This Traeger chicken breast recipe is an easy way to make tender, juicy chicken with a smoky grilled flavor. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are coated with olive oil and a simple poultry rub before they go onto the Traeger pellet grill. The result is flavorful chicken with a lightly smoky outside and a moist center.

Cooking chicken breast on a Traeger is also useful when you need cooked chicken for several meals. Once grilled, the chicken can be sliced for salads, wraps, sandwiches, bowls, or served with your favorite side dishes. It is a simple recipe that works well for both family dinners and weekly meal prep.

Why You’ll Love This Traeger Chicken Breast

Juicy and Tender Chicken

Chicken breast can become dry when it is cooked too long, but using a meat thermometer helps prevent that. Cooking the breasts at 350°F gives them enough heat to develop good color while keeping the cooking process straightforward.

The chicken is also rested after grilling, which gives the juices time to settle before slicing. This small step makes a noticeable difference when you want tender chicken instead of a dry or tough texture.

Simple Seasoning

You only need three listed ingredients for the chicken itself: boneless skinless chicken breasts, extra virgin olive oil, and homemade Traeger pork and poultry rub. There is no complicated marinade or long preparation process.

The olive oil helps the seasoning coat the chicken evenly, while the poultry rub adds savory flavor. The wood-fired smoke from the Traeger adds another layer of flavor while the chicken cooks.

Great for Meal Prep

Traeger chicken breast is a useful recipe to make ahead because cooked chicken can be used in many different meals. Slice it and add it to salads, wraps, sandwiches, or bowls throughout the week.

Making several chicken breasts at once can also save time on busy days. Instead of cooking a protein from scratch every time you need a meal, you can use the prepared chicken in different dishes.

Ingredients for Traeger Chicken Breast

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

The recipe uses 2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts. For more even cooking, breasts that are similar in size and thickness are helpful.

The original recipe describes 6–8 ounce breasts as a useful size, while larger 10–12 ounce breasts may need more cooking time. Thickness is especially important because two chicken breasts with the same weight can cook at different speeds.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

One tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil is used to coat the chicken. The oil helps the seasoning stick to the surface and contributes to better browning on the grill.

It also adds a mild flavor without making the chicken greasy. The original recipe mentions avocado oil as an alternative, but the recipe card keeps the original ingredient exactly as provided.

Homemade Traeger Pork and Poultry Rub

Two tablespoons of homemade Traeger pork and poultry rub provide the main seasoning for the chicken. The rub adds a savory flavor that works well with the smoky taste from the pellet grill.

The source describes the rub as containing flavors such as salt, garlic, paprika, black pepper, brown sugar, and herbs. If you already have the specified rub, there is no need for additional seasoning in this recipe.

Preparing the Chicken

Coat Both Sides

Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan before seasoning. Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil over the chicken and spread it across both sides with a silicone pastry brush.

Turn the chicken over as needed so the oil reaches the entire surface. This creates a light coating that helps the poultry rub stay in place during grilling.

Season Evenly

Sprinkle the homemade Traeger pork and poultry rub over the chicken. Turn the breasts a couple of times while seasoning to make sure both sides are properly coated.

Try to distribute the seasoning across the surface instead of leaving large areas uncovered. An even coating helps each bite have a consistent flavor.

Preparing the Traeger Grill

Start With Smoke

When you are ready to cook, turn the Traeger on to the smoke setting. Leave the lid open for about 5 minutes so the grill can begin producing smoke.

This gives the pellet grill time to start properly before you move to the higher cooking temperature. Make sure there are enough wood pellets in the grill for the full cooking process.

Set the Grill to 350°F

After the initial smoking stage, close the lid and set the Traeger temperature to 350°F. The grill may take about 15 minutes to reach the cooking temperature.

Allowing the grill to reach the correct temperature before adding the chicken helps create more consistent cooking conditions. The actual heating time can vary depending on the grill and surrounding conditions.

How to Cook Chicken Breast on a Traeger

Place the Chicken on the Grill

Once the Traeger reaches 350°F, place the seasoned chicken breasts directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and allow the chicken to cook without constantly opening the grill.

Keeping the lid closed helps maintain the temperature inside the grill. It also allows the chicken to develop the smoky flavor associated with pellet-grilled chicken.

Cook Before Flipping

Cook the chicken for about 15 minutes before turning it over. At this stage, the chicken should begin developing color and visible grill lines.

Flip each breast carefully and close the lid again. The second side will continue cooking until the chicken reaches the required internal temperature.

Check the Internal Temperature

After flipping, cook the chicken for another 5–15 minutes, depending on its size and thickness. The original recipe specifies checking the thickest part with a meat thermometer.

The source gives 160°F as the temperature to reach during cooking. Chicken breast size can make a significant difference, so use the thermometer rather than relying only on the clock.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast on a Traeger

Smaller Chicken Breasts

For chicken breasts weighing around 6–8 ounces and measuring approximately 1 inch thick, the source estimates about 20 minutes of total cooking time.

