This Smoked Chicken Breast recipe is rubbed in a simple homemade dry rub and slow smoked. Tender and flavorful, perfect for meal prepping! 

I have to admit that developing a smoked chicken breast recipe was not really on my radar until a few months ago! But, once I realized how versatile it was, and just how much I could mix smoked boneless skinless chicken breasts into my meals, I was sold. It’s truly one of the very best meal prep items you can make!

a photo of a smoked chicken breast basted in bbq sauce

We’ve stuck to the more traditional smoked meats, like smoked whole turkey, smoked salmon, smoked turkey breast and smoked chicken quarters and whole smoked chicken. One day we were smoking some pork ribs, and I had a huge tray of boneless chicken breasts in the fridge.

I asked my husband if we could make smoked chicken breast along with the ribs, and they turned out great! I just kind of feel like when you go to all of the trouble to set up charcoal smokers for a cook, you should make the most of it, right?

This smoked chicken recipe uses my signature smoked chicken spice blend, which contains brown sugar, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and several other spices. It has so much flavor and is my FAVORITE rub!

Just combine this chicken rub in a small bowl before starting the cooking process. Make sure to pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels before coating them in the spice rub.

Smoked Chicken Breast

This recipe does include a cold-water brine. If you are short on time, feel free to skip this step! It adds tenderness and moisture to your smoked chicken breast but is not essential.

I love to use these smoked chicken breasts for meal prep, in pasta like Chicken Penne Alfredo, or in soups like this Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo! Or I will use it in a cream cheese dip like my Buffalo Chicken Dip. The smoky flavor adds a ton of depth to any recipe that calls for chicken.

The Best Wood Chips for Smoked Chicken Breast

One of the most common questions I receive is “What kind of wood chips should I use?” Well, that’s very much up to YOU! We love pecan wood, but cherry wood, hickory wood chunks, apple wood and maple wood are all excellent options.

The type of wood that you choose depends on the type of smoke flavor you like! Choosing the wood flavor that you prefer will give you the best results for YOU!

This applies to pellet grills like a Traeger too! Choose cherry, hickory, maple, or apple pellets for a safe bet, or use what you already have on hand.

Smoked Chicken Breast

Serving Suggestions for Smoked Chicken Breasts

I used our Smoked Chicken Breast as part of meal prep for the week! There are so many ways to use smoked chicken breast. One of my favorites are these Blue Cheese Chicken Wraps for lunch. Here are a few more ideas to add a smoky taste to your meals:

Luckily, smoking boneless chicken breasts is super simple and can definitely be done alongside other cuts that are typically smoked like ribs and pork butts.

If you’d like to serve this smoked chicken recipe as the main course, you can also smoke your side dishes! I recommend Smoked Corn, Smoked Potatoes or Smoked Mac and Cheese. Or, add some veggies to the mix with this savory Utica Greens recipe or my Apple Gorgonzola Salad.

How long does it take to smoke chicken breasts at 225?

For cook time, you will need about 1 hour if you are smoking the chicken breasts at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

Of course, there can be some variation for smaller breasts, which need a bit less cooking time, or large chicken breasts, which may add 5-10 minutes extra time to your

Your ultimate test of the chicken being done is when an instant read meat thermometer finds the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F. Insert the temperature probe into the thickest part of the chicken breast when gauging the temperature of the meat.

Before cutting into the meat, allow to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes. This will give the juices time to redistribute throughout the cut of chicken.

Do you flip chicken when smoking?

Short answer, no! You do not have to. You can, but it is not necessary. The chicken breast will cook evenly without flipping.

Saving Leftover Smoked Chicken Breast 

Store leftover smoked chicken breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave at half power.

Or freeze for up to 6 months! Just make sure as much air is removed as possible before storing in the freezer.

a photo of a smoked chicken breast basted in bbq sauce

Smoked Chicken Breast

Make a big batch of smoked chicken breast on the weekend and eat all week long!
Amazing on salads, in tacos or pasta dishes!
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Ingredients
 

For the chicken brine:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 teapoon thyme leaves, dried

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the ingredients for the brine. Heat gently and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add ice until the liquid
  • Add chicken breasts to large bowl. Pour brine solution over the top. Cover, and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour, up to overnight.
  • Prepare the smoker to cook at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. We did use a water pan to add moisture.
  • Remove chicken from brine and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Coat with chicken rub, pressing into flesh.
  • Place in smoker, directly on grates. Smoke for 45 minutes, maintaining the temperature around 225 degrees.
  • After 45 minutes, remove lid and quickly baste the breasts with barbecue sauce. You can flip the breasts at this time, but it's not required.
  • Remove the breasts after about an hour of smoking and when an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the breast.
  • Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Use the barbecue sauce of your choice or leave the chicken breast plain so it can be used in a variety of recipes! 
If you need a homemade barbecue sauce recipe, try my Easy Apricot BBQ Sauce.
Serving: 1, Calories: 337kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 49g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 145mg, Sodium: 4127mg, Potassium: 964mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 266IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 75mg, Iron: 3mg
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If you love this Smoked Chicken Breast recipe, I think you’ll also enjoy these easy recipes. Until next time!

If you love this Smoked Chicken Breast recipe, I think you’ll also enjoy these easy recipes. Until next time!