Sick of constantly being disappointed by dry and dull chicken breasts? Fear not, my friend! With a Masterbuilt electric smoker, you can transform those bland bird bits into juicy and flavorful morsels of deliciousness.
If the thought of using a smoker has you feeling intimidated, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this easy recipe, we’ll guide you through the process of smoking the best chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker.
We’ll cover common problems and questions people have when smoking chicken breasts and provide solutions and general tips to help you achieve mouth-watering results. So don your apron and let’s get smoking!
Equipment for smoking chicken breasts in Masterbuilt smoker
Before we dive into the simple recipe, let’s make sure you have all the equipment you need to smoke chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A Masterbuilt smoker: This is the star of the show! Make sure your smoker is clean and ready to go before you start.
- Wood chips: These little guys add much flavor to your chicken breasts as they smoke. Choose a wood chip smoke flavor that complements the flavors in your recipe. Hickory, apple, and mesquite are popular choices.
- A meat thermometer: Don’t play the guessing game when it comes to cooking chicken. Use a meat probe to ensure your chicken breasts are cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- A small bowl: for mixing the dry seasoning rub
- Meat tongs: You’ll need a pair of tongs to handle the chicken breasts while placing them on the smoker and flipping them during smoking. Tongs with silicone tips are a good choice as they provide a secure grip without damaging the meat. They also make it easier to handle hot food without burning your hands.
- Paper towels: For drying the breasts
- Kitchen knife: Basic kitchen knife for trimming
Ingredients for smoking chicken breasts
Now that you have your equipment ready, let’s gather the ingredients you’ll need to smoke chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker. Here’s what you’ll need:
Basic ingredients:
- Chicken breasts: The star of the show! Make sure to get high-quality chicken breasts. Choose boneless chicken breast, skin-on chicken breasts for the best result .
- BBQ sauce: Choose your favorite BBQ sauce to baste your chicken breasts as they smoke .
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil: This will help the rub stick to the chicken and add some extra flavor.
For the spice rub: (feel free to use your favorite rub as an alternative)
- Light brown sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the spices.
- Smoked paprika: Gives the chicken that smoky flavor we all love.
- Garlic powder: A must-have for any savory dish.
- Dried oregano: Adds a touch of earthiness to the rub.
- Onion powder: Complements the garlic powder perfectly.
- Dried thyme: A little goes a long way with this herb.
- Coarse salt: Brings out the flavor of all the other ingredients.
- Ground black pepper: Adds a bit of heat to the rub.
- White pepper: A milder version of black pepper that adds depth to the flavor.
- Cajun seasoning: Brings some Louisiana heat to the party.
That’s it! With these three ingredients, you’re ready to smoke some delicious chicken breasts using your Masterbuilt smoker.
How to smoke the perfect chicken breasts with Masterbuilt smoker?
Now that you have your equipment and ingredients ready, let’s get to the fun part: smoking chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker! This is one of the simplest chicken recipes that is basically the same for any type of smoker. Here’s a step-by-step smoker recipe for 4-6 servings:
- Trim visible fat from chicken breasts: This will help your chicken breasts cook more evenly.
- Pat chicken dry: Use clean paper towels to pat your chicken breasts dry.
- Drizzle with olive oil: Pat chicken breasts with olive oil and rub all over until fully coated.
- Prepare the dry rub: In a small bowl, mix together all the seasoning ingredients. Use your hands or a spoon to mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
- Rub chicken with seasoning: Rub chicken breasts with 2 tablespoons of prepared seasoning (or any seasoning blend of your choice). Then Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Preheat smoker to 225°F: This is the right temperature for smoking chicken breasts.
- Smoke chicken directly on rack: Smoke your chicken breasts directly on the rack for 3-5 hours depending on thickness of your meat.
- Baste chicken with BBQ sauce: During the last hour of cook time, baste your chicken breasts with 1 cup of Texas-style BBQ sauce (or sauce of your choice). Serve with remaining sauce.
