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–+ servings
Smoked Chicken Tenders on a white plate with a bbq dipping sauce

Smoked Chicken Tenders

Mads Martigan
Learn how to make the best smoked chicken tenders on ANY grill or smoker.
We start with an overnight homemade italian dressing marinade and then simply smoke the chicken tenders with medium indirect heat.
Whether you are using a pellet grill like a Traeger, Camp Chef, or Pit Boss, an electric smoker like a Masterbuilt, or just a conventional propane grill like a Weber, we’ve got you covered!
These smoked chicken tenders are even low carb and Keto friendly!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American, Australian, barbecue, BBQ, Grilling, Keto, Smoked
Servings 4 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Gas Grill, Pellet Grill, or Smoker
  • Wood pellets, chunks, or a pellet tube smoker with pellets or a smoker box with wood chips
  • Mixing Bowl or Large Measuring Cup
  • Small Whisk
  • Gallon-Size Resealable Bag
  • Instant Read Thermometer
  • Grill Tongs

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs Raw Chicken Breast Tenders Or "tenderloins". Boneless, skinless.

Homemade Italian Dressing Marinade

  • ¾ cup Olive Oil not extra virgin
  • ¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar can substitute white wine vinegar if desired
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
  • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Pepper

Instructions
 

Prepare the Overnight Marinade

  • Whisk all the Marinade ingredients together in a bowl or measuring cup, set aside.
    ¾ cup Olive Oil, ¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano, 1 teaspoon Dried Basil, ½ teaspoon Onion Powder, ½ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, ¾ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Pepper
    homemade italian dressing marinade for smoked chicken tenders
  • Rinse the chicken tenders under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels.
    2 lbs Raw Chicken Breast Tenders
  • Put the chicken tenders in a gallon size resealable storage bag and pour the marinade over the chicken.
    raw chicken tenders marinating in a bag
  • Close the bag and work it around the chicken to make sure you are covering all the meat with marinade.
  • Place the bag in refrigerator and marinate the chicken tenders for at least a few hours or ideally overnight.

Set up your Grill or Smoker

  • Light or turn on your smoker, grill or pellet grill and set up the temperature to 300°F. If using a grill, only light a medium amount of charcoal or light one or two burners on one side for indirect cooking
    a pit boss pellet grill smoking with white smoke
  • Brush the grill grates with oil to keep the chicken from sticking.
  • Add your wood chunks directly to the firebox of a smoker, or use chips in a smoker box, or pellets in a tube smoker or pellet grill.
  • Once smoke is being produced and the grill or smoker is at 300°F, put your marinated chicken tenders on the COOL side of the grill.
    chicken tenders smoking on a pellet grill

Smoking the Chicken Tenders

  • Smoke the chicken tenders for about 30-40 minutes, flipping and rotating occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F using an instant read thermometer. DO NOT baste with the marinade mixture that the raw chicken was in.
    checking the internal temperature of smoked chicken tenders with an instant read thermometer
  • Remove the smoked chicken tenders from the grill or smoker and serve with a sauce for dipping such as barbecue, ranch, or honey mustard.
    smoked chicken tenders with barbecue sauce

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal
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