Place chicken breasts in the brine mixture and leave for a minimum of 6 hours. Slowly, this type of grill will cook the chicken meat, sealing its juices inside while deliciously roasting its skin. Unlike the thighs and legs, breasts dry out easily because they are lean with very little fat or blood vessels. Glad you guys enjoyed this one. Take the chicken pieces out of the brine and dry them individually with paper towels. Then turn the heat to 350 degrees and close the lid for 15 minutes to allow it to warm up. After 45 minutes of grilling, check the interior temperature of your Traeger grill. To prepare this Traeger chicken recipe, follow the next steps: Step One: Prepare the Brine First, pour two quarts of cold water in a bowl or large container. Here are some of my favorite tools I use when smoking brisket that may be useful to you. Everyone in my family loved it. Place the chicken breasts in the smoker or pellet grill. At this point, you are ready to apply the rub to the boneless chicken breasts. Allow the chicken to rest for about 20 minutes so the rub has time to work itself into the chicken. Cook chicken breasts at a low temperature (225F) for 2.5-3 hours or at a higher temperature (275F) for 1 hour, Pre-brine chicken breasts for extra moisture and flavor, Sprinkle with rub, salt, pepper, and optionally wrap in bacon, Cook to an internal temperature of 160F and let rest for 5 minutes to reach a safe temperature of 165F, Use a reliable thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked properly and safely, Smoke ring is a normal occurrence and does not indicate undercooking, Avoid overcooking chicken breasts to prevent drying out, Pre-brining or wrapping in bacon can help prevent dryness. You can check it out on the FireBoard websitehere. I dont think yall get the purpose of the smoke setting on a Traeger because many of your recipes have you heating the grill on smoke but then not having any food on there until you crank the setting up to 350, but by that time the super smoke is gone. Now, I know that this isnt a flavor that everyone is fond of. If you really want to get all fancy, cut open the chicken breast and stuff it with feta cheese, herbs, etc. You wont need to marinate or anything like that. Your email address will not be published. Once dissolved, place the chicken in the brine and refrigerate overnight. If youre after a faster cook, my Traeger grilled chicken breast recipe calls for 25-30 minutes at 500F. Rub thoroughly and vigorously until all the pieces are completely covered in the rub. It can be frozen or refrigerated for future use. Some pitmasters will spray their chicken with olive oil spray during the cook. Place the chicken quarters in the brine, and seal the ziplock. Ive written condensed directions here including pictures so you can see how to make this recipe. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); For poultry, Aaron uses Mortons kosher salt and a cafe grind 16-mesh black pepper. Place the chicken directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and smoke until the internal temperature reaches 160, 2 1/2-3 hours. Step 3 Preheat the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Next, remove the chicken quarters from the package and pat them dry with a paper towel. Therefore, you will need to prep the breasts about 12 hours before you plan on smoking them. Option 1: Homemade Dry Rub or any Store-Bought Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil Use enough to fully coat the chicken. Using wood pellets to cook the meat, these grills are capable of smoking your food slowly and yet consistently, resulting in flavorful, aromatic and tender pieces of meat (and vegetables) that you will be hard-pressed to produce using any other method. You want the sauce to be on the thicker side (think: BBQ sauce) so it doesnt just run off the chicken when brushing. Ingredients Boneless skinless chicken breasts 1/4 cup Everything Rub Instructions Season chicken breasts to your liking. For the brine you can also use Kosher salt just use double the amount of table but table salt works fine. Smoke the Chicken Breasts at 250F. Chill in the fridge for at least three hours, and up to 24 hours before smoking. Rub oil on the breasts and spread evenly. Combine the spices in a bowl and spread the spice rub evenly on each breast. Then, using your hands, rub the spices into the meat. I cannot say that enough tangy, sweet, spicy and most importantly, the chicken was incredibly juicy and soft. Let chicken cook for approximately 50-70 minutes or until chicken reaches 165 degrees F. at the thickest part (use an instant read thermometer). Chicken thighs and wings are very often smoked in addition to chicken breasts. Tune in and listen to the newly launched Grill Like a Mother podcast from Hot Pan Kitchen author Taryn Solie. Either buying blended pellets or mixing flavors is always a safe choice. Wait for 4 to 5 minutes for the fire to establish. Then, add half a cup of table salt and half a cup of white sugar. But in all honesty, these are the tools I recommend to my family and friends who are just starting out. Welcome to Kinda Healthy Recipes! When cooking chicken, the breasts are probably the most troublesome part of the bird. The full set of detailed instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page. Power up your Traeger grill and set it to the Smoke setting, with the lid open. A cheap, inaccurate thermometer will put your health at risk. Youll want the chicken to reach an internal temperature of 165F. I'm Kristy a chef and connoisseur of all things BBQ! This Easy Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast recipe is prepared using boneless breasts, a marinade, dry rub, or whatever you like. Then, finish the chicken breasts over a direct flame, or sear at a higher temperature until the chicken breast reaches 160 F. Let it rest for 5 minutes and it should come up to 165 F. Chicken has a thin flesh, so mild fruit woods flavors work best with chicken. The smoke is best with that much time but still fills with less so moms in a hurry can shortcut but if you have more time, go for it! way too salty, and WAY too much Paprika. You cant go wrong with either of those rubs because they are produced by barbecue gurus. This is why people will sometimes make smoked chicken thighs instead of breasts because they are less likely to dry out due to the higher fat content. Be sure to check the internal temperature on the thickest part of the chicken. I cook this recipe on a Traeger, which is an electric pellet grill and smoker. Feel free to tweak this seasoning. Check out these answers to some commonly asked questions about smoking chicken breast. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and Traeger Fin & Feather rub. I was out of celery seed, so I used Beau Monde seasoning (which is mostly celery seed and salt) and just omitted the salt, which worked perfectly. Newer models use the closed lid process while older models work on the open lid one. Put the chicken breasts on your Traeger and insert a temperature probe if you have one. Its perfect for tacos, sandwiches or tortas, salads, or on its own with sides like rice and beans. Add remaining chili sauce ingredients to mixture, and stir well, to combine. Required fields are marked *. Sprinkle kosher salt over each chicken breast. Smoked chicken does not have to be your main dish. A Food Lover's Kitchen. Chicken breast at 225 will not be done in 40 minutes. Let them sit overnight and the skin should dry out nicely. We make it all year long! Side note: You can make my smoked charro beans right alongside the chicken at 225F. Cover and refrigerate for 8-12 hours.Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees F. Apple wood goes great with this meat.Remove the turkey breast from the brine and pat dry. Ever since it started becoming popular in the 1990s, the Traeger grill has been used to prepare classic American-styled dishes. Let rest for 5 minutes. Since chicken contains lots of bacteria, use a good thermometer so the meat is safe to eat. This simple brine recipe can be used for chicken and turkey. Sprinkle the rub on top of the chicken breasts liberally. These will add a smoky flavor without overpowering the chicken flavor. Wood chips Soak them in water for 30 minutes before starting the grill. I doubled the brown sugar because I didnt have turbinado sugar. You dont want to run out mid-smoke. Then, pour a bit of olive oil into the liquid. Put the chicken, spiced side down on the grill and liberally season the underside of the chicken. We cant wait for your to try this smoked chicken recipe! You can find it on Amazonhere. 5. 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice Salt and Pepper, to taste Season the chicken breast with the dry rub and cover at room temperature while preheating the Traeger for 10-15 minutes at 250F. Depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts, it should take around about 2.5 to 3 hours to smoke the breasts at 225 F. Keep a thermometer probe inserted into one of the breasts so you can track the temperature, or using instant-read thermometer and keep a close eye on the breasts during the cook. The ThermoPro TP20 is an Amazon Best Seller because its the easiest thermometer to operate, is durable, highly accurate, and comes with pre-programmed meat settings. Unlike other chicken breast recipes, these are totally flavorful chicken breasts that never come out dry! Close the lid and smoke for approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Dont be too quick to slice the pieces open, though, as this will cause the internal juices to escape and the meat to dry. 5 minutes before the chicken is done, brush with the BBQ sauce mixture. Add the chicken to the brine, making sure it is fully submerged and weighing down if necessary. Let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meatsmokinghq_com-leader-2','ezslot_16',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-leader-2-0'); A series of chemical reactions take place, and the smoke preserves some of the pink pigment. After all, boneless chicken breasts cook more evenly and quickly. This whole chicken is brined, seasoned with our chicken rub, lemon, garlic, and fresh thyme, and mesquite-smoked for some smokin' flavor. Now it is time to let the Traeger work its magic! Applying olive oil or any oil will undo this hard work. Expert Tips for Smoking Perfect Chicken Wings on a Traeger Grill, Why Are My Chicken Wings Soft? It takes about 1 hour to complete smoking chicken breasts. Boneless chicken breast, in particular, is loved by people of all ages, everywhere. So glad you enjoyed it! I make a couple of breasts on Sunday for lunches during the week. After that, close the lid again and let the chicken grill for an additional 15 minutes. This is because chicken is a rather lean meat. It is not a good idea to use either hickory or mesquite for this dish as they are incredibly strong. I quite like the chicken rub that I have chosen for these Traeger smoked chicken breasts. Next, take your boneless chicken breasts and put them into the large bowl or container with the brine. For a BBQ seasoning, check out my BBQ slow cooker chicken thighs or BBQ smoked chicken thighs. That being said your spice rub sounds appealing and the pictures look good. Hi David! Sprinkle rub on each of the breasts and place them directly on the grates of your smoker. They always have Traeger demos going on here at our Costco, so go check it out at your local Costco or wherever you can find Traegers. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); If you want to keep things really simple, then perhaps try an Aaron Franklin style rub. Sprinkle a liberal amount of spice rub onto each chicken breast on both sides. You shouldnt experience dry chicken at this temperature, but if you do, pre-brine the breasts or wrap them in bacon, the guarantee tender juicy breasts. Shop Ingredients Prep Time 10 Minutes Cook Time 3 Hours Pellets Mesquite Ingredients First, pour two quarts of cold water in a bowl or large container. 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