Delicious Smoked Chicken Recipes

Chicken is my go-to when I’m looking for lean protein options. But I don’t like to make the same bland recipe over and over and over. That’s why I love this variety of recipes presented here. They’re all fairly simple to make, absolutely delicious, and everyone raves about each and every one!

I love sharing collections of some of my favorite recipes with you, and today we’re talking chicken. White meat, dark meat, thighs, and wings – and even whole Cornish hens.

And not only am I sharing my favorite recipes with you, but also some of my best tips and tricks for ensuring you get the best results every time. I’ve also got some great seasonings and sauces to give your chicken the best flavor.

Lastly, I’ve included a bunch of side dishes to bring the whole thing together. 

Tips & Tricks

• Smoke the chicken on the upper racks away from direct heat of the grill. This allows for fully cooked chicken that retains its juicy moisture without overcooking or drying it out.
• Always cook chicken to the proper internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.

• Temperature should be checked in the innermost part of the thigh or wing and the thickest part of a chicken breast.
• Use a calibrated meat thermometer to ensure cooking temperature is accurate 
• If you are marinating your chicken in the refrigerator, take them out an hour before cooking to allow them to acclimate. 

FAQs

What does “cook to temp” mean?  

“Cook to temp” means allowing the food to cook as long as it needs to to reach its safe-for-consumption temperature. It is important to cook chicken to 165 degrees vs just cooking for a set amount of time. Example: if you cook your chicken for 30 minutes but your oven is off by even a few degrees then the chicken will be undercooked. 165° is always 165°.

What is the proper temperature to cook chicken?
Chicken should always be cooked to an internal temp of 165°F. Also, measure for the temp in the thickest part of the chicken. Use a meat thermometer like this one from Thermoworks to get the most accurate readings.

Best Smoked Chicken Seasonings

Don’t just slap chicken on the grill with some bbq sauce and expect great things.

You always want to be sure to season chicken before it cooks to get the best and most flavorful results. You can do this with a wet brine, dry rub chicken seasoning, or both. But you want to make sure you give it time to let the flavor marinate for a while so all the flavors really soak into the chicken.

What Is A Dry Rub?

You can make your own dry rub with chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, black pepper, brown sugar, etc, but if you’re just looking for something premade and simple, check out this list of the best chicken seasonings to buy.  (My go to blend is Montreal Steak Seasoning, Lawrys Garlic Salt, and Johnny’s Seasoning Salt for a dry rub)

Trader Joe’s Gourmet Grinder Set: Rainbow Peppercorns/Pink Himalayan Salt CrystalsMcCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning, 29-Ounce Units (Pack of 2)Johnny’s, Seasoning Salt, 16oz Bottle (Pack of 2)Lawry’s Coarse Ground Garlic Salt With Parsley, 33 oz

What Is A Wet Brine?

for brine, you can go a couple ways. I really like the coca cola brine used in some of the recipes below. It might sound a little strange at first, but trust me on this. The other option is this great brine and dry rub for Cornish hens and more!

Flavors Of Wood To Smoke Chicken    

My go to flavoring for smoking is mesquite wood chips. I also really like the Pit Boss Blend pellets for a great depth of variety and smoky flavor. Their hickory blend and cherry blend of hardwood pellets are particularly good.

Money and time-saving tips from the old lady. If you order pellets online from Walmart and spend $35, they will drop them off at your door for free!! Their everyday price on pit boss pellets is amazing, plus the expert grill brand has a great price. (see them ->here)

The Best Smoked Chicken Recipes

With any smoker, it is important to know how it cooks and its hot spots. This may take a bit of trial and error. Make theseon a pellet grill, charcoal, or stick smoker, I am partial to my Pitboss pellet grill.

Smoked Chicken Dark Meat Recipes

Sweet Smoked Coca-Cola Chicken – One of my family’s favorite chicken dinners is this Coca-Cola Smoked Chicken Leg Quarters!! This is perfect when we have other families over, everyone loves chicken. Leg quarters are one of my favorites to cook, and they tend to be cheaper as well at the grocery store. Get the recipe -> here!

Smoked Chicken Breast Recipes

Chicken Breasts Smoked – This Easy Smoked Chicken Breast Recipe makes for the perfect weeknight dinner! I love finding new easy smoker recipes that either me or the old lady can make on a weeknight. Most nights work can end late, so fast and easy are key for the main protein part of dinner. And of course, delicious. Get the recipe -> here!

Smoked Chicken Tacos – Taco Tuesday is a regular occurrence in our house and finding ways to move some of the cooking outside is one of my favorite ways to change up tacos. This smoked chicken taco recipe is a great twist on Taco Tuesday and a great option for a taco bar! Get the recipe -> here!

Shredded Smoked Chicken – This is one of my house’s most made meal prep foods. I use smoked shredded chicken in recipes for canned or shredded chicken, salads, soups, casseroles, and just as a snack, there is no wrong way to use this base recipe. Get the recipe -> here!

Smoked Cornish Game Hen Recipes

Smoked Cornish Game Hens With Brine And Dry Rub – I love to experiment sometimes, so this time I decided to see what would happen if I took brined Cornish game hens and added a dry rub with a little olive oil. Well let me tell you this took the flavor to the next level, and now I am not sure I will make them another way besides changing the spice ingredients around. Get the recipe -> here!

Coca-Cola Brined Smoked Cornish Game Hens – Smoked Coca-Cola Cornish Game Hens are a new family favorite! Coca-Cola on the smoker and in brines is one of my favorite ways to flavor the food I smoke. Bonus: Cornish game hens often go on sale for a great price at the grocery store! Get the recipe -> here!

Smoked Chicken Wing Recipes

Spicy Smoked Chicken Wings – Spicy Smoked Chicken Wings are perfect for tailgating!! I love to smoke food, the flavor that it adds is just fantastic! And when that smoky flavor has a little spicy kick to it as well? Get ready for a taste bud explosion. These are perfect for serving as appetizers or snacking on while watching football! Get the recipe -> here!

Smoked Coca Cola Chicken Wings – These Smoked Coca-Cola BBQ Wings are amazing and so full of flavor!  Wings are just one of those epic foods that just scream it’s football season.  You can’t go wrong with a nice cold beer, or coke, and a basket of wings with a football!! Get the recipe -> here!

What To Do With Leftover Smoked Chicken

Leftover Smoked Chicken Recipes are the perfect way to repurpose leftover chicken meat into another dinner or lunch. From soups, sandwiches, and wraps to chili and chicken salads, you can find my all-time best leftover smoked chicken recipes here.

• Dutch Oven Smoked White Chicken Chili
• Smoked Chicken Pot Pie
• Smoked Chicken Fried Rice
• Chicken Pot Pie

What To Serve With Smoked Chicken

These are some of my favorite grilled and smoked side dishes and desserts that go well with any of the recipes listed in this post.

Smoked Side Dishes: Smoked Baked Potatoes, Smoked Green Bean Casserole, Smoked Sweet Potato Casserole, Smoked Baked Potatoes, Smoked Loaded Cheesy Potatoes, Smoked Deviled Eggs, Smoked Loaded Baked Beans, Creamy Smoked Macaroni And Cheese, Smoked Loaded Cheesy Potatoes (see my huge list of the smoked side dishes -> here)

Grilled Side Dishes: Cheesy Grilled Asparagus, Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms, Grilled Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes, Grilled Corn On The Cob, Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (see my huge list of the grilled side dishes -> here)