Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe: How to Smoke Chicken Breast

Making smoked chicken breast involves smoking the protein over indirect heat in a wood pellet smoker, charcoal grill, or electric smoker. This low-and-slow cooking method yields a golden, crispy exterior and juicy, tender meat infused with a rich, smoky flavor.

An average-sized chicken breast will take about 1 hour to cook in a 225-degree smoker. This cooking time may vary slightly based on a range of factors: the size of your chicken breast, whether it’s a bone-in or boneless cut, and the temperature of the pellet grill.

As your meat smokes, check its internal temperature periodically. The chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Whether it’s your first time operating a smoker or you’re a bonafide BBQ pro, preparing a smoked chicken dish is simple and intuitive. Follow these tips to make the best smoked chicken breast possible.

1. 1. Experiment with seasonings. Customize a simple smoked chicken recipe with the seasonings of your choice. Combine your favorite herbs and spices to make your own dry rub. Make a simple chicken marinade from pantry staples, or baste the breast with your favorite BBQ sauce 10 minutes before it’s done cooking.
2. 2. Switch up the wood chips. If you’re using a wood pellet smoker, experiment with different smoking wood chips to achieve variations in smoke flavor. Fruitier woods, like applewood and cherrywood, will infuse the meat with a milder flavor. More intense woods, like hickory, pecan, and mesquite, will result in distinctly smoky tastes. Learn more about smoking woods.
3. 3. Cook the meat properly. Overcooking your chicken breast will make it dry and chewy. Monitor the protein closely as it cooks, checking the temperature periodically. Remove the smoked chicken from the pellet grill when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (or even slightly before that point). During the resting period, the temperature of the chicken will continue to rise by a few degrees.
4. 4. Rest the meat. Resting your chicken after cooking allows its juices to settle, resulting in moist, flavorful meat.
5. 5. Store in an airtight container. Store leftover smoked chicken breasts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Allow the chicken to cool to room temperature before refrigerating the meat to discourage bacteria formation.