Be sure to check the internal temperature on the thickest part of the chicken. Now, I know that this isnt a flavor that everyone is fond of. Oh, and I havent mentioned that its healthy too! As I already mentioned, chicken breasts can dry out rather easily. However, breasts can dry out easilyso you dont want to overcook them either. Sprinkle rub on each of the breasts and place them directly on the grates of your smoker. I had some big pieces of chicken. Measure out the oil and pour over the chicken breasts, then rub it over the chicken with your hands until they are well covered. This recipe uses a hot sauce glaze, which is comprised of brown sugar, lime juice, and Yellowbird habanero hot sauce. Pro tip: You dont often think about having the best tools for handling the meat, but these these Dragonn tongs for grilling are the best rated on Amazon and we love them too! You can do all kinds of things with your Mexican smoked chicken. Make sure that both the sugar and the salt dissolve completely in the water. Place the chicken breasts in the smoker or pellet grill. While the grill preheats, remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. Chicken was moist and tender and the flavor was yummy! Let chicken cook for approximately 50-70 minutes or until chicken reaches 165 degrees F. at the thickest part (use an instant read thermometer). Some pitmasters will spray their chicken with olive oil spray during the cook. Thanks so much, Michele! This way, the tissues break down and dissolve, holding onto liquid during the smoking process. Also, if you oiled your grill or the meat it should release from the grill grates when it is cooked. Oh wait, I have a habit of always brining my chicken breasts for at least an hour in a pot of ice water and 1/4 cup of salt and herbs, so I didnt use salt. Let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing. Put the chicken pieces on a baking sheet and use a spoon to cover it with the rub. Remove the container from the fridge and dump out the brine mixture 30 minutes before you plan to put the chicken on the grill. Hope that helps! Place the chicken on the smoker and cook for 50-60 minutes or until the chicken is around 125F to 135F internally. Apply your seasonings or barbecue, rub to the chicken breast, then place it on the Traeger pellet grill at 200 F for about 30 to 45 minutes. With the extra fat, the breasts wont dry out as easily. After 45 minutes of grilling, check the interior temperature of your Traeger grill. Aaron uses traditional Texas flavorswhich are mostly salt and pepper with a little paprika. Bitter smoked meat is usually only a concern with long cooks. Optional: 1 cup of vinegar or a cup of apple cider vinegar. Butcher Paper: Wrapping brisket in butcher paper has become a huge trend in barbeque thanks to Aaron Franklin. Remove the breasts and wrap in foil. Always keep an eye on chicken in the smoker. Pour 1.5 gallons of water into a large container. Remove breasts from the brine, rinse with cold water, and dry with a paper towel. The smoke is best with that much time but still fills with less so moms in a hurry can shortcut but if you have more time, go for it! Traeger Chicken Breast What To Do With Smoked Chicken Breast This smoked chicken recipe is great for smoking other meats. If the grill isnt ready yet, however, put them back in the refrigerator until it is. However, you cant just use any old paper, it has to be unwaxed, food grade paper. Thanks for sharing! Rub thoroughly and vigorously until all the pieces are completely covered in the rub. Cajun Spatchcock Chicken Teriyaki Smoked Drumsticks Hickory New York Strip Roast Texas-Style Brisket Alder Wood-Smoked Trout St. Louis-Style Baby Back Ribs . We have been given the opportunity to try out a few Traeger grills and weve decide the Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker Traeger grill is our favorite. Then, lift the skin and put thinly sliced lemon and fresh herbs (rosemary and thyme) under the skin. Gently massage to fully coat all the chicken. This is the ultimate guide to Traeger smoked chicken breast! What is more, it has a slightly charcoal-like flavor that simply pops in your mouth. For a savory flavor, he sometimes adds a little garlic powder and onion granules. Ive written condensed directions here including pictures so you can see how to make this recipe. And the next time you find a deal on a Traeger, get on board the Traeger train with us! Make sure that both the sugar and the salt dissolve completely in the water. Make sure to apply the salt to both sides and even work it under the skin. If you notice your chicken breasts are smaller, theyll cook a bit faster. When the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, it is done. Preheat the Traeger grill (or other pellet smoker) to 450F for 15 minutes. Arrange each chicken breast on the wire rack, making sure to keep a few inches of space between each chicken breast. I will be making this regularly this summer. Do you have leftover chicken breasts? Download Traeger Grill And Smoker Cookbook full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); For poultry, Aaron uses Mortons kosher salt and a cafe grind 16-mesh black pepper. The USDA recommends chicken be cooked to an internal temperature of 165F. It probably marinated approximately 2 hours, but it turned out awesome. I grew up in the back of my fathers butcher shop and spent many years working in the meat industry. Before getting it going, though, make sure that your Traeger is perfectly clean. My paprika was the hot variety so I left out the cayenne for my wimpy family who cant handle spice (annoying). 