Stir the salt into the juice mixture with a whisk until it is completely dissolved (1 to 2 minutes), then put the chicken in. Remove chicken from smoker and let rest 5-10 minutes. Preheat the Traeger grill to 225 degrees F. Combine the ingredients of the dry rub in a small bowl. This is the ultimate guide to Traeger smoked chicken breast! Filed under: 4th Of July, Chicken, Dairy Free, Dinner, Fathers Day, Football Food, Gluten Free, Grilled, Healthy, Smoker, Spring, Summer. Smoked chicken does not have to be your main dish. Combine all the ingredients in a large container. We love our Traeger and its held up really well we even use it to make our Thanksgiving Smoked Turkey! Once the chicken has reached temperature, remove the chicken from the grill and lay foil over the top of it on a cutting board. As far back as I can remember, I was hanging meat in the smokehouse. Cook for 12-13 minutes with the lid closed. You can wrap in foil and place in an oven or cooler if you're waiting on sides or other dishes to come off the grill. Step 3 Also be sure your pellets are full! Set your Traeger pellet grill to 250 degrees F. Dry off the chicken with a paper towel. 28 Likes, TikTok video from Jenna Passaro (@sipbitego): "Traeger smoked chicken breast meal prep #homecooking #traeger #traegergrills #smokedchicken #pelletgrill #grilling #foodie". Any type of wood or pellets should work fine here, but you might change things up based on the seasoning blend you use. Smoked chicken can be kept in the refrigerator for 7 days, or 1 month in the freezer. Rub oil on the breasts and spread evenly. Mexican seasoned chicken breast smoked to perfection and finished with a sweet and spicy hot sauce glaze. I consider it a privilege to share it with others! Keep adding chips to the grill throughout the process. That means that you should fire your grill up at least half an hour before putting the chicken in it. At this point, your chicken breasts are ready to be smoked. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Be sure to check the internal temperature on the thickest part of the chicken. Preheat the griddle for 10 minutes on high. Meat Thermometer: There are dozens of fancy thermometers on the market, but I still use my trusty TP20. Once the exterior of your smoked chicken breast has picked up some great smoky flavor and the seasoning has fully cooked into the chicken, its a good move to brush the chicken with some type of sauce or glaze. I make a couple of breasts on Sunday for lunches during the week. 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. Ingredients Boneless skinless chicken breasts 1/4 cup Everything Rub Instructions Season chicken breasts to your liking. Tune in and listen to the newly launched Grill Like a Mother podcast from Hot Pan Kitchen author Taryn Solie. Cooking the whole chicken takes 30-60 minutes longer on the smoker. Any more Traeger smokes for a weekday meal? (If you have smaller pieces of chicken, you may want to pull them earlier as they come up to temperature.). 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. 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. Turns out, there are several techniques we can use to can smoke chicken breasts in a Traeger or pellet grill to get tender, juicy breasts every time. Dont be too quick to slice the pieces open, though, as this will cause the internal juices to escape and the meat to dry. And maybe best of all, its easy to make. Put the chicken pieces on a baking sheet and use a spoon to cover it with the rub. But most of all, they love the memories made, shared and treasured and its all thanks to a meal shared together with loved ones. this was an absolute winner! My family has always been a big fan of smoked chicken breasts. Thank you! Take the breasts out about an hour before you plan on smoking them. Even while resting, the breasts should continue rising to the safe 165 F temperature. The chicken breasts will only be on the grill for 1 or 2 hours. Now, you have your brine mixture ready. 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. That quickly, your rub is ready to be used. Set them in the grill with your chicken and shut the lid. Smoked meat often leaves a pink hue but if it has come to temperature its fine. We make it all year long! Smoked Chicken Done Temp Safe Internal Temperatures, Did you know theres now a meat thermometer with no wires that can control with your phone? Remove the chicken from the grill and lay foil over the top on a cutting board. Its important to know that, in order for this smoked chicken breast to recipe properly, the Traeger grill needs to be properly readied. Turn the heat to 350 degrees and close the lid for 15 minutes while it warms up. Let rest for 5 minutes. 