However, grills and chicken breasts can vary, so this should be treated as an estimate rather than an exact cooking time. The internal temperature is the most useful guide.

Larger Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts weighing around 10–12 ounces may take closer to 30 minutes. Larger or thicker pieces need more time for the heat to reach the center.

Avoid cutting the chicken repeatedly to check whether it is done because this can release juices. Instead, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest section.

Why Thickness Matters

Two pieces of chicken can have the same weight but different shapes. A thinner breast may cook much faster than a thick one, which is why cooking time alone cannot guarantee the same result every time.

For the best results, check the thickest part of each breast. This is especially important when cooking a batch containing different sizes.

Resting Traeger Chicken Breast

Let the Chicken Rest

After grilling, transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Cover them with aluminum foil and allow them to rest for 5–10 minutes.

Resting gives the juices time to settle inside the meat. Cutting immediately after cooking can allow more of those juices to run onto the cutting board instead of staying in the chicken.

Slice After Resting

After about 5 minutes of resting, the chicken can be sliced and served. Use a sharp knife and cut the breasts into your preferred thickness.

The chicken can be served immediately or cooled for later use. If you are preparing it for meal prep, allow it to cool properly before storing it.

What to Serve With Traeger Chicken Breast

Salads and Bowls

Sliced Traeger chicken breast works well over salads because the smoky flavor adds more interest to fresh vegetables. You can also add it to grain or vegetable bowls for an easy meal.

Since the chicken has a fairly simple seasoning, it can work with many different dressings and sauces. Slice it thinly or cut it into bite-sized pieces depending on the meal.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Cold or reheated chicken breast can be sliced and added to sandwiches and wraps. It provides a convenient protein option when you want a quick lunch.

The smoky flavor pairs well with fresh vegetables and your preferred sandwich fillings. Preparing the chicken ahead of time makes these meals faster to assemble.

Family Dinner

For dinner, serve the grilled chicken alongside your preferred vegetables, potatoes, rice, or other side dishes. Because the seasoning is simple, the chicken can fit into many different menus.

You can also prepare the chicken in advance and reheat portions as needed. This makes it useful when different members of the household eat at different times.

Storing Traeger Chicken Breast

Refrigerator Storage

Allow leftover chicken to cool before transferring it to an airtight container. The source states that properly stored chicken will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Keeping the chicken in an airtight container helps maintain its quality and prevents it from picking up odors from other foods in the refrigerator. Slice only what you need if you plan to use the rest later.

Freezer Storage

The source also states that cooled chicken can be frozen for up to 6 months. For longer storage, place the cooled chicken in a suitable freezer-safe container or bag.

Labeling the container with the storage date can make it easier to keep track of how long the chicken has been frozen. Thaw frozen chicken safely before reheating or using it in another meal.

Notes for the Best Results

Use a Meat Thermometer

A meat thermometer is one of the most useful tools for cooking chicken breast on a pellet grill. Chicken breasts vary in thickness, so the cooking time can change from one batch to another.

Check the thickest part of the meat rather than relying only on the estimated minutes. This helps prevent both undercooking and overcooking.

Keep Enough Pellets in the Grill

Before starting the Traeger, check that there are enough wood pellets available for the entire cooking session. Running out during cooking can interrupt the process.

The source uses hickory pellets for a bold smoky flavor. Cherry or apple pellets can provide a milder and sweeter smoke profile if you prefer those options.

Avoid Overcooking

Chicken breast is lean, so leaving it on the grill much longer than necessary can make it dry. Start checking the internal temperature as the chicken approaches the expected cooking time.

Remember that smaller breasts may take around 20–25 minutes while larger, thicker breasts may take around 25–30 minutes. These are estimates, not replacements for checking the meat.

Variations and Ingredient Options

Other Chicken Cuts

The original recipe can also be used as a starting point for other chicken cuts, including chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, and whole chicken. However, each cut will require its own cooking time.

The seasoning and smoky cooking method can work well with different pieces of chicken. Always adjust the cooking process according to the size and type of meat you are preparing.

Avocado Oil

The source lists avocado oil as an alternative to extra virgin olive oil. It can be used when you prefer its flavor or already have it available in your kitchen.

For the recipe card, however, the original ingredient remains extra virgin olive oil because the ingredient list should not be changed.

Why Traeger Chicken Is Good for Meal Prep

Make Several Servings at Once

The recipe makes 6 servings, making it practical for preparing protein for several meals. Once the chicken has cooled, portion it according to how you plan to use it.

You can keep some pieces whole and slice others. Whole breasts can be useful for dinner, while sliced chicken can be ready for salads, sandwiches, and wraps.

Easy to Reuse

One batch of Traeger chicken can become several different meals. The same chicken can be paired with different vegetables, sauces, salad ingredients, or sandwich fillings throughout the week.

This makes the recipe especially useful when you want a simple protein that does not require a completely new cooking process for every meal.