It may seem like a daunting task, but smoking a chicken breast is actually pretty easy. The key to keeping the meat tender and juicy is by removing it from the smoker or grill before cooking all of the moisture out. This way, when you do cook your chicken breasts in the smoker or grill they will be moist and delicious!
There are many different ways to smoke a chicken breast, depending on what type of flavor profile you are looking for. If you want something sweet, try adding honey or brown sugar to your rub! Smoked paprika goes great with something spicy while garlic powder pairs well with everything else.
You can even mix two together for an interesting new flavor! And don’t forget about plain old salt & pepper.
Table of Contents
Preparing The Chicken For Smoking
One step you really want to avoid is brining them. With smoked chicken breast the brine is what will keep the meat nice and tender during cooking. A brine breaks into the amino acid structure of poultry meat and traps the flavor and moisture through the beef in its meat.
When cooking chicken, the true secret to juicy meat is also in the secret of juicy meat. Cooking smoked chicken is easy but it requires only a bit of preparation time to get them to smoke properly.
Smoked Chicken Breast Brine
Many grillers brine their chicken to keep it soft when smoking. I like the taste and texture of chicken placed directly over the smoker with minimal preparation. During brining, salt and sugar alter the cell structure of the meat itself and this reduces the liquid retention in the cell walls.
As always we would recommend experimenting with steamed chicken to find what best suits you. Remember to plan ahead to allow enough time for a chicken to sit in the brine before you intend to smoke. Once the chicken is cooked pat dry and make them according to the directions on the recipe.
Drying The Chicken Before Smoking
After brining put in the refrigerator uncovered for few hours. It will dry up skin that will pellicle into a sticky layer that absorbs all the smoke. It makes chicken breast have better flavor and color.
It will help to make a great sear immediately and it will help to make a good sear quickly. This step is optional but can be highly recommended.
How to Cook Chicken Breast (And Keep It Juicy Tender)
Chicken is a versatile protein that can get eaten worldwide and is used in many different methods. The smoking of meat makes the chicken very wholesome for family time on a weeknight.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to smoke chicken breast including how to prepare chicken for a smoker, what type of wood to use in the smoker, and what to do with leftover cooked chicken breast.
Smoking
The easiest and healthy method for smoked chicken was in taking in only the most amount of smoking possible. Unless smoking them too soon the smell is almost impossible to miss. Try shooting for 225 degrees Fahrenheit. It is always better to smoke when at its target internal temperature.
Finally, apply your BBQ sauce and smoke a little longer to let the sauce set.
Smoked Chicken On A Propane Smoker
A propane smoker is easy and quickly used for smoked chicken breasts. It is ideal for boneless skinless chicken breasts recipes and is easier to use than a charcoal smoker. Most models include control options for the temperature of gas smoke.
Try a different taste and use beer or cider to smoke chicken breasts with another sort of wood. It should be about 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit for the chicken breast. The temperature needs to be the same for the chicken to be smoked properly.
Both flames and temperature are monitored so you can control your temperature.
Smoked Chicken On A Pellet Smoker
Instead of charcoal and propane to heat, a pellet smoker burns wood pellets. The pellets burn longer than firewood because it keeps a stable heat throughout the smoker. You can choose pellets from different woods to give chicken breasts a different taste.
Set your smoker to 225 degrees before inserting a chicken breast. The long-burning pellets keep the internal temperature of the chicken low even during smoking. The pellet stove uses electrical power to heat an auger that has been fed wood pellets to smoke the meat.
Smoked Chicken On A Charcoal Smoker
Charcoal gives the poultry breasts a nice taste and makes a nice crust on the meat. The aim is to keep the smoker at an ambient temperature to make certain the chicken didn’t smoke quickly. Wait until grilling reaches 225 degrees Fahrenheit which is an ideal temperature for smoking chicken breasts.
To prepare a charcoal grill smoker place the charcoal in the bottom pan and light, leaving the smoker open and covered. You’ll have to keep enough charcoal lit to regulate the temperature throughout the smoker.
Smoked Chicken On A Electric Smoker
Simply brine the chicken breasts, and select the time and temperature and the electric smoker will do the rest. An electric smoker is good for smoking chicken breast marinade. After putting chicken breasts on the grill you won’t get to watch it for about 3 minutes when you can start using a digital meat thermometer to check.
Hardwood chips are too dangerous if burnt too quickly. Softwoods like pine will burn very quickly. The smoking can escape from the smoking chamber by leaving them open if it is more convenient.
Searing
Chicken breasts are best seared before roasting on a grill. Searing makes the skin tougher and avoids getting too rubbery. When much of the fat is taken away it gets thinner and crispier. Sear the chicken breasts in a hot pan with enough butter and oil.
It will convert chicken to perfection that’s a pleasure to eat. Say goodbye to the rubbery skin around your smoked chicken breasts.
What Is The Best Wood For Smoked Chicken Breast?
Choosing the wrong wood kind can affect the taste of chicken or seasoning. Each wood pellet produces different fumes which infuse different flavors into each chicken breast. Selecting a hardwood means you should find a good balance between chicken, the brine, and smoke from the wood and the chicken.