3. After 45 minutes of grilling, check the interior temperature of your Traeger grill. The barbecue guru isnt a fan of complex rubs and prefers to let the meat be the star of the show. Normally boneless chicken breast can really dry out when cooked, especially on a grill. When cooking chicken, the breasts are probably the most troublesome part of the bird. Read recipe notes submitted by our community or add your own notes. 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. Traeger Pro 34 - In-Depth Review And Comparison. 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! The boneless skinless chicken breast turns out juicy and flavorful thanks to a wet brine and an easy dry rub. So, if you really dont like mustard you can use olive oil. Make the brine by combining the apple juice, water, and kosher salt. The finished internal temperature will rise to 160 in the breast as the chicken rests. Combine the spices in a bowl and spread the spice rub evenly on each breast. Bacon fat will also add extra flavor. So glad you enjoyed the smoked chicken breasts! If its still jiggly it needs more time. Awesome!!! Ok, have you used a Traeger grill yet? Just before you take the chicken breasts out of the grill, check the internal temperature of each chicken breast to make sure they are done. I like to slice the chicken breasts before storing for easier reheating, but you can store whole chicken breasts and slice later. The smoke flavor is all those tubes will leave behind! Place on a plate, cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Try to remove as much moisture as possible in order for the rub to stick to the chicken properly. This recipe is amazing. The only way to know for sure when your Traeger smoked chicken breasts are done is to keep track of the internal temperature. Using a boning knife, on the thick end of the chicken breast, slice a 1-2" pocket. Once you reach the temperature and you see that its stable, put the chicken pieces in the grill. That being said your spice rub sounds appealing and the pictures look good. Soak the breasts in the brine for at least 6 hours. Smoke them bone-side down for 2 hours at 225 no need to turn them. Dont be too quick to slice the pieces open, though, as this will cause the internal juices to escape and the meat to dry. Ideally, it should be at least 165F. Rub with the minced garlic. I hope you enjoy! Without a doubt, a smoked boneless chicken breast is one of the best things that you can make with a grill. Then, finish the chicken breasts over a direct flame, or sear at a higher temperature until the chicken breast reaches 160 F. Let it rest for 5 minutes and it should come up to 165 F. Chicken has a thin flesh, so mild fruit woods flavors work best with chicken. Youll need salt, chili powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, ground coriander and a dash of cinnamon, and thats it. I would love it. Smoked Beef Shots, using beef kielbasa and beef bacon, filled with cream cheese, Gouda, and other savory stuff. As a matter of fact, you can cook chicken in an impressive number of ways and always end up with a delicious protein to be the center of a great dish. The key to this smoked Traeger chicken breast recipe is to choose the right wood pellets for the job. . 5. If you make end up making thissmoked chicken recipe,then dont forget torate the recipeand let me know how it went in the comments below! Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. Make sure that all the pieces are fully covered by the liquid. FOLLOW OH, SWEET BASIL ON FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER FOR ALL OF OUR LATEST CONTENT, RECIPES AND STORIES. 6 pieces of boneless and skinless chicken breast. Lets skip all the small talk and get right to the details of smoking the best chicken breasts of your life! Love this! 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. Turn the chicken over and cook another 10-12 minutes or until cooked to 165-170 degrees. Place some of the wood chips on top of the coals. Use your thermometer to make sure this is the case. Prepare Traeger and set temperature to 225F In a skillet, over medium heat, heat olive oil. It was dark, looked like it had been dropped in the dirt, and the flavor of paprika overpowered everything else. Barbecue Recipes. Place chicken breasts on smoker (directly on the grill grates) and close the lid. We just purchased a Traeger so we are searching for easy first timer recipes. 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? 