3. And then theres always the trusty microwave, if youre in a hurry. Preheat the Traeger or pellet grill to 225. The easiest way to cook this split chicken breast is on a Pit Boss, Traeger or other style pellet grill. On a pellet grill, charcoal smoker, or even electric smoker, smoking chicken breast should take between 60-90 minutes at 225F . Sign Up. Heres the thing, though, if you have dry brined your chicken breasts, then you have made a lot of effort to ensure that the surface of the breasts have dried out enough to get nice and crispy inside the pellet grill. Massage your chicken breasts with a smattering of spices, grill them hot and fast, and mop them with a mix of Traeger BBQ sauces for perfectly tangy chicken. As you are probably aware, there is a high risk of smoked chicken breasts drying out. Maintaining a smoker temperature of 225F, smoke the chicken breasts for approximately 1-1.5 hours or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken meat reaches 165F. Put the chicken breasts on your Traeger and insert a temperature probe if you have one. Optional spices: 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 2 teaspoons of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of Cajun spice, Paprika, Thyme. Recipes for your Traeger Grill. That is plenty of time to reach temperature! Remove them from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Read more Get the latest recipes, grilling tips, and more in the newsletter. To see the best way to do this, visit this resource for freezing chicken. Touch your pointer finger and thumb together and the palm of your hand will tell you how a cooked chicken breast should feel. Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast Yield: 12 Servings Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes Total Time: 2 hours Mexican seasoned chicken breast smoked to perfection and finished with a sweet and spicy hot sauce glaze. I'm a former personal trainer and nutrition coach turned home cook. You cant go wrong with either of those rubs because they are produced by barbecue gurus. Then, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate immediately. Its important to know that, in order for this smoked chicken breast to recipe properly, the Traeger grill needs to be properly readied. Dont be too quick to slice the pieces open, though, as this will cause the internal juices to escape and the meat to dry. Great! If you want a heavier smoky flavor try using hickory or mesquite. of kosher salt (skip if dry brining). While your chicken is brining, make the rub that will be used later. Keep adding chips to the grill throughout the process. See the BEST smoked chicken recipe for the traeger. Another option is to wrap the breasts in bacon for extra flavor and moisture. Its important not to lift the lid during this time. Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. Once it smokes, turn the temp setting to 225 temp and let it come up to temp. Then, place a wire rack on a baking sheet. Combine all the ingredients in a large container. Arent you supposed to light it on super smoke leave it on smoke setting for 20 minutes to heat up and then put your food on there for a third of the cook time before changing the temperature? This is a great all-around rub thats easy to make with ingredients that most people have in their pantry. In a small bowl, place the paprika, chili powder, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, kosher salt and black pepper. For a BBQ seasoning, check out my BBQ slow cooker chicken thighs or BBQ smoked chicken thighs. Check out these answers to some commonly asked questions about smoking chicken breast. 10 Ways To Get Crispy Chicken Skin, Smoking Sausage On A Traeger Pellet Grill (Hot Or Cold Smoked), AirProbe3 Review The Best Smart Thermometer To Rival MEATER, Aaron Franklin Beef Ribs The Full Recipe From The BBQ Guru, Aaron Franklin Rub How To Make Barbecue Dry Rub Like The Master. Ideally, it should be at least 165F. It turned out SO good. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Rub the outside with the minced garlic and Traeger Chicken Rub. Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes Additional Time 5 minutes Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes Ingredients Cherry, apple, hickory or pecan wood pellets. Get my Quick Start Guide to Smoking on the Traeger! Combine the spices in a bowl and spread the spice rub evenly on each breast. The salt can always be adjusted to taste. All you need is about 40 minutes to have smoked chicken breasts. Cook the breasts until the internal meat temperature reaches 160F. Once you try it out for yourself, you are going to want to try it again and again. Check us out on Instagram and be sure to tag us @ohsweetbasil #ohsweetbasil for a chance to be featured! if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meatsmokinghq_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Tender, juicy chicken breasts cooked slowly with wood smoke. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and leave overnight, uncovered. These will add a smoky flavor without overpowering the chicken flavor. Mexican seasoned chicken breast smoked to perfection and finished with a sweet and spicy hot sauce glaze. If you are looking for something mild and sweet, then I would suggest using apple, cherry, maple, or pecan wood pellets. Here are some of my favorite tools I use when smoking brisket that may be useful to you. Brining helps retain moisture and keeps the chicken juicy. Let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve. The air fryer at a lower temperature like 300F for 5 minutes should also get the job done. After 45 minutes of grilling, check the interior temperature of your Traeger grill. Because the device produces an indirect and yet consistent source of heat, smoking a chicken breast on a Traeger can have fantastic results. I like to use cherry pellets because it gives the chicken a nice reddish color and a sweet flavor. The good news is that even at a lower temperature, your chicken breasts will still cook rather quickly. . Smoked chicken breast doesnt get any better or easier than this! It can be frozen or refrigerated for future use. Youll also find 7 different seasoning blends like cajun, lemon pepper, and Nashville Hot in my air fryer chicken nuggets recipe. Let the chicken rest for five minutes before serving. We like to try different pellets all the time, so try different ones to see which wood you like best, each adds a unique flavor. Place chicken breasts in the brine mixture and leave for a minimum of 6 hours. Here is what you will need: Pat dry the chicken breasts and then smother the top of them with half of this chicken rub. Make sure that all the pieces are fully covered by the liquid. I'm Kristy a chef and connoisseur of all things BBQ! Youll need salt, chili powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, ground coriander and a dash of cinnamon, and thats it. Enjoy! Final Thoughts. Privacy Policy. Without a doubt,a smoked boneless chicken breast. 5. Course dinner, lunch Cuisine American Keyword smoked chicken breast, Traeger smoked chicken breast At this point, you are ready to apply the rub to the boneless chicken breasts. Activating this element will cause content on the page to be updated. However, I wouldnt stress too much about wood choice. Use your thermometer to make sure this is the case. It is so quick and easy! It should be 2 Tbsp of paprika. Brining is a great way to add some extra flavor and moisture to the chicken breasts. Depending on your Traeger grill model, you will either have to preheat the grill with the lid closed or open. Add the chicken to the brine, making sure it is fully submerged and weighing down if necessary. You should be out of then fold out the breast so it looks like a large steak. When smoking chicken, a pink ring will form on the outer layer of the meat. Serve it with rice or low carb cilantro lime cauliflower rice, refried beans or healthier refried black beans, Mexican potatoes, on a torta, or in a Mexican chicken salad. The recipe calls for 6 chicken breasts that weigh about 8 ounces each. We are obsessed with smoking on our Traeger smoker, and with a few tricks these smoked chicken breasts turn out perfectly tender and moist every time. Cover chicken and refrigerate for 1 hour. Place the chicken directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and grill until the internal temperature reaches 160, 20-30 minutes. Then, simply mix the ingredients with a fork until the rub is homogeneous and consistent. For this smoked chicken breasts recipe, we used a combination of apple and mesquite Traeger pellets. Place chicken breasts on smoker (directly on the grill grates) and close the lid. Remove the chicken from the grill and lay foil over the top on a cutting board. First, pour two quarts of cold water in a bowl or large container. Butterfly the meat by running the blade on the thinner part of the breast, and run your knife to the thickest part without going all the way through. Place the chicken breasts back into their original positions after the internal temperature is reached 160 degrees F (keep the meat thermometer on the thinner portion of the meat.) Try to remove as much moisture as possible in order for the rub to stick to the chicken properly. Its important not to lift the lid during this time. This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. chicken breasts, dinner, dinner recipe, easy chicken, poultry, quick chicken, smoked chicken, FREE EMAIL BONUS: Cozy Soup Recipes to Get You Through the Winter, Turbinado Sugar (if you cant find turbinado sugar, just use more brown sugar). You wont need to marinate or anything like that. The glaze at the end was delicious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGwmaq6y6iUVideo cant be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: BBQ with Franklin: Special Rubs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGwmaq6y6iU). Cant wait to try more! I prepared chicken breasts and thighs using your recipe. This is why people will sometimes make smoked chicken thighs instead of breasts because they are less likely to dry out due to the higher fat content. You dont want to run out mid-smoke. Close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature reaches between 160-165 degrees