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    Home » Pit Boss Recipes

    Published: Oct 16, 2023 · Modified: Apr 3, 2024 by Mads Martigan · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Smoked Chicken Breasts on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Learn how to make the juiciest smoked chicken breasts using a Pit Boss pellet grill!

    We take you step-by-step through dry brining and seasoning your smoked chicken breasts, setting up your Pit Boss pellet grill for the cook, and smoking them to perfection.

    Pit Boss chicken breast cut in half to show inside on a white plate

    We love smoking chicken around here.

    We've done Spatchcocked Chicken, Smoked Chicken Leg Quarters, Smoked Chicken Thighs, a Pit Boss Smoked Whole Chicken, and the always fun and popular Beer Can Chicken.

    But today we are getting back to basics with some delicious smoked chicken breasts right on our trusty Pit Boss pellet grill.

    First we are going to do an easy overnight dry brine to make sure they are moist and flavorful and that if you have "skin-on" chicken breasts, the skin stays nice and crispy.

    Then, we will season them up with one our all time favorite BBQ rubs for chicken and smoke them on the Pit Boss with medium heat indirectly until they are perfectly cooked and colored.

    Then you can eat your Pit Boss smoked chicken breasts juicy and smoked "as-is" or brush on one of our favorite BBQ sauces to finish them off saucy!

    Jump to:
    • Our Favorite Seasonings
    • Homemade "In a Pinch" Rub
    • Our Favorite BBQ Sauces
    • Video
    • Our Favorite Wood Pellets
    • Setting up the Pit Boss
    • Smoking Temperature
    • Target Internal Temperature
    • Cooking Time
    • Serving the Chicken Breasts
    • 📖 Recipe

    Our Favorite Seasonings

    three little pigs seasoning and blues hog sauce

    Now, you can use ANY of your favorite BBQ rubs for smoked chicken.

    Since we are only smoking these at 300°F we don't need to worry about burning any sugary rubs.

    So choose any rub you like and sprinkle it on generously on both sides of each chicken breast.

    Three Little Pigs Touch of Cherry is one of our personal favorite rubs for smoked chicken, and their Kansas City Championship Rub will give you a good hit of garlic, onion, and some heat if you like more of those flavors.

    seasoned chicken breasts

    You can always mix it in with a more balanced rub like Blues Hog if you just want to add a little of those flavors.

    Three Little Pigs Kansas City Championship BBQ Rub LARGE 12.5 Oz
    Check Price on Amazon

    If you want a quality rub without ANY sugar, we are big fans of Bad Byron's Butt Rub Seasoning.

    Although we typically use it on cuts of beef and steaks where we are going for a more savory flavor, there is no real reason you can't apply it to your Pit Boss smoked chicken breasts if you are looking for big flavor without all the sugar.

    Bad Byrons Butt Rub Barbecue Seasoning 4.5 Ounce - Pack 2
    Bad Byrons Butt Rub Barbecue Seasoning 4.5 Ounce - Pack 2
    • Try Bad Byron Butt Rub on fish, vegetables, potatoes, potatoes, eggs, popcorn and much more!
    • All natural and gluten-f
    Check Price on Amazon

    Homemade "In a Pinch" Rub

    Sometimes, you forgot you ran out of your favorite rub, or don't have all the ingredients on hand to make a complex one from scratch.

    If you just want to get a good classic BBQ rub on your Pit Boss smoked chicken breasts before throwing them in , then we've got you covered with this simple rub recipe with seasonings most people have on hand in the pantry:

    • ¼ Cup Dark Brown Sugar
    • ¼ Cup Paprika
    • 1 tablespoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt (Or ½ tablespoon table salt, go easy, you can always add more salt later)
    • 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
    • ½ tablespoon Granulated Garlic or Garlic Powder (adjust to taste)
    • ½ tablespoon Onion Powder (adjust to taste)
    • 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (optional)

    Mix thoroughly, (using a re-usable plastic shaker works best), and then sprinkle directly on your chicken.

    If you don't want that much sugar, you can replace with more paprika, smoked paprika. or increase the amount of chili powder and other savory seasonings.

     

    Our Favorite BBQ Sauces

    blues hog sauce

    Blues Hog again wins the day here with their amazing lineup of sauces.  While their rubs are great, their sauces are WORLD CLASS.

    Their Original BBQ Sauce is VERY thick, VERY sweet, and incredibly heavy on flavor, so a little goes a LONG way.

