Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Avocado oil offers a similar flavor with higher smoke point.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index.

smoke wood chips

💰Cheaper: wood pellets

Wood pellets are often more affordable and easier to use.

chicken breast

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Chicken thighs are generally less expensive and more flavorful.

Start by making the chicken rub: combine 2 tablespoons of paprika, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, 2 teaspoons of sugar in the raw, 1 teaspoon of fresh cracked black pepper, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a bowl.

For the Citrus glaze, rub 2 large oranges to loosen the juice, then cut and juice them to get about 1 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice.

In a small bowl, add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of orange zest, then mix in the fresh squeezed orange juice and 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.

Pour in 3 tablespoons of melted butter into the glaze mixture and stir well.

Prepare the chicken breasts by covering them with plastic wrap and pounding them out to make them more tender and cook evenly.

Remove the plastic wrap and sprinkle the rub on each side of the chicken breasts, packing it in.

Let the chicken sit covered for 20 minutes at room temperature to absorb the flavors.

Drizzle half of the glaze over the chicken and spread it around, saving the other half for later use.

Preheat the pellet grill to 220°F.

Place the chicken breasts skin-side down on the grill and insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken.

Cook the chicken for about 30 minutes, mopping with the reserved glaze halfway through the cooking process.

Check the internal temperature of the chicken; it should reach about 161°F before removing from the grill, as it will continue to cook to 165°F after being pulled off.

Serve the smoked chicken with a side of homemade coleslaw and your favorite barbecue sauce for dipping.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens