Smoked Chicken Tenders: 1 way to cook, 3 ways to season! You choose which rub to use and let the smoker be the hero of flavor! Show
When you can cook something SO easy, like chicken on a smoker… mixing up the seasonings can add variety to your meal planner even when you’re cooking the same things over and over again. I can’t wait to share with you our favorite ways to season chicken tenderloins below. Jump to:
All types of chicken can be made on the smoker: breasts, legs, wings, thighs, and even whole chickens. But even after trying almost all of these, chicken tenders may just be my absolute favorite. For a few reasons… Chicken tenders cook much faster, they’re juicy (when cooked on the smoker) and they’re easy to wrap bacon around! Three Favorite Ways to SeasonThere are MANY different ways that you can season chicken and no matter which one we choose that day, a “must” for us is to start by wrapping bacon around each piece of chicken. And if you have time, letting your chicken sit in this amazing chicken brine is an extra bonus of flavor! However, when it comes to the “rub” or “seasoning” we’ve found that we have 3 different favorite ways…
No matter which seasoning or “rub” that you choose to use on the chicken, the cook temperature and time will remain the same for this recipe. How long does it take to smoke chicken at 225°? Chicken cooked at 225° needs to be cooked at least 1 hour and possibly 1.5 hours, or until it reached the internal temperature of 165°. How do you smoke chicken without drying it out? Cooking it on “low” (for example, at 225°) and “slow” will help keep your chicken moist. But also wrapping it in bacon helps and also adds an amazing flavor. What is the best wood for smoking chicken? Hickory pellets (or wood) works amazing for chicken but feel free to use a different flavor if that’s what you have on hand. Smoker TemperaturePreheat the smoker to 225°. Spice BlendMix together a spice blend of your choice. (You’ll see the three recipes or seasonings you can use below for a guide if you prefer.) Uncooked Chicken TenderloinsTo make it easy to season, place the chicken in a single layer on a large dish. I usually buy the 2lb. package of tenderloins for our family of four and do occasionally have a few leftovers to use in a salad recipe the next day. SeasonYou can season the chicken before wrapping with bacon, after or both. How much will depend on if you’re seasoning only once or both. Wrap with BaconIf you REALLY like bacon like we do, wrapping one full piece of bacon (we really like the “thick-cut” but “regular cut” bacon holds better) around each chicken tender is delicious. However, if you don’t have enough or want just a small piece of bacon on each piece, it can be cut in half. Wrap the chicken with bacon, and if needed, secure with a toothpick. If you choose to season again, this is the time to season. Note: Seasoning too much can actually happen, especially if using a salty blend. Smoke at 225° for One Hour until Internal Temp is 165°Place tenders on smoker racks, not touching one another, and cook at 225° for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°. ServeWhen tenderloins reach 165°, remove from smoker and serve! Dipping Sauces for ChickenAlthough these are flavorful just as they are, and don’t NEED a dipping sauce, sometimes it just sends things over the top! Here are dipping sauce ideas that you can serve with it:
Smoked recipes are some of our favorites around here because when you can “set it” and almost forget it… we can work on the other side dishes and desserts to go along with dinner! If you’re new to smoking meats, I have no doubt that you’ll feel the same way! More Cook “Out” Recipes“Cookout” recipes don’t actually have to be cooked outside to have the same vibe! These baked pork steaks are an absolute winner and perfect even if you don’t have a grill! But if you do want to cook “out”, here are some of our favorite recipes for the grill:
Smoked Chicken Tenders1 way to cook, 3 ways to season! You choose which rub to use and let the smoker be the hero of flavor! Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 1 hr Total Time 1 hr 10 mins Course Main Course Cuisine American Servings 6 servings Calories 146 kcal
Braxton Rub Spice Blend Option
For Brown Sugar Garlic Spice Blend Option
Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on this site should be used as a general guideline. See blog post for tips and our 3 favorite ways to season chicken! Plus tips for making these the BEST chicken tenders we’ve ever had! Serving: 2tenders | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 969IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. Keywords buffalo chicken tenders, chicken tenderloins, smoked chicken Side Dishes for ChickenWith a main dish as easy as this, it makes sense to keep the side dishes just as easy! Here are our favorite side dishes to go with this recipe:
Did You Make This? Pin this Image to Remember It: How long does it take to smoke chicken tenders at 225?Smoke at 225° for One Hour until Internal Temp is 165°
Place tenders on smoker racks, not touching one another, and cook at 225° for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°.
How long does it take to smoke chicken tenders?Place tenders carefully on the middle rack of the smoker and smoke for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until internal temperature reaches 75°C. Sprinkle to taste with seasoning of your choice.
How long do you smoke chicken at 250?Whole Chicken:. Smoker temperature - 250°F.. Smoking time - 30 to 45 minutes/pound.. Finished temperature - 165°F.. How long does it take to smoke chicken breast strips?Insert a temperature probe into the thickest and most center part of the chicken breast. Smoke at 225°F until the chicken breast reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This should take about one hour total.
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