5. Smoke will start billowing out! Thanks for checking out this article. Mix the dry rub ingredients together before sprinkling over the chicken. Of course, you are free to choose any spices or herbs that you like. Cook the breasts until the internal meat temperature reaches 160F. Dry, then apply a decent layer of salt, pepper and a barbecue rub. You should be out of then fold out the breast so it looks like a large steak. Will save and use this as our new go-to chicken recipe, thank you so much! These days I create healthier, easy-to-make comfort food recipes inspired by my southern roots. After that time has elapsed, you are ready to take the chicken pieces out of the grill. Smoking chicken breast at 225F is the best temperature for producing a tender and succulent chicken breast with the strongest smoky flavor. Chicken Legs Done Temp How To Cook Drumsticks To Perfection. They are a quick-and-easy side dish, and can be smoked so many ways. Take the chicken pieces out of the brine and dry them individually with paper towels. Place your food on the side without the coals to cook it with indirect heat. As I already mentioned, chicken breasts can dry out rather easily. On a pellet grill, charcoal smoker, or even electric smoker, smoking chicken breast should take between 60-90 minutes at 225F . This helps warm the chicken slightly so it will cook more evenly. Close the lid and allow it to cook for 12-13 minutes. Ideally, it should be at least 165F. Also, ground cloves are another a nice addition with Mexican seasoning blends. Without a doubt,a smoked boneless chicken breast. Once it smokes, turn the temp setting to 225 temp and let it come up to temp. Squeeze 2 - 3 tbsp of Traeger Flatrock Conditioning Oil or vegetable oil onto the hot flat top surface. 2 tablespoons of freshly-cracked black pepper. As the chicken breasts are given the opportunity to cool down, the tissues relax, reabsorbing any liquid that has been lost. Just dont overdo it and turn your chicken breast into chicken cutlets. This low and slow method allows the chicken to pick up more smoke flavor. I would recommend removing the chicken breasts at 160 F, and allow for some carryover cooking to bring the breast up to 165 F. Since chicken breasts can dry out easily, you dont want to go over that 165 F because it could dry out. The key to smoking meat is to give it plenty of time at a low temperature and then plenty of time to rest on the counter as well. In a small bowl whisk the avocado oil, coconut aminos, garlic, and additional seasonings until well combined. of kosher salt (skip if dry brining). The dry brining process is really easy. This is because chicken is a rather lean meat. Hi David! If you want a heavier smoky flavor try using hickory or mesquite. Chicken breast at 225 will not be done in 40 minutes. Meat Smoking HQ, Pulled Pork (Boston butt) on the PK300 from PK Grills, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGwmaq6y6iU, BBQ with Franklin: Special Rubs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGwmaq6y6iU), Traeger Pro 34 In-Depth Review And Comparison. After all, boneless chicken breasts cook more evenly and quickly. Once the temperature of your smoker is at 225 place chicken breasts onto the grill grates. Mix well using a large spoon. For instance, if you like a smokier flavor, then you can add in some smoked paprika. Put the chicken pieces on a baking sheet and use a spoon to cover it with the rub. However, true lovers of smoked chicken breast know that there is a way to get flavorful, aromatic, juicy and tender results every time, and that is with a Traeger grill. Why are you preheating the traeger with the lid open??? It was so moist and smoky!! Then, add half a cup of table salt and half a cup of white sugar. Do you have leftover chicken breasts? You can check it out the TP19 here on Amazon. Place the chicken directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and grill until the internal temperature reaches 160, 20-30 minutes. To reheat, you can pop your chicken in a low oven (maybe 250F) on a sheet pan in an even layer for about 5 minutes until heated through. Let them sit overnight and the skin should dry out nicely. If youre after a faster cook, my Traeger grilled chicken breast recipe calls for 25-30 minutes at 500F. If you go with another seasoning option, youll want to check out some of my other side dishes like smoked twice baked potatoes or air fryer green beans. Close the lid and smoke until the internal temperature registers at 165 degrees F. Turn the grill off and place each Traeger smoked chicken breast on a serving platter. If you dont have fresh herbs, you can use about 1 tsp dried herbs per chicken breast. I use a $30 instant-read, which is just as good as the $100 thermometers. Optional: wrap the breasts in bacon and secure with toothpicks. If the grill isnt ready yet, however, put them back in the refrigerator until it is. Preheat Traeger Grills or Pitt Boss or whatever pellet grill you're using to 225 degrees F. Prep chicken breasts for smoking. **Smoked on Traeger Century 885**This Easy Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast recipe is prepared using boneless breasts, a marinade, dry rub, or whatever you like. Put the chicken, spiced side down on the grill and liberally season the underside of the chicken. Always keep an eye on chicken in the smoker. I know that a skinless chicken breast is healthier, but the skin helps to lock in flavor while also providing you with a delicious crispy exterior. Check