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Smoked Chicken Breast

March 6, 2021 by Lyuba 18 Comments

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This smoked chicken breast is so easy to make and full of flavor from the homemade seasoning mix and smoke infused into it. You only need a couple of hours to make this juicy, tender, smoky chicken and it is so versatile. Use it in salads, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, or as a simple protein for dinner and barbecue parties. 

side view of sliced smoked chicken breasts

SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS

The most popular protein that everyone likes to eat is chicken and especially chicken breast. When in doubt, it’s chicken for dinner because you know that everyone in the family will eat it. Even the pickiest little eaters will agree to eat chicken breast.

So why not make it extra tasty by infusing this lean and tender meat with a hint of smoke. You can be in complete control of the strength of smoke flavor because chicken goes with everything. Make the smoke mild and fruity or make it strong and woodsy, it’s up to you!

I love to smoke a couple of packs of chicken at the same time because it’s the perfect protein for meal prep. You can use it as easy dinners and lunches the whole week. It goes great in cold and hot sandwiches, salads, tacos, quesadillas, over pasta, and over rice. Any side dish will be perfect and the smokiness of the chicken will transfer into the whole meal. 

You can even smoke this chicken as an easy protein for barbecue parties along with some sausage and chicken wings. (Although, chicken breast will be done first.)

poking slices of smoked chicken breast with a fork

QUICK SMOKING Q&A

What wood chips are best for smoking chicken breasts? 

This chicken will be good with just about any wood you choose. Make it mild and fruity with apple, maple, or cherry, or make it strong like hickory or Jack Daniels blend. Just remember that mesquite wood is very strong and will be quite powerful. 

What temperature to smoke chicken?

I smoke just about everything at 225°. (When in doubt, always go with this standard temperature.) 

How long does smoked chicken breast take to cook?

The exact time will depend on how thick or thin the chicken is. On average, it will take 1.5 to 2 hours. Try to get chicken that is uniform in thickness and size that way it all cooks at the same time. If you do have a variety in sizes, always judge by the largest one. (You can always pull the smallest chicken breasts off and let larger ones cook a little longer.)

How do I know that chicken is done?

Internal temperature is the best indicator that your meat is done. Chicken is done when it reaches 165° internal temperature.

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED

raw chicken breasts, mustard, and seasoning mix on a baking sheet

Chicken breasts – try to get chicken that is all uniform in size so it cooks evenly. 

Dijon Mustard – this is a great ingredient because it serves as a “glue” to help keep the seasoning on the chicken as well as providing a tangy touch of flavor. 

Seasoning mix – make your own simple seasoning mix with brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 

HOW TO MAKE SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS

Prepare the smoker first and then take the time while the smoker is preheating to prep the chicken. 

Set up your smoker and preheat it to 225°. I highly recommend including a water pan or water/drip pan to the lower rack of the smoker, under the meat. Use a digital oven thermometer to track the temperature on the grill grate. 

raw chicken breasts rubbed with mustard and seasoning mix next to them

While the smoker is preheating, rub each chicken breast with Dijon mustard and season them generously on each side. 

generously seasoned raw chicken breasts on a wire rack

Insert an instant digital read thermometer probe into the center of the thickest chicken breast, through the side, to track internal temperature. Place chicken breasts on the smoker when it’s ready and close the lid immediately. Smoke chicken until it reaches 160° and take it off the grill. Tent the chicken with a sheet of aluminum foil loosely and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. 

raw chicken breasts on a smoker grate

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Like I mentioned earlier, chicken breast is extremely versatile. You can serve it as an easy dinner protein or use it in quick lunch recipes like sandwiches and salads. 

I love to dice some smoked chicken and mix it in with smoked mac and cheese or top off a rice bowl along with some beans, corn, and veggies. 

You can even freeze these cooked chicken breasts and thaw it the day before you need it. 

Storing and Reheating

Store leftover smoked chicken breasts in a food storage container with an air-tight lid, in the refrigerator. Properly stored, it should be good for up to 4 days. 

You can easily freeze the chicken to extend its shelf life and make your meal prep easy later on. Make sure to let the chicken cool to room temperature before freezing. Place 1 or 2 smoked chicken breasts into a freezer zip-top bag and get as much air out as you can. Seal and label each bag and place into the freezer. Freeze smoked chicken for up to 3 months. 

