not dry out during cooking. Brining keeps chicken moist and juicy.
Pretty much any wood works well when smoking chicken, depending on the flavor you’re going for. Lighter woods like apple or pecan work great for lighter flavors. For a stronger smoky taste, you can use mesquite or hickory.
Smoked chicken breast is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. I like to take it off the grill around 160 degrees F as it will tend to cook the rest of the way as it rests.
Smoked chicken breast will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days as long as it’s in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap.
You can freeze smoked poultry. This resource will show you how to freeze chicken or turkey.
How to Start a Traeger
There is a specific start up process for the Traeger brand pellet grills you can read all about in depth here if you aren’t sure how to fire it up the first time.
Otherwise, here is the basic process for how to start a Traeger before throwing on your food:
- Turn on the grill.
- After a smoke has been produced, open the lid and adjust the thermostat to the desired setting.
- Allow about 10-15 minutes to preheat the grill.
- Put your grates on if they aren’t already in place.
- Using a good bristle free grill brush, clean off the grill grates if there is any leftover stuck on food from the last cook.
- Once the pellet grill is at temperature, you can start to cook!
Check out our Ultimate Guide to How to Keep your Family Safe by using ONLY Bristle Free Grill Brushes, along with a selection of some of our favorites!
Use A Pellet Tube Smoker
Like a wood smoking box, a pellet tube smoker can be loaded with wood pellets, lit, and used to add smoke to your cooker. Pellet tube smokers are specifically intended to burn through wood pellets gradually, providing consistent smoke for up to 5 hours in bigger models. A decent pellet tube smoker will be made of stainless steel, reasonably priced, and have adequate ventilation to keep the smoke steady and prevent them from burning up too soon.
Because it burns slowly and low, a smoke tube is able to be used both for hot or cold smoke. Despite its name, this helpful device may be used in any smoker, even a traditional charcoal grill, to add that extra kick and allow you greater control over the smokiness. This may be used in any grill to add any wood taste you like, ranging from hickory and mesquite to fruitier woods like cherry and apple. Fill it halfway for a two-hour smoke and entirely for a five-hour smoke.
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 225degF.
- Use paper towels to pat the chicken dry.
- Apply the dry rub over the chicken breast and ensure it covers all parts; top, bottom, and sides.
- Once the smoker comes up to temperature, place the chicken breasts directly on the preheated grill.
- Smoke the breasts until they reach 165°F.
- For the final few minutes of your cooking time, you can add your preferred BBQ sauce.
- Place the smoked chicken breasts on a plate. Cover with aluminum foil and rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to reincorporate into the meat.
- Enjoy your favourite side dishes with this delicious dish.
The Internal Temperature Target for Traeger Smoked Breasts
To determine the internal temperature of the Traeger’s smoked chicken breasts, you must use an instant-read meat thermometer.
It is extremely accurate and has an incredible 165 foot bluetooth range and works right with your smartphone so you don’t need to carry a separate controller around with you like many other remote thermometers require.
The app is free and constantly updated. It even includes an algorithm that predicts how long your meat type will cook, based on current cooking temperatures, target temperature, and internal temperature.
It’s like a GPS for your meat!
Anyways, back to our smoked chicken…
Our smoked chicken breasts will be heated to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Since the smoked chicken breasts are white meat, they don’t need to cook as high as dark meat like legs and thighs.
You can take them out at 160°F if they’re small breasts of chicken. Then let the heat outside rise to 165°F. Let them rest for a while so they don’t overcook.
Faqs
In our pellet grill we used pellets made from competition blend. But, hickory and apple would also be good!
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.
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. It’s possible to have two sides of the chicken breast, one on each side. This can lead to dry and chewy chicken.
Allow the breasts to cool, then place in an airtight container and store for 3 days in the fridge. You can use leftovers to make meals, add salad dressings or other dishes.
Key To Success #1 – No Thick Cut Bacon
While the chicken is very important to the success of this recipe, you’ve also got to consider the bacon.
Although I enjoy thick-cut Wright-brand bacon it’s not the best choice for this recipe.
