Best Maple Smoked Chicken Breasts Recipes

MAPLE SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• 1. These chicken breasts were quite large so I only put 4 in each gallon ziploc bag. To each bag I added 3 tbs of Maple seasoning and 1 tbs of sea salt and 4 c of water (or enough to cover chicken completely). I let it brine overnight in the fridge.
• 2. The morning of smoking, I drained the water and patted the chicken down with a paper towel. Then I mixed equal parts Maple seasoning to olive oil, mixed it together and rubbed the chicken on both sides. (4 tbs Maple seasoning, 4 tbs olive oil).
• 3. Then I prepared my smoker with charcoal and Maple wood chunks I had soaked overnight. I basted the chicken as it smoked with my Honey Maple BBQ sauce.
• 4. https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/other-sauce-spread/honey-maple-bbq-sauce.html?p=1
• 5. I sliced up the leftovers and made BBQ sammies.
• 6. Here's a good reference for cooking times and temps: http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/Downloads_files/Time-Temperature.pdf

SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Combine water, kosher salt, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a large bowl. Stir until salt and brown sugar are dissolved. Place chicken breasts into brine, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat an electric smoker according to manufacturer's directions to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C) using maple wood chips.
• Remove chicken breasts from brine and rinse under cold water. Pat dry. Combine salt, black pepper, paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over chicken breasts and place skin-side up on a grill rack in the preheated smoker. Place a drip pan underneath.
• Smoke chicken breasts in the preheated smoker until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 4 hours, adding maple wood chips as necessary to keep the smoke continuous. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

MAPLE-BRINED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Stir the maple syrup, garlic, thyme, 1 tablespoon salt, a generous grind of pepper and 3 cups of water together in a large bowl until the salt is dissolved. Add the chicken, making sure it's completely covered by the brine. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
• Prepare an outdoor grill or grill pan for high heat.
• Drain the chicken and pat very dry. Lightly oil the grill grates and grill the chicken, flipping occasionally, until no longer pink near the bone, 15 to 20 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken pieces). Serve with a salad, wedges of cornbread and/or your favorite barbecue sauce on the side.

MAPLE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Using paper towels, pat the chicken dry and trim off any excess fat. Place in a large resealable plastic bag or medium bowl with a lid.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and 2 tablespoons salt. Pour into the bag with the chicken, seal and refrigerate overnight or for at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pull the brined chicken out of the fridge, drain off the brine and pat the chicken dry. On a rimmed sheet pan, rub the chicken with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
• Set it skin side up and roast for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the juices run clear when pierced and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• As the chicken roasts, make the glaze: Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, fennel, paprika and ½ cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced and thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
• Brush the cooked thighs with the glaze and set under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minute, keeping an eye on the glaze as it is quick to burn. Serve hot.

MAPLE BARBECUED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients; reserving 3/4 cup. , Grill chicken, uncovered, over medium heat for 3 minutes on each side. Grill 6-8 minutes longer or a thermometer reads 170°, turning occasionally and basting with sauce. Serve with reserved sauce.