Smoked Chicken Breasts In an Electric Smoker
This flavorful smoked chicken breasts recipe is a fantastic and simple recipe for your electric smoker! Add a variety of spices or rubs (see our suggestions below!) for perfect, tender chicken breasts everytime.
We make these every time our electric smoker is on, and they always turn out amazing – wheather we use a honey mustard, teriyaki sauce, or dry sweet BBQ rub!
Want more tasty chicken recipes? Try our chipotle chicken fajitas, chicken paprikash soup, or easy chicken with cilantro crema!
If you want the most tender, juicy, favorful chicken breasts then this easy electric smoker chicken recipe will be your next go-to! Our friends gave us an electric smoker for a housewarming gift a while ago, and it has been great to smoke meat.
And whole chicken breasts come out surprisingly tender, juicy, and perfect every time. You will need a meat thermometer to determine when the chicken breast is done (165 degrees Fahrenheit).
We use wireless Bluetooth thermometers which stay in the smoker and ping our phones when they’re done cooking. Set it and forget it, but with a modern update! This chicken is great for entertaining, barbecues, or parties – everyone raves about it.
This Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe Is
- Savory
- Earthy
- Smokey
- High Protein
- Simple
- Versatile
Ingredients You’ll Need
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
- Chicken – we get chicken breasts from a farm down the street (perks of living in the country!) but try to get locally sourced meat if you can to support your local farmers.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite brand for this smoked chicken.
- Montreal Steak Spice: This is our absolute favorite spice blend, we put it on everything!
- Dijon Mustard – for a really nice flavor and texture, this dijon is a favorite in our pantry.
Substitutions and Variations
The great thing about this recipe is that is can be so versatile. You can use any spice mixture or blend that you like. I used Montreal Steak Spice which has pepper, oregano, garlic and dill. But your favorite spice blend would also be awesome.
Use Italian, BBQ spice, sriracha, or even a Thai basil. Anything goes! If you’re wondering how to smoke chicken, this is your guide.
How to Smoke Chicken Breast in an Electric Smoker
- Set the electric smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the chicken breasts in an aluminum tray. Coat the chicken breasts in rubs and spices. If using a sauce, pour directly over the chicken breasts.
- If using a spice, drizzle a little olive oil on the chicken first then add a pinch of spice so the spices/seasonings stick to the surface of the chicken. I like to use BBQ sauce and Montreal Steak spice for my chicken, also Dijon mustard.
- The chicken will smoke between 2-3 hours (depeing on size), or until it reaches an internal temprature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (or 74 degrees Celcius) in the thickest part of the breast.
- Once finished cooking, remove the chicken from the smoker, and allow it to rest for at least 15 mintues before slicing.
Recipe FAQs
I find that the best wood chips for smoking chicken are apple, cherry, or hickory chips. Apple and cherry provide a sweeter, milder smoke flavor, while hickory offers a stronger, more traditional BBQ taste.
Absolutely, boneless skinless chicken breasts work well in an electric smoker. Just be careful not to overcook them, as they can dry out more quickly than bone-in, skin-on breasts.
It’s best to thaw chicken breasts before smoking to make sure they cook evenly. Smoking frozen chicken may result in uneven texture and flavor – plus can cook unevenly, leaving parts of the chicken too dry or undercooked.
What To Serve with Smoked Chicken
- Cream Cheese Pasta Salad
- Coleslaw with Sour Cream
- Copycat Trader Joe’s Greek Chickpeas
- Hot Honey Noodles
- Low Sodium Grilled Vegetables
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Smoked Chicken Breasts (Electric Smoker)
Ingredients
- 3 large chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup sauce I like BBQ and teriyaki
- 2 tablespoons dry spices blend
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
Method
- Set the electric smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the chicken breasts in an aluminum tray. Coat the chicken breasts in rubs and spices. If using a sauce, pour directly over the chicken breasts.
- If using a spice, drizzle a little olive oil on the chicken first then add a pinch of spice so the spices/seasonings stick to the surface of the chicken. I like to use BBQ sauce and Montreal Steak spice for my chicken, also Dijon mustard.
- The chicken will smoke between 2-3 hours (depeing on size), or until it reaches an internal temprature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (or 74 degrees Celcius) in the thickest part of the breast.
- Once finished cooking, remove the chicken from the smoker, and allow it to rest for at least 15 mintues before slicing.
Nutrition
Notes
Private Notes
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Have plenty of chicken always looking for a yummy recipe. This is it
A wonderful taste
Always smoke ribs. Never thought of these yummy chicken breasts. Wow
Are they bone in or out
Hello Scott,
I used boneless chicken breasts, but you can make this recipe also with bone-in (however you may need to adjust the cooking time)
– Kelly