Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe

Discover the Ultimate Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe: A Flavor Sensation! This guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to perfectly smoke chicken breast, infusing it with rich, smoky flavors and ensuring juicy, tender meat. Ideal for BBQ lovers and home cooks, this recipe highlights tips for seasoning, smoking techniques, and serving suggestions that will transform your meal into a gourmet experience.

Smoked and grilled chicken is always a delicious classic preparation method I love to use to impart as much flavor into this simple protein.

I’ve mastered the art of delicious smoked chicken wings, smoked pulled chicken, or even smoked chicken thighs. While it’s standard to often grill chicken hot and fast over direct heat (you can read more about my 7 tips to mastering perfectly grilled chicken), I wanted to share the best way to cook this protein on the smoker as well.

Supplies Needed:

• Glass Container (for marinating)
• Knife and Cutting Board
• Tongs
• Meat Thermometer
• Paper Towels

Chicken Breast Brine Recipe:

Brining can be done either through wet brining or dry brining (or a combination of both). When I am on a time crunch I love to use pickle juice as an already-made wet brine (that is what I used here).

Taking the extra time to brine chicken breast meat helps it take on more flavor and retain more moisture and juice during the smoking process (especially in the absence of fat).

Here is a simple brine recipe for chicken breasts:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Water
• 1 cup Kosher Salt
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1 tablespoon Black Peppercorns
• 2 Cloves Garlic (or garlic powder), minced
• 2 Bay Leaves

Instructions:

1. 1. In a large pot, combine the warm water, kosher salt, sugar, peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
2. 2. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add the chicken breasts to the brine, making sure they are fully submerged. Cover the pot and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. 3. Remove the chicken breasts from the brine and pat them dry with paper towels. It can now be prepped with a dry rub and binder for smoking.

You can experiment with other herbs and flavors like I also do here with this apple cider beer brine recipe.

How To Slow Smoke Boneless Chicken Breast:

Slow-smoking boneless chicken breast is a great way to infuse the meat with a rich and smoky flavor while keeping it juicy and tender. Here’s how to do it:

1. Brine the chicken: Before smoking, brine the chicken in a brining mixture of salt, sugar, and any desired spices for at least 2 hours, or use pickle juice that fully submerges all of the chicken. Keep this stored in the fridge until ready to remove from the brine.
2. Prepare the smoker: Set up your smoker or grill for indirect heat and bring the temperature to 225 degrees F. Use wood chips or chunks of your desired flavor, such as hickory, mesquite, or applewood.
3. Season the chicken: Pat the chicken dry fully with paper towels after brining. Rub the chicken in a binder to help the rub stick (traditionally you can use olive oil but I love a light layer of mayo). Add a thin coating of your favorite dry rub the entire breast, top, and bottom.
4. Smoke the chicken: Place the chicken on the grill or smoker grates, making sure it’s not over direct heat, and smoke for 30 minutes to start. Begin checking the temperature by inserting a thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat. Cook the chicken breasts until they hit a final internal temperature of 165 F. Total time may vary depending on how thick the chicken is.
5. Rest and serve: Once the chicken has reached the desired temperature, remove it from the smoker and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing or serving.

Expert Tips To Remember:

1. Choose the right wood: Different types of wood will give your chicken different flavor profiles. Mesquite, hickory, and applewood are popular choices for smoking chicken, but you can also experiment with other woods like pecan or cherry.
2. Use a thermometer: Stop guessing when the chicken is done and use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
3. Maintain the temperature: Keep the smoker at a consistent temperature between 225-250 F to ensure more smoke flavor is slowly adhering to the chicken. It’s a quick cook, so you want as much smoke time as possible!
4. Smoke for the right amount of time: The smoking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken. A general rule of thumb is to smoke the chicken for about 30-45 minutes for boneless chicken breasts.
5. Experiment with different flavors: Try adding different herbs, spices, or marinades to the chicken before smoking to give it a unique and personalized flavor.
6. Keep an eye on the smoke: Make sure to keep an eye on the smoke, especially when you are using a charcoal smoker. If the smoke is too thick or too white, it could mean that the wood is not burning properly and you may need to adjust the airflow to prevent a bitter taste to your food.

Ways To Use Smoked Chicken Breast:

There are several ways to use leftover smoked chicken for meal preparation throughout the week. Here are some of my favorites:

• Chicken Salad: Shred or dice the leftover chicken breast and mix it with mayo, celery, onions, and a dash of lemon juice or mustard to create a delicious chicken salad, perfect for sandwiches or as a topping for green salads.
• Chicken Wraps and Flatbreads: Slice the chicken breast and toss it into your favorite wrap with hummus, veggies, and feta cheese. I also love using it in this leftover chicken flatbread pizza recipe or doctor it up with this cowboy caviar salsa in a wrap.
• Chicken Soup or Stew: Chop the chicken breast and add it to your favorite soup or stew recipe. It’s a great way to add protein and make a hearty, comforting meal, especially when combined with vegetables, broth, and herbs.

More Chicken Recipes To Try:

Grilled Chicken with Mole Sauce

Dutch Oven Chicken and Biscuits

Grilled Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Recipe