Here is how to smoke chicken breast using a variety of options suitable for cooking the meat of chickens. The best wood for smoking boneless skinless chicken breasts is the wood that infuses the fat.
Applewood
Applewood is good as a slow-cooked product and goes great with chicken breasts. Appleseeds add an uplifting sweetness at the start.
Maple Wood
Maple is giving the chicken a spicy flavor. It works well for chicken breasts dry dipped in brown sugar and paprika.
Cherry Wood
Pair cherry wood with hickory or alder for a rich oaky flavor. Pair cherry and alder wood for chicken breasts with a mild sweetness.
Mesquite
The boldness of the timber creates strong smoke good for chicken breasts brined or wet cured in salt.
Finish with a Glaze
This smoked chicken breast recipe uses a hot sauce glaze containing brown sugar lime juice and yellowbird habanero hot sauce. You want it to be thicker than you want (think bourbon sauce) so that the sauce will not irritate the chicken with a brush. If you want to make your own take a look at spiced Mexican BBQ sauce or chipotle BBQ sauce.
The recipe is based on a recipe from a recipe used as a recipe for spicy Mexican BBQ sauce or a spicy Chipotle hot sauce for a spicy smoked chicken breasts recipe.
The Best Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe:
Found from Hey Grill Hey
This Smoked Chicken Breast is a wonderfully juicy, smoky chicken breast that’s fast and perfect for multiple occasions. It can be the star of your dinner party or an easy meal to throw together on busy weekdays when time doesn’t allow you much more than cooking up some vegetables with olive oil & vinegar before heading out into town!
The Best Seasoning for Smoked Chicken Breast:
The recipe calls for seasoning and letting the chicken rest while the smoker heats. It allows seasoning time to “melt” the chicken which changes the appearance of dry seasoning to a more dry exterior. The low and slow cook does not mean you need to marinate or brine the chicken breast making it a winner in our book.
Feel free to change the seasoning. Want the earthiness of the dish? Add cumin. And don’t have a fear of cinnamon! Also, ground cloves are another interesting addition added to Mexican seasoning blends. The sliced smoked chicken breast recipe called for olive oil to aid in distributing the rub evenly.
How Long Should I Smoke Chicken Breast?
Avoiding the use of a good thermometer is the #1 cause of raw and uncooked chicken skin. Invest in a good-quality meat thermometer that will assist in keeping track of the temperature of your meat for any smoking session. The whole process typically takes at least 30 to 30 minutes depending on the kind of cigar you use.
Always watch out for a chicken in the grill. 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.) It takes about 1 hour to complete it.
Smoked Chicken Breast FAQ:
Storing and Reheating
It is possible to simply freeze smoked chicken from an oven to prolong its life and makes preparation easy. It’s best not to freeze chicken. Refrigerate smoked chicken for at least 3 months. Keep cold water chilled overnight in the fridge before cooking.
Freeze chicken for 3 weeks. Cooling slow. Freeze the chicken slowly and you will not need the full size. Freeze the Chicken to simplify the preparation of the dinner for later. Freeze all poultry for 4 days. It will freeze slowly the next day and you should keep it in food containers containing the lid.
Target Internal Temperature For Smoked Chicken
Smoked chicken breast is cooked to a safe temperature of 165 degrees. The chicken needs to be a temperature over 185 to be tender and very succulent. The 165 degrees is the temperature where all harmful bacteria are destroyed in an instant.
When Should I Take Smoked Chicken Breast Out To Rest?
The recipe instruction says not to pull the chicken breasts from the smoker until the meat is 160 Degrees. Usually, I make a hen in a pan or a skillet with a few pieces inside. If the temperature is less than 160 °F then you may have to leave the chicken inside the smoker for a few minutes.
If you have to cook the smoked chicken breast, electrical smoking models are ideal – adjusting the temperature just makes it easier. Electric smoker models can be used to ensure that chickens are cooked properly prior to cooking them.
What To Serve With Smoked Chicken Breasts?
Sliced Smoked chicken breast is a wonderful and flavorful dish, and it goes well with a range of different flavors. Any type of delicious green can be served with it; some good ideas are chard that’s sauteed in some butter and rice wine vinegar, or roasted asparagus drizzled in olive oil.
A spinach salad is also another great choice for any meal, especially one like this where the chicken is already quite savory on its own. Other options include mixing lettuce together with green beans and tomatoes.
Quinoa would also make for an excellent option to go with this entree because it has such a nutty taste that complements just about anything! If you love chicken just as much as us try “Smoked Chicken Thighs” or a recipe from our article “25 Smoker Recipes.”
Wrapping Up
You just found out how to have perfectly smoked chicken breasts without dry, tough meat. Now you can impress your family and friends with this delicious dinner idea that takes no time at all! It’s also easy to make ahead of time for those crazy weeknights when you don’t know what else to cook.
So take the guesswork out of cooking up a good meal by following these simple steps above. Who knows? Maybe they’ll even help inspire some new recipes in your kitchen as well!