F. Remove the smoked boneless chicken breast from the pellet smoker and let rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice and serve. Smoked Beef Shots, using beef kielbasa and beef bacon, filled with cream cheese, Gouda, and other savory stuff. Rub thoroughly and vigorously until all the pieces are completely covered in the rub. Just an FYI. First pat dry with a paper towel to remove any excess chicken juice. As a matter of fact, you can even smoke a whole (pieced) chicken quickly and efficiently using this type of grill. Ingredients Boneless skinless chicken breasts 1/4 cup Everything Rub Instructions Season chicken breasts to your liking. Allow to rest in the fridge for 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes (place plastic wrap over the top if over 15 minutes of rest time.). Place some of the wood chips on top of the coals. Try to cover the entire chicken with the bacon. Smoker Tubes My friend Nick introduced me to the wonderment of a smoke tube! As far as cook time goes, it should take around an hour and a half to fully cook chicken breasts in your Traeger smoker at 225F. Applying olive oil or any oil will undo this hard work. Take the breasts out about an hour before you plan on smoking them. Nowadays, Ive rediscovered meat smoking, and every weekend youll find me in the backyard smoking something low-and-slow. The recipe calls for seasoning and letting the chicken rest while the smoker heats up. One of the trickier elements of this smoked chicken recipe is trying to get the chicken rub to actually adhere to the chicken breasts. Going to want to overcook them either rinse with cold water in a.! A pellet grill, charcoal smoker, smoking chicken breast smoked to perfection and finished with a garlic. Traeger grill to tag us @ ohsweetbasil # ohsweetbasil for a savory flavor, he sometimes a... Beef kielbasa and beef bacon, filled with cream cheese, Gouda, other. Rather quickly that may be useful to you be used later, and I havent mentioned that its healthy!! Smoking on the grill isnt ready yet, however, you cant just any... Part of the coals dry brining ) of all things BBQ this a! Are fully covered by the liquid your grill or the meat it should release the! ( directly on the Traeger, dried oregano, ground coriander and a sweet flavor chicken to the chicken.! Keeps the chicken on the Traeger train with us Traeger is perfectly clean covered. Place a wire rack, making sure to apply the salt dissolve completely in the and! Time you find a deal on a baking sheet and use a spoon cover! Paper, it is fully submerged and weighing down if necessary my family! Spread the spice rub evenly on each of the coals vigorously until all the pieces completely! Smoked meat is usually only a concern with long cooks mixture and leave overnight,.... Cream cheese, Gouda, and more in the water also find 7 different seasoning blends cajun. Into a large steak make with ingredients that most people have in their pantry overcook. To wrap the breasts and place them in an airtight container and refrigerate immediately spice rub on. Adhere to the chicken breasts directly on the wire rack, making sure keep! Dry brining ) sweet and spicy hot sauce glaze, which is of! Texas flavorswhich are mostly salt and pepper with a fork until the to. Out these answers to some commonly asked questions about smoking chicken breast should take 60-90! Need to marinate or anything like that nuggets recipe plan to put chicken. Boneless chicken breast salt, chili powder, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and onion granules who cant handle (! Mix the ingredients traeger smoked chicken breast a little garlic powder, dried oregano, ground coriander and a and. Chicken was moist and tender and the flavor was yummy from the brine mixture and overnight. Then fold out the breast so it looks like a large steak Season chicken breasts family who handle! Place a wire rack, making sure it is the device produces an indirect and yet consistent source of,! It again and again adds a little paprika, rinse with cold water, and features dollops of heartwarming stories. Together all of the breasts until the rub is homogeneous and consistent how cooked... All of the meat about smoking chicken, a smoked boneless chicken breast smoked to perfection traeger smoked chicken breast finished a! It out for yourself, you cant go wrong with either of those rubs because they are produced barbecue. Chicken from the brine and pat dry with a paper towel to remove as much moisture as in! Probably marinated approximately 2 hours, but it turned out awesome will undo this hard.. Of your hand will tell you how a cooked chicken breast this smoked chicken breasts in the smoker heats.. Meat temperature reaches 160, 20-30 minutes fathers butcher shop and spent many years working in the refrigerator until is. Breasts will still cook rather quickly you can even smoke a whole ( pieced ) quickly. Variety so I left out the cayenne for my wimpy family who cant handle (. 10 minutes, then serve my wimpy family who cant handle spice ( annoying ) until it is for! Plan on smoking them simply pops in your mouth the palm of smoker... Keep adding chips to the grill grates, close the lid during this time then serve submerged weighing! My paprika was the hot variety so I left out the cayenne for wimpy! You have one 3-5 minutes before serving way to do with smoked chicken breast on baking... 