    In fact, we actually like to cut it with their Tennessee Red Sauce, which is a thinner, more vinegar based sauce, that is our hands down favorite sauce to use on our pulled pork as described here.

    You can pick up both and mix them like we do, or mix some Blues Hog Original in with one of your other favorites (we'd suggest more savory sauces to balance the sugar, like this one from Aaron Franklin.)

    Blues Hog Premium BBQ Large Sampler (Variety Pack of 5 with 4 Different Sauces and 1 Rub)
    Check Price on Amazon

    Kosmos also makes a great lineup of BBQ sauces that work great on smoked chicken breasts, especially if you want to try some more adventurous flavors such as their Peach Habanero or Honey Jalapeno.

    Kosmos Q BBQ Sauce Sampler Pack | Sweet, Smoky & Spicy Flavors | Full Size Bottles
    Check Price on Amazon

     

    Video

    Rather Watch than Read?

    Check out our Step-by-Step video for How to Make Smoked Chicken Breasts on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill on our YouTube Channel!

     

    Our Favorite Wood Pellets

    Poultry, like fish, absorbs smoke very quickly and a little goes a long way.

    The best woods for smoking chicken include the fruitwoods like apple, cherry, and peach, but also the milder smoking woods like pecan, oak and alder.

    Mesquite and hickory will give a very aggressive smoke flavor and should only be used if mixed in with some of the other types mentioned above.

    BEAR MOUNTAIN Premium BBQ WOODS FK90 Craft Blends All Natural Smoky Hardwood Gourmet Blend Smoker Pellets, 20 Pound Bag
    BEAR MOUNTAIN Premium BBQ Gourmet Blend, 20 Pound Bag
    • GOURMET BLEND: Gourmet Blend BBQ pellets add a sweet, smoky flavor to your favorite red meat, poultry, fish, pork, lamb, or vegetable dish
    • ALL NATURAL: Made from 100 percent all-natural hardwoods with no flavorings, fillers, or additi
    Check Price on Amazon

    For fun, you can choose your woods seasonally, using beech and cherry in spring and summer and pecan and apple into the fall and winter.

    For the best results, store your unused pellets in a sealed room temperature container like this 20 lb pellet container rather than in the Pit Boss hopper outside.

    Pellets do not last forever, but will definitely last a LOT longer if stored indoors in a quality airtight container.

    Oklahoma Joe's Pellet Bucket Kit, Black
    • Store up to 20 pounds of hardwood pellets in the heavy-duty plastic pellet bucket.
    • Weatherproof, airtight lid protects pellets from the elements, keeping them fresh and dry
    • Wire-mesh filter separates wood dust from the pellets for a clean burn
    • Heavy-duty plastic scoop to easily transfer pellets
    Check Price on Amazon

    If you're looking for even more smoke flavor, you can add a pellet tube smoker right onto your Pit Boss grates. Another option is to use actual wood chunks and charcoal in a smoker box. Watch our video to show you exactly how to do it!

    Setting up the Pit Boss

    We have previously covered how to season a Pit Boss, how to start a Pit Boss, as well as how to troubleshoot the smoke level of your pellet grill.

    So if you need a more in-depth review on how to use your Pit Boss for the first time, check those articles out first!

     

    Smoking Temperature

    You will need to watch both your cooking temperature and internal temperature carefully when smoking the chicken breasts on your Pit Boss.

    chicken breasts smoking on a pit boss pellet grill

    We recommend setting up the Pit Boss for indirect heat to cook at 300°F.

    This seems to be the best temperature for smoking chicken breasts on a Pit Boss.

    Any lower, your smoked chicken breasts will not only take forever, but the meat may dry out.

    Any higher, and you risk burning the sugar in your BBQ rub.

    However, if you are using a no-sugar rub like Bad Byron's, feel free to smoke the chicken breasts at 325-350°F.

    If you are adding a barbecue sauce at the end you want to carmelize, its OK to crank the heat up to 350-375°F for the last 5-10 minutes after brushing on the sauce.

     

    Target Internal Temperature

    You HAVE to use a good instant read meat thermometer to know where the internal temperature is of your smoked chicken breasts on the Pit Boss.

    internal meat probe reading 110 degrees

    If your smoked chicken breasts are big enough, you'll want a good leave in probe thermometer like the Thermopro as well as a second instant read thermometer to spot check as you get close to pulling them off the Pit Boss.