It takes too much time to cook thick-cut bacon.
Choose high-quality thin cut bacon, or regular cut bacon, for this easy Traeger grill recipe.
Use two or three slices of bacon per chicken breast.
The number of bacon slices will depend on the size of the breasts.
If possible, you should cover your chicken breasts completely with bacon
Chicken breasts with more bacon will be more tender.
You can make it a meal!
- Perfectly crispy charred Romaine on the grill! This Grilled Caesar Salad is seasoned with salt and pepper then topped with Caesar Salad Dressing and Parmesan crisps.
- Baked Potatoes are light and fluffy on the Grill, with crispy skin. This is how you can enjoy baked potatoes in the summer.
- A slice of Grilled Pineapple is the perfect dessert to end any summer meal. A scoop of vanilla ice-cream can be added to it.
Tag me on Instagram when you make this @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling – love to see your delicious eats! !
How To Make Smoked Chicken Breasts In Electric Smoker
PREPARATION OF THE GRILL It will also give it a nice crusty exterior. Also, make sure that the firebox is empty and the wood pellets are topped up.
PREPARATION OF THE SPICE RUB Mix well to combine.
You don’t have to get fancy with your smoked chicken breast recipe, but if you want to get creative, here are some ideas:
- Hot – Add chili pepper flakes to spice rub for extra heat. A pinch of cayenne pepper will suffice.
- Saucy: Add your preferred barbecue sauce to the chicken after it has been smoked for saucy.
- Herbs – Season the smoky chicken with fresh herbs for amazing flavor.
The Pit Boss 8-1 is our pellet smoker. It uses 100% wood pellets as fuel instead of gas and propane. There is nothing better than food cooked on the smoker; the added flavor is incredible!
- Cook by the temperature and not by the time for best results. To ensure that the meat is cooked at a safe temperature, we use a digital thermometer. The chicken will become dry and rubbery if it is left on the smoker for too long.
- Cooking large breasts of chicken will take more time than cooking smaller ones.
- Flip chicken breasts halfway for an even smoke ring.
How To Make Smoked Chicken Breast
*If skipping the brine, jump to step 4!
- In a small saucepan, add water, salt, sugar, maple syrup and cajun seasoning. Bring it to simmer and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the brine to a large non-reactive container. A ceramic dutch oven was used. Add the remaining water and whisk until completely combined.
- Cover the breasts of chicken with the brine and let it sit in the refrigerator for three to four hours.
- Prior to removing chicken breast from the fridge, preheat the smoker to 225f.
- Remove chicken from the fridge, rinse well and pat dry. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with rub.
- Once the smoker has been preheated, place the chicken on the smoker and place the breasts face up on the middle rack of your grill. Place a temperature probe into the fat side of the largest chicken breast. Smoke at 225f for 45 minutes.
- Turn the heat up to 350F and let the chicken cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165-170F.
The Key to Success #3: Take 5-10 minutes off before you slice
When the temperature of chicken breasts reaches 160°F on a thermometer, it is safe.
Cooking dark meat chicken takes a little longer.
Once the temperature of the breasts is 160 F, take them off the heat. Let them cool on a plate for about 5-10 minutes.
This will allow the juices to redistribute so that you will have juicy chicken throughout.
You will likely end up making a mess in the kitchen if you put the chicken on a flat, smooth surface that doesn’t have a lip for the juice.
I like to go ahead and put my chicken breasts on my serving platter and allow them to rest until I am ready to serve dinner.
Use a sharp serrated knife to cut through the bacon and chicken.
If you are not planning on eating the bacon, you can remove it from the chicken before serving.
It will preserve the meat’s flavor and moisture, so I recommend that you leave the bacon out of the leftovers.
For reheating bacon-wrapped chicken breasts I prefer to cut the chicken pieces and then heat the chicken in the microwave, or on a plate.
How hot can you smoke chicken breasts on a Traeger Pellet Grill at?
When smoking chicken breasts in your Traeger, you will have to be careful about your internal and cooking temperatures.
