The Best Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe 

How to Make Great Smoked Chicken

There are three factors to cooking really good chicken on your Traeger Grill. 

First, you'll need a trusted guideline for the temperature and cook time. The higher your grill temperature, the shorter the cooking time. I really feel like this is half the battle. It's important to not overcook the chicken. Boneless skinless chicken breasts can go from flavorful and juicy to dry and chewy it a matter of minutes. I don't want that for you.  

The second factor is how and when you season the chicken. Getting salt into the chicken in advance is the best way to lock in moisture and make a really flavorful chicken breast. 

Lastly, the quality of the chicken you choose to cook will make a difference. The size of the breast will affect the total cook time. I know you might think a bigger breast is better in all instances, however, when it comes to chicken, bigger means older. A younger hen that is smaller will have a better texture overall and not take as long to cook. So choose a quality free range cut for the best results. 

Slow Smoked Chicken Breast

Truly "smoked" chicken comes with a few challenges. Since chicken breast is so lean, the texture of the protein doesn't soak up the flavor of the wood pellets as much as other cuts of meat. The chicken will also hit a stall and dry out if you attempt to smoke it at a low temperature all the way through, causing have an odd texture. 

If you're craving that intense smoky flavor and a pink smoke ring on your chicken breast, here is the solution. Start the chicken at a lower temperature to soak up some smoke. Finish at a higher temperature to speed up the overall cook time. 

1. Smoke the chicken breast at 225F for 30-40 minutes.
2. Remove the chicken and increase the grill temperature to 375F. 
3. When the grill has reached 375F, add the chicken breast back to the grill and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 155-160F. Let the carryover cooking finish the rest.
4. Remove the chicken and cover with foil. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. 

You should also lean into to the smokiness with warm spices and slow cooked flavors like paprika, chili powder, and brown sugar. 

High Temperature Grilled Chicken 

This is your weeknight recipe. More often than not, I fire up my Traeger pellet grill to a high heat. We won't have as much smoke flavor from this recipe, but you will get perfect results. Juicy and tender chicken breasts that is perfectly cooked and tastes great. 

1. Season your chicken breasts generously 1-2 hours before cooking. 
2. When you are ready to cook, preheat your Traeger grills to 375F.
3. Drizzle the seasoned chicken breasts with olive oil and add more seasoning if necessary.
4. Lay the seasoned chicken breasts directly on the grill grates and close the lid.
5. Flip the chicken after 12-15 minutes.
6. Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 155-158F. 
7. Remove from the grill and cover with foil. Carry over cooking will finish the rest. 

Supplies You Must Have

A meat thermometer is the only way to know if your chicken is safely cooked before drying out. Food safety rules recommend cooking chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. To be honest, I will pull it off the smoker a little bit before that, cover it with aluminum foil, and let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. 

Sheet pan with a wire rack is best for dry brining any cut of meat.

Wood Pellets- for a quick cook at a high temperature, use a less expensive blend since less smoke flavor will get into your meat. For a more smoky flavor, use hickory wood, cherry, or mesquite. 

Great Dry Rub For Traeger Chicken

My favorite store-bought seasoning blend comes right from Traeger. Their Chicken Rub is loaded with flavor from citrus and black pepper. It's a bright rub that dresses up boneless chicken breasts with minimal effort. 

My favorite all-purpose seasoning is the Traeger Rub. It's a great option for chicken, pork, and beef.

Marinades for Grilling Chicken

I have two favorites for you. 

First, my basic meat marinade that is great for BBQ chicken breasts. The marinade combines soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar a really intense flavor. During the last few minutes of cooking, brush with BBQ sauce for that sticky/tangy/sweet flavor combination. I also serve this with smoked baked beans for an easy but epic meal. 

My second favorite marinade is a tequila lime marinade for easy chicken tacos. This recipe combines olive oil, lime juice, tequila, and spices. It might be my favorite way to dress up taco Tuesday. 

Saving and Reheating Instructions

Always save leftovers in an airtight container. You can use a zip-top bag or glass snap ware container. Keep leftovers for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze leftover chicken if youre a meal prepped. Vacuum seal bags work best for this.

One great thing about leftover chicken is that it can be used so many ways without reheating. If you do need to reheat leftover chicken breast, make sure to lower the power on the microwave and add some moisture. 

Related Recipes

Traeger chicken thighs are another great go-to recipe for entertaining. They come out moist and flavorful every time. 

If you want an easy whole chicken recipe, check out Whole Chicken on a Traeger Smoker. This one gets a dry brine and a kiss of smoke.