Delicious and tender Camp Chef smoked chicken breast recipe. Learn how to make the perfect smoked chicken at home. Try it today!
Course
Main Course
Prep Time20minutes
Cook Time3hours
Servings4
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
4bonelessskinless chicken breasts
2tablespoonsolive oil
2tablespoonspaprika
1tablespoonsalt
1tablespoonblack pepper
1tablespoongarlic powder
1tablespoononion powder
1tablespoondried thyme
1tablespoonbrown sugar
For the Smoker:
4cupswood pelletsapple, cherry, or your choice
Aluminum foil
Instructions
Prepping the Chicken
Mix paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. This is your flavorful rub.
Place the chicken breasts on a clean surface. Drizzle them with olive oil and rub it all over to create a light coating.
Sprinkle the rub evenly over each chicken breast. Be generous, and make sure to coat all sides.
Wrap the seasoned chicken breasts in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 1 hour. This gives the flavors time to meld with the meat.
Getting the Smoker Ready
Start by selecting your wood pellets. For chicken, fruitwoods like apple or cherry work best. Fill your smoker's pellet hopper with your chosen wood pellets.
Preheat your Camp Chef smoker to 225°F. Make sure to follow your smoker's manufacturer instructions for lighting and maintaining the fire.
While the smoker is heating up, remove the chicken breasts from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature for about 20-30 minutes.
Smoking the Chicken
Once the smoker is at the right temperature and your chicken is at room temp, it's time to smoke!
Place the chicken breasts directly on the smoker grates, leaving some space between them for the smoke to circulate.
Close the smoker lid and let it do its magic. Maintain a temperature of around 225°F throughout the smoking process.
Smoke the chicken for 2.5 to 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check the chicken's doneness.
While smoking, periodically check the pellet levels in your smoker and add more if necessary.
Rest and Serve
Once your smoked chicken reaches 165°F, carefully remove it from the smoker. The chicken should be golden brown with a delicious smoky aroma.
Place the smoked chicken on a clean cutting board and tent it loosely with aluminum foil. Let it rest for about 10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and flavorful chicken.
After resting, slice the smoked chicken breast into 1/2-inch thick pieces.
Serve your homemade smoked chicken breast with your favorite sides, such as corn on the cob, coleslaw, or potato salad.