Cook the best chicken breasts in the smoker! See how to make juicy Traeger smoked chicken breasts without brine… This super smoky main dish recipe comes with two seasoning ideas. Let’s smoke juicy and flavorful chicken in the pellet grill…
Smoking Traeger chicken breast is super simple! Poultry is amazing at picking up smoky flavor, and leftovers are great in smoked chicken sandwiches and on salads. So this recipe is a real crowd pleaser at my house.
See this quick recipe video…
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS SMOKED CHICKEN BREAST
- Juicy & Flavorful: Smoking on a Traeger or pellet grill locks in moisture for tender chicken every time.
- Quick & Easy: Prep and smoke in under 90 minutes — perfect for weeknights or weekend cookouts.
- Versatile: Serve on sandwiches, salads, chicken tacos, in these BBQ chicken potato skins, or enjoy as leftovers.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Simple seasoning delivers maximum smoky flavor that everyone will love.
- Step-by-Step Visuals: Follow along with easy-to-read photos for perfect results.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp seasonings any bbq dry rub or poultry seasoning
Note: Don’t overthink the seasoning! Even just salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of garlic powder will taste amazing. Let the pellet grill or Traeger do the work and infuse that delicious smoky flavor.
HOW LONG TO SMOKE CHICKEN BREAST?
The time it takes depends on the thickness of your chicken breasts. Thin breasts can cook in less than an hour, while thicker breasts — like the ones in this recipe — may take 1.5 to 3 hours.
Always use an instant-read thermometer and pull the chicken off the smoker when the internal temperature reaches 165°F for perfectly cooked, juicy results.
For a side, serve smoked chicken breast with these yummy smoked potato skins.
WHAT TEMPERATURE TO SMOKE CHICKEN BREAST?
For tender, juicy chicken, 225°F is our go-to smoker temperature. Sometimes I’ll go up to 250°F if I’m smoking other items at the same time.
Either way, slow and steady keeps the chicken moist and flavorful.
SMOKED CHICKEN BREAST RECIPE STEP-BY-STEP
De-licious!
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS ARE DONE?
Smoked boneless chicken breasts are done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part. Using an instant-read thermometer is the easiest way to get it perfect every time.
WHAT PELLETS ARE BEST FOR SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS?
We love Apple Pellets or wood chips for a sweet, smoky flavor. In this recipe, we used Traeger Apple Pellets, which pair beautifully with chicken.
But don’t worry — we’ve also smoked chicken with Traeger Hickory Pellets and the regular Signature Blend, and they’ve all been delicious! Poultry really soaks up the smoke flavor when cooked this way.
WHAT SEASONING DID YOU USE FOR SMOKED CHICKEN?
For this recipe, I used two favorite seasonings you’ll see in the Sip Bite Go video:
- Chef Paul Blackened Redfish Magic Seasoning – this blackening seasoning is my husband’s top pick!
- Traeger Chicken Rub – Citrus & Black Pepper flavor adds a bright, smoky kick.
These seasonings pair beautifully with the smoky flavor from your Traeger or pellet grill, but honestly, chicken is forgiving — any simple rub or salt and pepper combo works too!
HOW DO I SERVE SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS?
Pro tip: Let the chicken rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy and tender.
Smoked chicken breasts are super versatile! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy them:
- Sandwiches: Slice and layer with cheese, greens, and this jalapeno ranch sauce.
- Salads: Dice or shred and toss over a fresh salad for extra protein and smoky flavor.
- Sauce: Try smoked chicken with this creamy peppercorn sauce.
- Tacos or wraps: Add sliced chicken to homemade butter tortillas with slaw, avocado, and salsa.
- Meal prep: Cook in bulk and store in the fridge for easy, flavorful lunches or dinners.
- In soups: see my chicken noodle soup recipe.
MAKE IT A MEAL – WHAT TO SERVE IT WITH
- Salad: Try it on this grilled chicken and mango salad.
- Smoked appetizer: smoked queso.
- Smoked pasta side: smoked mac and cheese.
- Smoked potato sides: smoked baked potatoes / smoked mashed potatoes.
- Smoked dessert: smoked apples / smoked peaches.
Popular Smoked Chicken Recipes from Sip Bite Go
- Smoked whole chicken
- Traeger smoked chicken thighs
- Smoked wings
- Smoked cornish hens
- Beer can chicken on the smoker
- Smoked butterflied chicken legs
- BBQ smoked chicken breast skewers
- Traeger smoked chicken lollipops
- Smoked pulled chicken
- Smoked chicken breast
- Smoked spatchcock chicken
- Traeger smoked split chicken breasts
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Chicken temperature guide
You’ll love this Prosciutto and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe.
Next up? Learn how to smoke a ham.
Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I’d love to know how your version turned out! Drop a rating and leave a comment below to help the Sip Bite Go community. And if you snapped any photos, tag me on Instagram—I love sharing reader pics in my Stories!
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BEST Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe | Sip Bite Go
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp seasonings any bbq dry rub or poultry seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat Traeger Grills or Pitt Boss or whatever pellet grill you’re using to 225 degrees F.
- Prep chicken breasts for smoking. First pat dry with a paper towel to remove any excess chicken juice. Coat the chicken breasts in olive oil then add your chicken rub or BBQ seasoning of your choice. Massage in the dry rub so it adheres to the chicken breasts.
- Smoke chicken breasts at 225 degrees F for 2 – 3 hours depending on how thick your chicken breasts are. No flipping necessary.
- Remove smoked chicken breasts. When the chicken breasts reach 165 degrees F as measured with an internal read thermometer.
- Rest. Allow the smoked chicken breasts to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
- Finish smoked chicken breasts by slicing it for a sandwich or salad and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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Pro tip: One of my go-to tricks for perfectly cooked food every time is using the right BBQ meat thermometers.
Mark says
Yay. Good smoked food.
Camela says
good smoked chicken breasts. Flavor was awesome.
Brandon says
This was an excellent recipe and easy to follow instructions. I added a little bit of apple cider and a cap of Moore’s marinade to the olive oil, and it turned out so well! Thanks!