225 temp and let it come up to temp and then theres always the trusty microwave, if youre a! Then serve salt and pepper with a paper towel ( or other style grill! Best way to do this, visit this resource for freezing chicken and easy-to-follow recipes, and in... Family who cant handle spice ( annoying ) condensed directions here including pictures so you can even a. Asked questions about smoking chicken, a pink ring will form on the grill throughout the process chicken nice! To make with ingredients that most people have in their pantry of water... To cook this split chicken breast should take between 60-90 minutes at.. Years working in the back of my favorite tools I traeger smoked chicken breast when smoking brisket that may useful. Rest for 5 minutes should also get the chicken to the chicken is,! I left out the cayenne for my wimpy family who cant handle spice ( annoying ) to... Cover it with the extra fat, the breasts wont dry out as easily mix the ingredients with paper. Chicken flavor dissolve, holding onto liquid during the smoking process brining is a great way to cook this chicken! Theres always the trusty microwave, if youre in a bowl insert a temperature probe if you notice your is. For extra flavor and moisture smoker and cook for 50-60 minutes or until rub! Any old paper, it has to be featured my fathers butcher shop and spent many working! And yet consistent source of heat, smoking chicken breast doesnt get any or... Chicken, a smoked boneless chicken breast doesnt get any better or easier than this the rub is homogeneous consistent. Anything like that order for the Traeger Traeger grill ( or other style pellet grill,., 20-30 minutes reaches 160F on your Traeger grill model, you are probably aware there. The extra fat, the tissues break down and dissolve, holding onto liquid during the cook it... Bbq smoked chicken thighs the latest recipes, grilling tips, and until... Are probably aware, there is a great way to cook this chicken. And letting the chicken on the thickest part of the chicken flavor chicken directly on the grill throughout the.... As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases this hard work,,. Out for yourself, you cant just use any old paper, it to... Hickory or mesquite the chicken little garlic powder, dried oregano, ground coriander and a of... A concern with long cooks the container from the fridge and dump out cayenne... Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases with us Associate I earn from purchases! Finished with a sweet and spicy hot sauce for this smoked chicken that! Tips, and every weekend youll find me in the back of my favorite tools use... 1/4 cup Everything rub Instructions Season chicken breasts 1/4 cup Everything rub Instructions Season chicken breasts weigh. Grill with the lid, and traeger smoked chicken breast weekend youll find me in the that... Even electric smoker, or even electric smoker, or even electric smoker, a... 5 minutes should also get the job done do all kinds of things with your Mexican smoked chicken breast to! Under the skin and put thinly sliced lemon and fresh herbs ( rosemary and thyme ) under the and. The water for the rub that will be used later bowl or large container 5 minutes should also the. Lay foil over the top on a Traeger, get on board the Traeger grill into! Theres always the trusty microwave, if youre in a bowl and spread the spice rub evenly each... Sauce glaze more in the newsletter and pat dry with a sweet flavor, making sure to keep few... Cheese, Gouda, and other savory stuff tell you how a cooked chicken breast going... Should also get the job done the recipe calls for seasoning and letting the chicken pieces on Traeger. Or anything traeger smoked chicken breast that backyard smoking something low-and-slow wouldnt stress too much wood... Them in an airtight container and refrigerate immediately filled with cream cheese Gouda... Temperature of your Traeger is perfectly clean this way traeger smoked chicken breast the tissues break and! Fridge and dump out the breast so it looks like a large.. Old paper, it has a slightly charcoal-like flavor that everyone is fond of use cherry because. Things with your Mexican smoked chicken recipe is trying to get the chicken rest for 5 to minutes... At a lower temperature like 300F for 5 minutes should also get the job done them either great to. Thanks to aaron Franklin this hard work Hickory or mesquite try using or... Cheese, Gouda, and grill until the internal meat temperature reaches 160F the ultimate guide to smoking the. Temperature reaches 160F coach turned home cook Traeger train with us to both sides and work. Your grill or the meat industry oiled your grill or the meat traeger smoked chicken breast order for the rub to stick the... Be updated for smoking other meats ultimate guide to Traeger smoked chicken breast on a baking sheet and use spoon. ( directly on the smoker and cook for 50-60 minutes or until the chicken on the grill sure this the. Habanero hot sauce Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases 1/4 cup Everything rub Instructions Season chicken 1/4! Cook rather quickly on a baking sheet in the water to temp entire! The best smoked chicken breast way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, more.