Thaw frozen chicken slowly, in the refrigerator. Just pull it out of the freezer and into the refrigerator the day before you need it. 

fork with two slices of smoked seasoned chicken breast

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

sliced smoked chicken breasts top view

Smoked Chicken Breasts

This smoked chicken breast is so easy to make and full of flavor from the homemade seasoning mix and smoke infused into it. 
Print Recipe
CourseMain Course
CuisineAmerican
Keywordchicken, chicken breast
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Servings8
Calories352kcal

Ingredients

  • 4-5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 tbsp Dijon mustard

Seasoning:

  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup paprika
  • 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp kosher coarse salt
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp black pepper
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Set up your smoker and preheat it to 225°. I highly recommend including a water pan or water/drip pan to the lower rack of the smoker, under the meat. Use a digital oven thermometer to track the temperature on the grill grate. 
  • Combine the seasoning in a bowl and whisk until evenly mixed.
  • While the smoker is preheating, rub each chicken breast with Dijon mustard and season them generously on both sides. 
  • Insert an instant digital read thermometer probe into the center of the thickest chicken breast, through the side, to track internal temperature.
  • Place chicken breasts on the smoker when it’s ready and close the lid immediately. Smoke chicken until it reaches 160° and take it off the grill.
  • Tent the chicken with a sheet of aluminum foil loosely and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 2080mg | Potassium: 988mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1737IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg

title collage of sliced smoked chicken breast and ingredients on a wire rack

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Filed Under: Chicken

Comments

  1. Scott says

    September 20, 2021 at 2:40 am

    Awesome. Added a little chili powder and ground mustard to the rub. Used olive oil instead of Dijon as my ‘glue’. Terrific flavor. Had a couple tri-tips on the smoker at the same time. Used pecan wood. Light enough for the chicken, robust enough for the steak. I always transfer to a gas grill for a final sear before serving. Makes a difference in my book. Thanks for the recipe. First smoke on chicken breasts. Couldn’t be happier with the results.

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      September 20, 2021 at 6:43 pm

      Sounds wonderful!! I love pecan wood as well 🙂 Thank you for coming back to let me know!!

      Reply
  2. Mischelle Barnes says

    September 27, 2021 at 10:41 am

    Lyuba, thank you for sharing this delectable dish! Smoked chicken has a high amount of protein and low-fat content, making it an ideal meal. I substituted olive oil for the mustard and it turned out well. As you correctly stated, smoked chicken breast is adaptable and goes well with salads, but my fave is in sandwiches.

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      January 29, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      I’m so glad that you like it and you’re able to make it your own, just the way you like it!

      Reply
  3. Jason says

    December 14, 2021 at 3:36 am

    5 stars
    Awesome chicken!

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      January 29, 2022 at 3:20 pm

      SO glad you like it!!

      Reply
  4. Stacyb says

    January 17, 2022 at 12:45 am

    5 stars
    This is an absolutely fantastic recipe. We did it almost the exact recipe, however, we added chili powder to the spices! Phenomenal chicken.

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      January 29, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      I’m so glad to hear that!! Love the addition of the spice 😉

      Reply
  5. bbq blogger says

    February 13, 2022 at 5:10 am

    That sliced chicken looks amazing. What a crust! Looking forward to trying this soon.

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      April 9, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      Thank you so much! I hope you will let me know!

      Reply
  6. Ed Matthews says

    April 16, 2022 at 11:52 pm

    4 stars
    Do you brine your chicken? EX: 4 cups of water, 3 tbsp of Kosher salt, and 1/4 to a 1/3 of a cup of Brown Sugar. This amount is for 4 chicken breasts. Brine in a zip lock bag. Squeeze out s much air as you can and brine for about 4 hours. Place on paper towel and remove as much water (pat dry) as possible. Generously Apply your favorite rub. BTW, I coat the bird with olive oil myself. Let sit for about an hour or so to let spices absorb into the meat. I’ll smoke mine low and slow at 225*F for the same amt. of time as above. Pull at 165*F internal temp, let rest. Oh, I use Apple pellets btw.
    Stay Safe
    USMC66′- / 77563

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      May 7, 2022 at 3:28 pm

      That sounds great, Ed! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  7. Marie-jeanne says

    August 27, 2022 at 9:20 am

    Wow I like this I will definitely try your recipes with Dijon I normally used sal , pepper with hot chilli and mixed herbs with coconut oil leave to marinate for an hour and grill. I will try smoking next time. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Bless you

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      October 16, 2022 at 10:42 pm

      Thank you and your very welcome! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Caroline says

    October 9, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    Great recipe

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      October 16, 2022 at 10:40 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Caroline says

    October 9, 2022 at 9:55 pm

    4 stars
    Having a difficult time finding mesquite and apple pellets. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Lyuba says

      November 8, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      Hey Caroline! So mesquite and apple are two quite different flavors. Mesquite will give you a very strong and bold wood flavor and apple is a mild and a little fruity. For poultry, you want to stick to milder woods unless you are looking for something very strong. If you want a strong wood, do with hickory or a Jack Daniels blend. If you want another mild and fruity, go with cherry. For chicken, you can also use maple or pecan. I hope this helps!!

      Reply

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Let's get grilling!

Welcome, everyone! I’m Lyuba Brooke, come in, grab a beer, and head to the backyard. Here, I love to grill, barbecue, and share everything I make. You will find a ton of recipes for grilling, smoking, and the sauces to dip it in.

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