out theseWeb Stories. Weve already shared our Brazilian Smoked Tri Tip, Smoked Pulled Pork, and Apple Pecan Smoked Turkey, so we were definitely due for a smoked chicken recipe! So glad you enjoyed it! One big tip for best results with smoked chicken breasts is to start with evenly sized pieces of chicken, especially in thickness. And the only way to cook to temperature is with a meat thermometer. I would advise you to stick with basics like the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, etc. Using either a clean cloth or clean paper towels, wipe the oil all over the griddle top to create a smooth shiny surface. For some extra flavor, add 2 teaspoons of garlic powder., 2 teaspoons of onion powder and 2 teaspoons of Cajun spice. Then, simply mix the ingredients with a fork until the rub is homogeneous and consistent. Took twice as long on the trager as the recipe says and it was way too salty. Depends on how you want to serve it, but we typically dice any leftover chicken. The full set of detailed instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page. The rub made a perfect flavor and no bbq sauce needed. Let rest for 5 minutes. Advanced Thermometer and Automatic Temperature Controller:Once youre ready to take things seriously, the FireBoard 2 Drive is a six-channel Bluetooth/Wi-Fi thermometer that can monitor up to 6 pieces of meat, control and graph your cook sessions on your smartphone, and attaches to an an automatic blower that will convert your charcoal smoker to a set-and-forget. Posted on Published: 08/17/2021- Last updated: 10/04/2022. Also, if you oiled your grill or the meat it should release from the grill grates when it is cooked. While the grill preheats, remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. Sprinkle the breasts with rub, salt, and pepper. Remove the container from the fridge and dump out the brine mixture 30 minutes before you plan to put the chicken on the grill. Cook breasts at a low temperature, in the 225 range. Smoker Tubes My friend Nick introduced me to the wonderment of a smoke tube! Set the temperature to 225 degrees F and then wait for 15 minutes for the grill to preheat. Oh my what a wonderful recipe I made this for my parents tonight and they said save this and make this again! We Answer 33 FAQs About The Pitmaster Meat Smoking HQ, How Does Aaron Franklin Trim Brisket? Make sure chicken is fully submerged weighing it down if necessary. Touch your pointer finger and thumb together and the palm of your hand will tell you how a cooked chicken breast should feel. This is why I tell you to apply a thin layer of mustard. Feel free to skip the brown sugar and use another sauce. Place the probe in the thickest part of the largest smoked chicken breast. Make sure that all the pieces are fully covered by the liquid. The USDA says that as long as all parts of the chicken have reached a minimum internal temperature of 165, it is safe to eat. Thank you so much Lyrica! I love this little trick my mom taught me years ago. This recipe starts with our smoked chicken rub recipe that adds loads of flavor to these smoked chicken breasts. Trim chicken breasts, season them well, then wrap 2-3 slices of bacon around each chicken breast. Marinated Smoked Chicken Thighs on the Traeger, Smoked Whole Chicken (How to Cook a Whole Chicken on a Traeger), Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, If you can't find turbinado sugar just use more brown sugar in equal amounts. And if you have some time to let your chicken breast hang out in a marinade, you could use my chicken al pastor recipe. Final Thoughts. They should be good for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Smoke the Chicken Breasts at 250F. Then, simply mix the ingredients with a fork until the rub is homogeneous and consistent. While your chicken is brining, make the rub that will be used later. This smoke ring makes the chicken appear underdonebut this is a normal occurrence. Then turn the chicken over and allow it to cook for another 10-12 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165-170 degrees. Depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts, it should take around about 2.5 to 3 hours to smoke the breasts at 225 F. Keep a thermometer probe inserted into one of the breasts so you can track the temperature, or using instant-read thermometer and keep a close eye on the breasts during the cook. The unit rides on four locking casters to help make it easy to move when . Stir together with one of the measuring spoons then set aside briefly. The oil will begin to smoke. It shouldnt be too salty. Once the smoker has come up to the desired temperature, place the chicken in and close the lid. My favorite combinations are a 50/50 mix of apple and cherry. You brine chicken breast so that it doesnt dry out when its cooking. Glad you guys enjoyed this one. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Can you just grill this or does it have to be smoked? There is a little sweet, a little salt, a little heat, and every flavor you are looking for in the perfect traeger smoked chicken breast. Log In to your account to view and add notes to this recipe.Don't have an account? That means that you should fire your grill up at least half an hour before putting the chicken in it. And the next time you find a deal on a Traeger, get on board the Traeger train with us! Try to remove as much moisture as possible in order for the rub to stick to the chicken properly. Your email address will not be published. Read recipe notes submitted by our community or add your own notes. Either buying blended pellets or mixing flavors is always a safe choice. The recipes says to set the temperature to 350 degrees. 1. pour the 1.5 gallons of water into a large container.2. Check out MEATER. Now is the time to get your Traeger (or other wood pellet grill or smoker) started up. fresh rosemary and fresh thyme fresh herbs makes the difference in your chicken. Either way, check out these tasty recipes cooked on the Traeger. Rub thoroughly and vigorously until all the pieces are completely covered in the rub. Let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve. While the grill preheats, remove the chicken from the brine and rinse well, then pat dry with paper towels. In Im Damien Bernard, the guy behind Meat Smoking HQ. f you want flavorful, juicy, and lightly crispy chicken, this is the recipe and guidelines to follow. Sign Up. Color doesnt indicate doneness. Thank you so much for the feedback and Im so glad you enjoyed the chicken! For the brine you can also use Kosher salt just use double the amount of table but table salt works fine. Dont miss it! Then, using your hands, rub the spices into the meat. And 350 is above the temperature threshold for what Id consider smoking. This whole chicken is brined, seasoned with our chicken rub, lemon, garlic, and fresh thyme, and mesquite-smoked for some smokin' flavor. . You shouldnt experience dry chicken at this temperature, but if you do, pre-brine the breasts or wrap them in bacon, the guarantee tender juicy breasts. Beer Can Chicken On A Weber Kettle An In-Depth Guide. Course dinner, lunch Cuisine American Keyword smoked chicken breast, Traeger smoked chicken breast comment below said they messed up, should be 2 Tsp, not a 1/4 cup, but they didnt ever update recipe. Gently massage to fully coat all the chicken. Make sure that both the sugar and the salt dissolve completely in the water. 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. Next, loosen the skin and stuff between the meat and skin lemon slices, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Unsubscribe at anytime. Use your thermometer to make sure this is the case. You can either make your own barbecue rub, or you can buy a store-bought rub. Wrap your next poultry cook with a little smoke. When choosing sections for your Traeger smoked chicken breast recipe, look for chicken breasts that are similar in size and weight to one another. However, most people who try it find it hard to go back to more traditional methods afterward. Power up the Traeger grill and close the lid. way too salty, and WAY too much Paprika. Infuse a smoked flavor to I'm a former personal trainer and nutrition coach turned home cook. Make sure that the probe is at least an inch away from the bone. Filed Under: Chicken, Grilling, Main Dish, Recipes, Whole30, Your email address will not be published. Even better, the smoke provides the chicken meat with a lovely charcoal-like flavor that really brings out and highlights its flavor. Try to cover the entire chicken with the bacon. That is plenty of time to reach temperature! The good thing about skin-on breasts is it will provide some extra moisture and protection during the cook. The absolute best tasting chicken quick smoke, but tons of flavor, and the family loves it! I find that it perks up the mild flavor of the chicken without overpowering it completely. Power up your Traeger grill and set it to the Smoke setting, with the lid open. REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO our FREE Oh Sweet Basil NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVE EASY RECIPES DELIVERED INTO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY! The best smoking temperature for chicken breasts is 225 degrees F. It should take you a little longer than an hour to smoke the breasts at this temperature. Put the chicken, spiced side down on the grill and liberally season the underside of the chicken. Everyone loved it. Arrange the chicken legs on a clean working surface, like a baking dish or sheet pan lined with aluminum foil, and brush the oil over the entire surface. Sprinkle kosher salt over each chicken breast. Cover chicken and refrigerate for 1 hour. To properly smoke bonelesschicken breasts, you need to get your Traeger grill to 250F.