    ThermoPro TP08 300FT Wireless Meat Thermometer for Grilling Smoker BBQ Grill Oven Thermometer with Dual Probe Kitchen Cooking Food Thermometer
    ThermoPro TP08 300FT Wireless Meat Thermometer with Dual Probe
    • 300ft remote range
    • Oven safe with highly accurate stainless steel meat probe and oven/ grill/ smoker temperature probe, to allow you to monitor both food and ambient temperature simultaneously
    • Food temp & HI/LOW ambient temp alarm
    • Highly accurate temp range 14˚f to 572˚F; Displays both Fahrenheit and Celsius
    Check Price on Amazon

    If you don't yet own an instant read thermometer, ThermoPro makes a good one of these too.

    ThermoPro TP19H Waterproof Digital Meat Thermometer
    Check Price on Amazon

    While we have used and recommended ThermoPro for years, lately we have also become big fans of the MEATER leave in thermometer.

    It is extremely accurate and has an incredible 165 foot bluetooth range and works right with your smartphone so you don't need to carry a separate controller around with you like many other remote thermometers require.

    It's got a great free app that is constantly being updated and even has an algorithm to predict how much longer your type of meat will take to cook based on cooking temperature, target temperature, current internal temperature.

    It's like a GPS for your meat!

    MEATER Plus | 165ft Long Range Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth for The Oven, Grill, Kitchen, BBQ, Smoker, Sous Vide, Rotisserie
    • ► 2 Sensors, 1 Probe: Dual temperature sensors can monitor internal meat temperature up to 212°F and ambient / external temperature up to 527°F simultaneously. Dishwasher safe.
    • ► Advanced Estimator Algorithm: Can estimate how long to cook and rest your food to help plan your meal and manage your time.
    • ► Connectivity Suite: Monitor your cook from a phone or tablet over Bluetooth. Extend your range Using MEATER Link WiFi and MEATER Cloud to use Alexa and monitor your cook from a computer.
    Check Price on Amazon

    Anyways, back to our smoked chicken...

    We are going to bring the internal temperature of our smoked chicken breasts up to 165°F.

    Since the smoked chicken breasts are white meat, they don't need to cook as high as dark meat like legs and thighs.

    If they are small chicken breasts, you can try taking them off at 160°F and letting the residual heat from the outside bring the inside up to 165°F while they rest so as not to risk overcooking them.

     

    Cooking Time

    You'll want to monitor the internal temperature of the chicken breasts closely for doneness.

    This is really the only way to know when they are close to being done.

    Because chicken breasts come in a variety of sizes as well as whether they are boneless or skinless, the time it takes to smoke them can vary widely.

    a temperature probe in a smoked chicken breast on a pit boss pellet grill

    Remember, we are bringing them up to 165°F on your instant read thermometer.

    In a 300°F Pit Boss, it will take roughly 40 minutes to smoke boneless chicken breasts and closer to 60 minutes for bone-in.

    Depending on the size of your chicken breasts, how consistent your Pit Boss temperature is, the humidity outside, as well a number of other factors, your cooking time may be more or less, so be prepared.

    Pro Tip: If you want the crispiest skin possible on skin-on chicken breasts, avoid basting or spraying the chicken breasts with anything while they are smoking.

    Keep the lid closed as much as possible, and use the temperature probes to tell you when they are done.

    Pro Tip #2: If you're going to apply a bbq sauce at the end to skin-on chicken breasts, wait as long as possible until the skin has fully crisped up.  If you add sauce before the skin gets crispy, IT WILL NEVER GET CRISPY at that point.

    Serving the Chicken Breasts

    Serve your smoked chicken breasts while they are still hot, with some extra warmed up BBQ sauce on the side if your guests wish.

    finished pit boss smoked chicken breasts

    Smoked chicken breasts are great on their own, or you can pair them with our maple bourbon smoked pineapple for a Hawaiian theme.

    Smoked broccoli, smoked asparagus, and even smoked cauliflower and smoked carrots are great if you're eating healthy.

    If you want something a little richer, check out our Sticky Smoked Sweet Potatoes to cook and serve alongside your Pit Boss smoked chicken.

     

    📖 Recipe

    Pit Boss chicken breast cut in half to show inside on a white plate

    Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Breasts

    Mads Martigan
    Our Pit Boss Smoked Chicken breasts are first dry brined and seasoned overnight to get the most flavor and juiciest meat.
    Then we smoke them with indirect heat on the Pit Boss pellet grill. They are finished with a delicious bbq sauce glaze.
    3.50 from 8 votes
    PRINT PIN SHARE SAVE Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Australian, barbecue, BBQ, Smoked
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 550 kcal

    Equipment

    • Pit Boss Pellet Grill
    • Wood Pellets preferably a fruitwood like apple or cherry; or oak
    • Meat Carving Knife
    • Paper Towels
    • Instant Read and/or Leave in Probe Thermometer
    • Basting brush
    • Cutting Board

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 Chicken Breasts boneless skinless
    • 2 tablespoon Three Little Pigs BBQ Rub or your favorite BBQ rub for chicken or our "In a Pinch" Recipe Below
    • ¼ Cup Blues Hog Original BBQ Sauce
    • ¼ Cup Blues Hog Tennessee Red BBQ Sauce

    "In a Pinch" BBQ Rub

    • 2 tablespoon Dark Brown Sugar
    • 2 tablespoon Paprika
    • 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt
    • ½ tablespoon Course Ground Black Pepper
    • ½ tablespoon Chili Powder
    • ½ tablespoon Garlic Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper optional

    Instructions
     

    Wash the Chicken Breasts

    • Remove the chicken breasts from their packaging and rinse under cold running water. Pay dry with paper towels.
      8 Chicken Breasts

    Season the Chicken

    • Mix together the In a Pinch BBQ Rub, or use your favorite BBQ rub, and sprinkle generously over the tops and bottoms of each chicken breast.
      2 tablespoon Three Little Pigs BBQ Rub or your favorite BBQ rub for chicken or our "In a Pinch" Recipe Below
      seasoned chicken breasts
    • Let the seasoning set on the chicken ideally for a couple hours before smoking.

    Start the Pit Boss

    • Add your chosen pellets to the hopper, start the Pit Boss pellet grill and put it on the "Smoke" setting and leave the lid open.
      pouring apple pellets in a pit boss hopper
    • Once the Pit boss begins to produce thick white smoke, let it run for about 5-7 minutes until the smoke turns more of a clearish blue color. This means the fire rod has fully heated up to burn the pellets more cleanly.
      white start up smoke on a pit boss pellet grill
    • Next, set the temperature to preheat the Pit Boss pellet grill to 300°F.
    • Fill an aluminum pan with water pan if you want to add extra moisture, and place it on the far left side of the Pit Boss pellet grill. Place a disposable bucket liner in the grease bucket as well if you want to limit cleanup later.

    Smoking

    • Place the chicken breasts on the Pit Boss.
      chicken breasts smoking on a pit boss pellet grill
    • Continue smoking the chicken breasts, rotating and flipping occasionally, until the internal temperature of each breast reaches 150-155°F internally. This may take about 45 minutes.
      chicken breasts smoking on a pit boss
    • Mix the two types of Blues Hog BBQ sauce together in a small bowl, gently baste the sauce on with a basting brush. Close the lid and continue cooking.
      ¼ Cup Blues Hog Original BBQ Sauce, ¼ Cup Blues Hog Tennessee Red BBQ Sauce
      blues hog bbq sauce in a bowl
    • Once the internal temperature of the smoked chicken breasts reaches 165°F, remove them from the Pit Boss and place on a serving tray
      finished pit boss smoked chicken breasts
    • Serve immediately with extra sauce if desired.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 550kcal
    Keyword barbecue, barbecue chicken, bbq, BBQ Chicken, BBQ Chicken Breasts, chicken breasts, pellet grill, Pit Boss, Pit Boss Chicken, Pit Boss Chicken Breasts, Pit Boss Recipes, Pit Boss Smoked Chicken, Smoked Chicken, Smoked Chicken Breasts, white meat
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Pit Boss Recipes

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      Pit Boss Pork Belly Burnt Ends
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    About Mads Martigan

    Mads is the founder of Madbackyard.com and has been a BBQ and Grilling enthusiast for the past 15 years. He loves to write about and make videos on smoking and barbecuing all kinds of great food.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Renee says

      March 06, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Never tried brining before but was easier than I thought and really made a difference. Thanks!

    2. D.M. says

      April 28, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      These came out nice and were very juicy, thanks for posting.

    3. TallGuy says

      July 13, 2024 at 2:19 pm

      I tried the recipe. I'd never heard of brining. They turned out really great. My daughter who doesn't like warming chicken breasts as leftovers thought they were excellent also.

    3.50 from 8 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




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    Robert "Mads" Martigan, the founder of Mad Backyard

    Hi, I'm Mads, the founder of Mad Backyard and an avid outdoorsman, barbecue/smoker buff, and pellet grilling enthusiast who loves to share my passion for outdoor living and outdoor cooking with the world.

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