- Finish the smoking: Place chicken back on the rack and smoke for an additional hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The smoking process duration to cook your chicken breasts entirely will vary depending on their thickness. If you don’t have a temperature probe, you can check if the chicken is done by cutting into the thickest part and making sure the juices run clear and there is no pink meat.
- Optional searing: If you want to sear your chicken breasts for extra flavor and texture, preheat your gas grill to high heat when your chicken almost reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Once your chicken reaches 160°F, remove it from the smoker and sear it for 1-2 minutes per side on your gas grill.
- Let chicken rest: Remove your chicken from the smoker (or gas grill if searing) and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. The internal temperature of the chicken will continue to rise to 165°F as it rests.
That’s it! With these simple steps, you’ll have delicious smoked chicken breasts using your Masterbuilt smoker.
How can I improve the taste of my chicken breasts?
- Brine your chicken breasts: If you want to take your chicken breasts to the next level, you can brine them before smoking. This step is optional but highly recommended for juicy chicken full of flavor. Just mix water, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and let the chicken soak for a few hours before smoking.
- Add wood chips sparingly: To avoid making your meat taste bitter, add only a small handful of wood chips to the smoker every hour and do not add wood pellets more than three times while smoking.
- Prepare your food in advance: To enhance the taste of your food, let the flavors meld by marinating, brining, or seasoning it before smoking.
- Control the temperature: Ensure that you know how to control the temperature of your Masterbuilt smoker effectively to achieve the best possible results.
- Don’t over-smoke: For the best results, take care not to oversmoke your food, as this can result in a bitter taste.
- Use drip pans and aluminum foil: Simplify the cleaning process by using drip pans and aluminum foil.
Seasoning Variations
- Cajun seasoning: This is a popular seasoning for chicken breasts.
- Italian seasoning: This blend of herbs and spices adds a touch of Italian flavor to your chicken breasts. Use ingredients such as basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
- Lemon pepper: This seasoning adds a zesty citrus flavor to your chicken breasts. It’s made from lemon zest and black pepper.
- Garlic and herb: This seasoning adds a savory garlic flavor to your chicken breasts. Typically you need garlic powder, onion powder, and dried herbs such as parsley and thyme.
- Jerk seasoning: This Jamaican-inspired seasoning adds a spicy kick to your chicken breasts. It contains allspice, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers.
These are just a few examples of the many seasonings you can use when smoking chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker. Feel free to experiment with different seasonings to find the flavors you like best.
Frequently asked questions
Here I’ll answer some common questions people have when smoking chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker.
How do I keep the chicken from getting dry?
Keep the chicken moist by using a brine or marinade. You can also try different types of wood or seasoning to add moisture and flavor.
What are some safety tips for handling and cooking raw chicken?
Wash your hands before touching raw chicken. Don’t let it touch other foods to avoid cross-contamination. Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill any harmful bacteria.
How do I get smoky flavor and crispy skin when smoking chicken?
Smoke the chicken at a lower temperature for a long time to get more smoky flavor. Then cook it at a high temperature to make the skin crispy. Or use a dry rub and cook at a high temperature for a short time to get crispy skin.
How do I know how long to cook the chicken and at what temperature?
Use a digital thermometer to check the chicken’s temperature. Or follow a recipe that tells you how long to cook the chicken and at what temperature for your equipment and type of chicken.
Is it worth buying a digital thermometer when smoking chicken?
Yes, a digital thermometer is worth buying when smoking chicken. Chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to eat. A digital instant-read thermometer makes it easy to know when the chicken is done and cooked to the right temperature. This makes sure the chicken is safe to eat and helps prevent overcooking, which can make the meat dry and tough.
How can I get better at smoking chicken?
Use an easy smoker recipe that tells you how much spices or seasoning to use. You can also try different pre-mixed seasonings or rubs.