We recommend setting up the Traeger for indirect heat to cook at 300degF.
This seems to be the best temperature for smoking chicken breasts on a Traeger.
Any lower, your smoked chicken breasts will not only take forever, but the meat may dry out.
Lean meats like chicken breasts should be cooked slowly, just like large pieces of barbecue like brisket or pork ribs.
You risk burning your barbecue rub if you go any higher.
If you are adding a barbecue sauce at the end you want to carmelize, its OK to crank the heat up to 350-375degF for the last 5-10 minutes after brushing on the sauce.
Preparing Yourself
Pre-heat your smoker to 250°F. In our pellet grill we used competition mix pellets, but you could also use hickory or apple pellets, or pecan, maple, or any other flavor.
Pound chicken breasts until they are about 1/2″ thick. It will ensure that they cook evenly. Use olive oil to coat the breasts. Sprinkle on your dry rub and rub it around until the breasts are covered.
Put chicken breasts in smoker. Close pellet grill lid and cook at 250 degrees for about a hour or until chicken breasts reach 160 degrees F.
Place on a plate, and cover with foil. Let rest 5-10 minutes this will raise the temperature to 165 degrees F which is recommended cooking temperature
Once you have perfected this recipe, be sure to make Smoked Ribs!
Electric Smoker Chicken Thighs
I love the fact that ours has WiFi so we can check the temperature right on our phones. This upgrade is highly recommended if you are considering one or deciding to replace your current model.
- If your thermometer doesn’t come with one, I also like the electric thermometer.
- It makes it really easy to check the internal temp for everything including beef and chicken wings on the grill.
What is the best time to grill chicken breasts at 400 degrees?
Pre-heat the grill to 400°F. Cook the chicken breasts for five minutes. Then flip the meat and continue cooking until it reaches 160°F. Place the chicken on a plate, and then cover it with tinfoil. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes, then cover with tinfoil. This will allow the leftover cooking to raise the internal temperature up to 165°F.
How Long Do Chicken Breast Take To Smoke?
Smoking chicken breasts takes between 60 and 90 minutes depending on how large they are. Smoking chicken breasts that weigh less than 4 ounces will take approximately an hour. Larger breasts, which are 8 ounces and more, will take around 90 minutes.
Best Store Bought Rubs For Smoked Chicken Breasts
You can now use any of your favourite BBQ rubs to smoke chicken.
Since we are only smoking these at 300degF we don’t need to worry about burning any sugary rubs.
You can use any kind of rub that you want and apply it generously to each breast.
It is a common ingredient in steaks and cuts of beef that has a savory taste. However, if you want big flavor with little sugar, you could also use it on Traeger smoked chicken breasts.
How To Make Tender Smoked Chicken Breast
Smoking at low temperatures will result in tender, juicy chicken breasts.
Smoked chicken breasts are tenderized with more flavor when marinated in brine that contains herbs and spices.
What Temperature Do You Cook Chicken On A Smoker Grill?
Smoke should not exceed 225 to 450 degrees.
A Great Traeger Pellet Grill Recipe For Beginners
The following recipe is a great one for beginners to the pellet grill. Start by getting your hands dirty with the Traeger or another brand pellet grill. The recipe is easy to follow. You will soon feel confident using your grill all year for your chicken cooking needs.
How To Smoke Chicken Breast
The actual smoking happens when the chicken is placed in the smoker. Make sure that the smoke and wood are ready before you place it. Place the chicken on the grill and then close the smoker.
Rub
- # 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- # 2 teaspoons paprika
- # 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- # 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- # 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- # 1/2 cup onion powder
- # zest of 1 lemon
What Temperature Do You Grill Chicken Breast On A Gas Grill?
Grilling with gas: Prepare dishes using medium heat (350-400 F) or grilling according to the instructions.
Simple, tasty I just got my Traeger, and it was my first attempt to use it. It was really quick and perfect. I used my probe to track temperature, and the chicken was fine. My 12-year-old said it was restaurant food. Performance! Success! Helpful one?
Easy and Tasty
Simple
Quick
With the temperature probe, I put six big chicken breasts on the Traeger Ranger, and it turned out pretty amazing. I went to 450 as that’s the Ranger’s upper temp cap, and it was fantastic. I switched some poultry rub I had and used another bbq/and sweet/spicy brand. Mates, friends, and I loved it all. I changed the recipe to feed six, changing the ingredients. Seasoned Chicken on Grill Photo This action will open a modal dialogue.
Sauced Chicken
Simple
Easy Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast
Smoked breast is no better or simpler than this! We are obsessed with smoking on our Traeger smoker, and with a few tricks these smoked chicken breasts are still perfectly tender and moist. Save Receipt Searching for more? Try our recipe to smoke a whole chicken in the Traeger or our smoked chicken wings Unlike other breast chicken recipes, these are chicken breasts that never get dry! We send you all our smoking tips and our smoked chicken rub recipe. Don’t forget!
Traeger grill? Or saw it be used? They still have Traeger demos at our Costco, so check it out at your nearest Costco or anywhere you find Traegers. And next time you find a Traeger bargain, get us on the Traeger train! These beauties change life! We’ve already shared our Brazilian Smoked Tri Tip Smoked Pulled Pork, and Apple Pecan Smoked Turkey, so let’s skip all the little talk and get straight to the basics of smoking the best chicken breasts of your life!
We were given the opportunity to check out some Traeger grills and the Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker Traeger grill is our pick. Pro tip: You don’t always think of getting the best meat handling tools, but these Dragonn grilling tongs are Amazon’s best-rated and we love them! We can’t wait to try this smoked chicken recipe! It’s nice on its own, but in our Smoked Chicken Kale Salad, too! Yeah, I haven’t said it’s safe too!
Which Traeger Grill Should I Buy?
Chicken Main Dishes Traeger Grill Recipes Cook delicious chili smoked chicken breasts on a grill or pellet. Chicken is simply seasoned, then smoked and grilled to finish! Here’s another fast smoked, grilled breast recipe for ol’ pellet grill. We love trying new recipes on our Traeger, and we really enjoyed this one, using boneless, skinless chicken breasts!
Last summer, we enjoyed making Smoked Chili Rib-Eye Steaks, so I decided to use the same chili-flavored basting sauce on skinless chicken breasts. The outcome? Some good chicken tasting! Here’s how simple this recipe is!
Traeger Chili Smoked Chicken Breasts
Okay… it’s time to smoke chicken! Set the grill to SMOKE setting. Keep the lid open and let it go for about 4-5 minutes before the fire is burning. We used mesquite pellets in the hopper, but use something on hand! Turn the temperature gage to 225°F and preheat for 10-15 minutes (or until it reaches temperature).
When at 225°F, you’re able to smoke the chicken! Put the chicken breasts directly on the grill and smoke (lid closed) for 25 minutes. When chili smoked chicken breasts are “smoking” remove from the grill (and wrap to keep them warm). Turn grill temperature to 450°F and preheat for about 10 minutes (or until it reaches temperature).
Time To SMOKE The Chicken Breasts!
If you’re making Traeger smoked breast chicken or Weber smoked breast chicken, expect great results and be ready for the best smoked chicken you’ll ever taste. Fire the smoker and heat up to 225-235F. Add hickory chunks to smoker’s chamber. Preparing chicken is fast. Simply coat the chicken breasts in olive oil and massage them.
This is the best smoking chicken rub recipe because it has a sweet zesty note, and we love zesty, as you can tell. Using rub here or use your favorite rub. We love Patio rubs and sauces. Real smoking happens when you put the chicken in the smoker first, so make sure the wood and smoke are ready. Attach the chicken and close the smoker.
How To Smoke Chicken Breast
Chicken breast can be tricky to grill or smoke – it can dry quickly. BUT I protected you!!!! This smoked chicken breast was juicy and tasty with the smokey taste that comes from the Traeger pellets!
Smoking and holding your chicken juicy brings the day before and using bone-in chicken breasts. I’ve got the recipe for you and it’s very simple! Even a Traeger-newbie will serve a great family chicken! I even smoked veggies for a salsa recipe I’m sharing soon!
Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast
You must go low and slow to smoke chicken breast in your Traeger (or any smoker). Set your smoker to 225 degrees – it takes about 10 minutes. With the Traeger, you smoke first for five minutes. Once smokes start coming out, you can turn it to 225 temp and let it heat. Also, sure your pellets are perfect! You don’t want mid-smoke out. While your Traeger reaches temp, prepare your chicken breasts. I rolled them in garlic.
Then I put thinly sliced lemon and fresh herbs (rosemary and thyme) under the skin. No need for oil, as the skin will add the oil you need. Often use bone-in chicken breasts – they keep in more flavor. If the Traeger reaches temp, put your seasoned chicken breasts on the grill. For 2 hours, you’ll smoke them bone-side down – no need to turn them.
Directions Dissolve salt and brown sugar in 1 gallon of water. Place the chicken in the brine and refrigerate overnight. Make sure chicken weights it down when appropriate. When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 225°F and preheat for 15 minutes. While preheating, remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry.
Rub with thin garlic.
Next, loosen the skin between meat and skin lemon slices, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Put chicken directly on the grill, bone side down, and smoke for 2 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°F in the thickest part of the breast. The finished internal temperature will increase in the breast as the chicken rests. Rest 15 minutes before carving. Enjoy it!
How to cook smoked chicken breast
You can cook chicken in an amazing amount of ways and still end up with a tasty protein at the core of a great meal. But true lovers of smoked chicken breast know there’s always a way to get flavorful, aromatic, juicy and tender results, and that’s with a Traeger grill. This article will include a step-by-step recipe for a juicy and delicious smoked chicken breast that uses this particular unit.
Juicy And Delicious Smoked Boneless Traeger Chicken Breast Recipe
Undoubtedly, chicken is one of the most tasty and beloved meat styles out there. Tender, satisfying and flexible, chicken meat is a favorite worldwide. Boneless chicken breast is enjoyed by people of all ages, everywhere. Ultimately, however, the cooking method may either elevate or destroy the most beautiful piece of chicken. Smoking it with Traeger grill is not the most common chicken breast cooking.
However, most people afterwards find it hard to stick to more conventional practices. The explanation for this? Smoked boneless chicken breast is beautifully juicy. It has a slightly charcoal-like taste that just pops in your mouth. Smoked chicken freezes exceptionally well, making it remarkably practical. If chicken breast doesn’t delight you, don’t worry.
Using a Trager grill, you can smoke every part of a chicken, and the results are always great. Besides chicken breasts, chicken thighs and wings are also smoked. Using this sort of grill, you can smoke a whole (pieced) chicken easily and efficiently.
Why Smoke a Boneless Traeger Chicken Breast
Since the system generates an indirect, but reliable, heat source, smoking a chicken breast on a Traeger will yield fantastic results. Slowly, chicken meat cooks this sort of grill, sealing its juices inside while deliciously roasting its skin. Even better, the smoke adds a lovely charcoal-like taste to the chicken meat that really brings out its colour.
This way of grilling the chicken can cook it quite reliably, resulting in a perfect-looking (and tasting) dish. Concluding Smoked boneless chicken breast is one of the best things you can do with a grill. Tender, juicy and extremely aromatic, this cooking method consistently produces excellent results. This Traeger slow smoked chicken recipe helps you make the best smoked chicken breast you’ve ever had.
Why a Traeger Grill is Great for Smoking Chicken
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- Easy and Tasty
- Simple
- Quick
- Sauced Chicken
- Simple
- Easy Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast
- Which Traeger Grill Should I Buy?
- Traeger Chili Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Time To SMOKE The Chicken Breasts!
- How To Smoke Chicken Breast
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast
- How to cook smoked chicken breast
- Juicy And Delicious Smoked Boneless Traeger Chicken Breast Recipe
- Why Smoke a Boneless Traeger Chicken Breast
- Why a Traeger Grill is Great for Smoking Chicken
