This easy Traeger chicken breast recipe cooks up the best grilled chicken! The combination of my simple seasoning blend plus the distinctive smoky flavor from the Traeger makes some flavorful chicken breasts that are high in protein. With a quick cook time, you’ll want to make this anytime a recipe calls for cooked chicken!

The Best Easy Traeger Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe
If you’ve ever cooked up a dry chicken breast, you know how unappetizing that can be. Overcooking, or using the wrong cooking method can leave you with chicken that is hard to eat and just doesn’t taste good.
No thanks to that.
But that’s where this Traeger pellet grill comes in! I love using my electric pellet grill to cook all kinds of meat – it just makes it better tasting!
The smokiness you get from it makes the chicken taste smoked, but without all the extra time it takes to slowly smoke boneless chicken at a lower temperature.
Preparation is simple – add the homemade Traeger pork and poultry seasoning to your chicken and let it sit while you heat up your Traeger.
Once it’s ready to go, the chicken goes directly on the grill grates to cook. Flip once, finish the cooking, and enjoy some juicy Traeger chicken on its own, over greens, sliced thin and put into a sandwich, turned into hearty chicken salad, or however you like to enjoy chicken!
What you need for Traeger chicken breasts
Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- extra virgin olive oil
- homemade Traeger pork and poultry rub
How to make juicy chicken breasts every time
Step 1: Lay the chicken breast on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil. Using a silicone pastry brush, spread the oil on both sides of the chicken. Sprinkle the seasoning mix all over the chicken, turning it over a couple of times so that it is evenly seasoned.
Step 2: When you’re ready to start cooking chicken, turn the Traeger on to smoke and leave the lid open for 5 minutes to start the smoke. Close the lid and set the temperature to 350 degrees F. It will take about 15 minutes to get up to the temperature. Make sure you have enough wood pellets in the pellet smoker to keep the temperature going while you cook.
Step 3: When the electric smoker is up to temperature, place the prepared chicken on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook for 15 minutes and then flip. At that point, your chicken should have some nice color and grill lines on it. Cook for another 5-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees F.
Step 4: Place the chicken on a cutting board and let it rest for 5-10 minutes covered in aluminum foil. This is the best way to end with juicier chicken breasts!
Step 5: After a 5 minute chicken rest time, cut the chicken and enjoy!
NOTE: Cooking time may vary – smaller chicken breasts may take 20-25 minutes of total cook time, whereas larger thicker chicken breasts may take 25-30 minutes of total cook time. Use an electric thermometer to ensure your chicken is cooked to perfect and not over or under cooked.
Watch me make grilled boneless chicken breasts
The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!
Serving suggestion
This is my go-to way to cook the perfect chicken breast on a grill because it is so versatile and delicious! Here are some favorite meals and dips we love to enjoy with this go-to chicken recipe:
- Chicken, bacon and egg Caesar salad
- Buffalo chicken salad
- Southwest grilled chicken salad
- BBQ chicken lettuce wraps
- Creamy yogurt dill sauce
- Kefir ranch dressing
- 5 ingredient peanut sauce
How to store
Leftover chicken breasts should be fully cooled to room temperature before adding to an airtight container. It will keep fresh for up to 1 week in the fridge.
You can also freeze-cooled chicken for up to 6 months!
Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments
Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this smoked chicken breasts recipe.
If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!
Chicken breast – This recipe works great with other cuts of chicken – try chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, or a whole chicken! You’ll need to adjust the cooking time, but the seasoning and method will work great with those other options. Boneless pork chops are a great lean protein substitute for chicken breast too.
Olive oil – Avocado oil is a good option to use here!
Pork and poultry rub – While my favorite chicken rub is awesome with this recipe, you can absolutely use other seasonings! A simple mix of sea salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder will add a lot of flavor to your chicken. Feel free to mix it up and try taco seasoning or ranch seasoning and see what you like best!
More easy recipes for the Traeger smoker you’ll love
The Best Easy Traeger Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp homemade Traeger pork and poultry rub
Instructions
- Lay the chicken breast on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil. Using a silicone pastry brush, spread the oil on both sides of the chicken. Sprinkle the seasoning mix all over the chicken, turning it over a couple of times so that it is evenly seasoned.
- When you’re ready to start cooking chicken, turn the Traeger on to smoke and leave the lid open for 5 minutes to start the smoke. Close the lid and set the temperature to 350 degrees F. It will take about 15 minutes to get up to the temperature. Make sure you have enough wood pellets in the pellet smoker to keep the temperature going while you cook.
- When the electric smoker is up to temperature, place the prepared chicken on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook for 15 minutes and then flip. At that point, your chicken should have some nice color and grill lines on it. Cook for another 5-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees F.
- Place the chicken on a cutting board and let it rest for 5-10 minutes covered in aluminum foil. This is the best way to end with juicier chicken breasts!
- After a 5 minute chicken rest time, cut the chicken and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this pellet grill chicken breast recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!
XO
Heather
2 comments
Really good easy recipe! Love the rub you shared too.
Yay, I’m so glad!
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