Why do people like smoking chicken?
People love the smoky and juicy taste of smoked chicken. It’s also easy to make and cooks slowly.
How to store smoked chicken breasts
After smoking chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker, you may have leftovers that you want to store for later. Here’s how to properly store your smoked chicken breasts:
- Refrigerate: Place leftover smoked chicken breasts in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. You can keep them refrigerated for 4 days.
- Freeze: If you want to freeze your smoked chicken breasts, make sure they have cooled to room temperature before placing them in the freezer. Store them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Remove as much air as possible before sealing. You can store the chicken breasts in the freezer usually for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: To thaw frozen smoked chicken breasts, transfer them from the freezer to the refrigerator and allow them to thaw slowly. This will help prevent any loss of quality or texture.
Happy smoking!
Well, that’s all for now! I hope this blog post has given you all the information you need to smoke delicious chicken breasts using a Masterbuilt smoker. From gathering your ingredients to smoking your chicken to perfection, we’ve covered it all.
So fire up that smoker and get ready to impress your friends and family with your mad smoking skills. And remember, if at first you don’t succeed, smoke, smoke again! Happy smoking!
Masterbuilt smoked chicken breasts
Equipment
- 1 Masterbuilt smoker
- 1 wood chips (use wood type you like)
- 1 meat thermometer
- 1 Small mixing bowl
- 1 meat tongs
- 6 paper towels
- 1 kitchen knife
Ingredients
- 4-6 chicken breasts (use high quality)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce Choose your favorite BBQ sauce to baste your chicken breasts as they smoke
- 2 tbsp olive oil (extra virgin)
For the rub
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp coarse salt
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp white pepper
- ½ tsp cajun seasoning
Instructions
- Trim visible fat from chicken breasts: This will help your chicken breasts cook more evenly.
- Pat chicken dry: Use clean paper towels to pat your chicken breasts dry.
- Drizzle with olive oil: Pat chicken breasts with olive oil and rub all over until fully coated.
- Prepare the dry rub: In a small bowl, mix together all the seasoning ingredients. Use your hands or a spoon to mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
- Rub chicken with seasoning: Rub chicken breasts with 2 tablespoons of prepared seasoning (or any seasoning blend of your choice). Then Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Preheat smoker to 225 °F: This is the right temperature for smoking chicken breasts. Smoke chicken directly on rack: Smoke your chicken breasts directly on the rack for 3-5 hours depending on thickness of your meat.
- Baste the chicken with BBQ sauce. During the last hour baste with BBQ sauce and place back on the rack and smoke for an additional hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165 °F. Check for doneness by cutting into the thickest part and ensuring the juices run clear with no pink meat. Serve with remaining sauce.
- Optional searing: If you want to sear your chicken breasts for extra flavor and texture, preheat your gas grill to high heat when your chicken almost reaches an internal temperature of 160 °F. Once your chicken reaches 160 °F, remove it from the smoker and sear it for 1-2 minutes per side on your gas grill.
- Let chicken rest: Remove your chicken from the smoker (or gas grill if searing) and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. The internal temperature of the chicken will continue to rise to 165 °F as it rests.
Notes
- Brine your chicken breasts for a few hours before smoking for extra juiciness.
- Add wood chips sparingly to prevent a bitter taste.
- Prepare your food in advance to let the flavors meld.
- To achieve crispy skin, consider smoking at a low temperature for a long time and then cooking at high temperature for a short time.
- Chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to eat. Using a meat thermometer can help ensure accuracy.
- You can experiment with different seasonings, such as Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, garlic and herb, or jerk seasoning.
- To prevent your chicken from becoming dry, consider using a brine or marinade before smoking.
- For best results, control the temperature of your smoker effectively. Avoid over-smoking your food, as this can result in a bitter taste.
- Leftover smoked chicken breasts can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer them from the freezer to the refrigerator and allow them to thaw slowly.