How To Smoke Chicken Breasts

On another page I sung praises of high-temperature chicken smoking. But on this page, how to smoke chicken breasts, you'll learn that sometimes it's better to smoke 'em low and slow. And trust me, there's a reason for this.



The reason it's better to smoke them at 225 degrees rather than 275 degrees is that the white meat of the breast is fragile and tempermental. If it's smoked too hot and long, it can go dry and tasteless on you in a hurry.

The chicken breasts are smoked with the bone in and the skin off. Leaving the bone in helps the meat remain moist and adds a bit of flavor. Taking the skin off allows the breast to capture a nice looking burnt-orange color from the wood smoke. So you get good looks and good taste.

Smoking Chicken Breasts

• Buy a family pack of bone in chicken breast halves.
  
• Remove the skin, rinse in cold water, and pat dry.
  
• Season with a mild dry rub seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
    
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
    
  • 1 tablespoon salt
    
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  
  
• Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees and add some applewood for smoke.
  
• Place the chicken breasts in the smoker, bone side down.
  
• Remove the chicken breasts when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. No more, no less. Let them rest for 10 minutes before serving.