The Best Easy Traeger Smoker Recipes for Chicken

easy smoked chicken recipes traeger

What is a Traeger?

A Traeger is the original wood pellet grill (also called a pellet smoker) that’s designed to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ — all in one. It’s innovative features use compressed wood pellets as fuel instead of gas or charcoal, giving your food that signature smoky wood-fired flavor with the best way of set-it-and-forget-it convenience.

traeger smoked chicken

🔥 How It Works:

  • Wood pellets are loaded into a hopper.

  • An auger (screw mechanism) feeds pellets into a fire pot.

  • The fire pot burns the pure wood pellets and a fan circulates heat and smoke throughout the grill.

  • A digital temperature controller (many models are WiFi-enabled) keeps temperature steady — like an oven but for grilling/smoking.

🥩 What Makes It Special:

  • Consistent temperature control (like using an oven)

  • No technical knowledge required however!

  • Set-it-and-forget-it smoking with little babysitting for the best results

  • Real wood smoke flavor from pellets

  • ✅ You can choose your cooking process to smoke brisket on a low temperature and slow, or grill burgers hot and fast at a higher temperature

  • ✅ Some models even have WiFIRE: control via app on your phone

🌲 Wood Pellet Options:

Traeger makes different pellet flavors — like hickory, apple, mesquite, cherry — that pair well with different meats to make an epic meal!


If you’re into smoked chicken, BBQ, ribs, or even smoked desserts, a Traeger is a fantastic tool that simplifies the process but gives pro-quality results.

Why Cook Chicken on a Traeger Smoker?

Cooking chicken on a Traeger smoker is one of the easiest ways to achieve juicy, flavorful results with minimal effort. One of the main reasons people love using a Traeger is the incredible wood-fired flavor it imparts. Unlike gas or electric grills, Traeger uses hardwood pellets — like hickory, apple, cherry, or mesquite — to give your chicken a natural smoky taste. Different wood types create different flavor profiles, so you can match the smoke to the dish you’re making. For example, applewood offers a mild sweetness, while hickory brings a bold, BBQ-style punch.

Another big advantage is how consistently juicy the chicken turns out. Because Traeger grills use digital temperature control, you can cook chicken low and slow at a steady temperature. This helps prevent overcooking, keeps the meat tender, and allows plenty of time for the smoky flavor to infuse into every bite. Whether you’re making wings, flavorful chicken breast, thighs, or even trying a whole chicken recipe, you’ll notice a big difference in moisture and flavor. Even boneless skinless chicken breasts can come out juicy with the right seasoning blend (and the leftover chicken makes the best chicken salad!)

With the right rub (make your own dry rub recipe with simple ingredients like cayenne pepper, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt) or a little olive oil, you can also achieve crispy skin on your chicken — especially on wings or thighs — without deep frying. The circulating hot air inside the Traeger acts like a convection oven, crisping up the outside while keeping the inside tender. It’s a great way to get that perfect texture without needing a separate air fryer or pan-frying in oil.

One of the biggest draws of the Traeger is its “set it and forget it” convenience. You simply set your desired temperature, insert a meat probe, and the grill does the rest. That means less hovering over the grill and more time to relax, prep sides, or enjoy your company. The process is beginner-friendly but still delivers pro-level results.

Finally, a Traeger is incredibly versatile. In addition to smoking chicken, you can grill, roast, bake, or even braise. That means you can make everything from BBQ thighs to smoked chicken tacos, rotisserie-style whole birds, or even creamy casseroles — all on one machine.

In short, cooking chicken on a Traeger gives you delicious wood-fired flavor, juicy meat, crispy chicken skin, and hassle-free control. Whether you’re a seasoned griller or a total beginner, it’s a great tool to elevate your chicken game.

easy smoked chicken recipes traeger

What pellets are best for my Traeger smoked chicken recipes?

Here’s a breakdown to help you decide on the best premium wood pellets for smoking chicken on your Traeger — depending on the flavor profile you’re after:

Recommendations by Recipe Type


🔄 Bonus Tip: Try Mixing Pellets

You can mix pellets for custom flavors:

  • Apple + Hickory = Sweet + smoky

  • Cherry + Pecan = Fruity + nutty

  • Maple + Mesquite = Light + bold contrast

 

I love this variety pack of pellets for the perfect results for all your smoking recipes!

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Now for the best easy smoked chicken Traeger recipes!

The Best Easy Traeger Smoker Recipes for Chicken

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