Smoked Chicken Tenders

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I’ve been cooking on my Traeger for years and testing recipes that make smoking approachable for beginners or experts. Smaller cuts like chicken tenders are great because they’re easy to get right and don’t take all day. Season them well, let the smoker do the work, and you’ll have juicy chicken every time.

smoked chicken tenders drizzled in honey bbq sauce

Table of Contents

Smoked Chicken Tenders Ingredients

Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenderloins (or chicken breasts sliced into strips)
Chicken BBQ Rub or if you are making your own: brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili power, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper
BBQ Sauce and Honey (Optional)

honey and BBQ sauce in separate measuring cups

How to Make Smoked Chicken Tenders

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Sprinkle the BBQ rub over the chicken and rub them into the meat.
Place the chicken tenders on the smoker.
Smoke.

raw seasoned chicken tenders in a glass bowl

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raw seasoned chicken tenders on a Traeger smoker grill

smoked chicken tenders on a Traeger smoker grill

Smoked Chicken Tenders

Brandi Crawford

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1 30

Total Time 1 40

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 249 kcal

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.

Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins/tenders

Homemade Dry Rub (You can also use your favorite BBQ or chicken rub).

2 teaspoons brown sugar or sweetener
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Optional Honey BBQ Sauce

½ cup BBQ sauce
¼ cup honey

Instructions

Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees.
Sprinkle the spices over the chicken and rub them into the meat.
Place the chicken tenders on the smoker. Smoke the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. This will usually take an hour or two.
Remove the chicken from the smoker and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes prior to serving.
Mix the honey and bbq sauce together in a bowl or mixing cup. Drizzle the honey BBQ sauce over the tenders.

Air Fryer Instructions

Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Place the seasoned chicken in the air fryer.
Air fry for 8 minutes at 400 degrees.
Open the air fryer and flip the tenders. Air fry for an additional 4-8 minutes at 400 degrees or until the chicken is crisp. Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Remove the tenders from the air fryer. Drizzle the tenders in honey BBQ sauce
Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 4ozCalories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 26gFat: 2g

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Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips

What spices and seasoning works best?

I love to use my Dry Rub For Chicken recipe which includes brown sugar or sweetener, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. You can also use your favorite BBQ or chicken rub.

Can I add sauce to the chicken tenders?

Sauce is optional. I love to slather these in a mixture of honey and BBQ sauce. Feel free to grab your favorite BBQ sauce brand and flavor. I love local Kansas City BBQ sauce.

What temperature works best on the smoker?

I recommend 225 degrees so the chicken cooks slowly and soaks up the smoky flavor.

How long does it take to smoke chicken tenders?

Cook time will vary based on the size of your tenders.

As a general rule of thumb, smoking chicken tenderloins typically takes around 1 to 2 hours.

To ensure that your chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat, the internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees. You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken periodically during the smoking process.

What flavor of wood/pellets work best?

I love to use apple or the Traeger Signature Blend. Fruit flavors will work well along with hickory or mesquite.

How to Reheat

I recommend reheating them in the oven or in the air fryer. You can reheat them in both the oven or air fryer at 350 degrees until warm. You can also use the microwave if you wish.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze them tightly covered and sealed for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat them, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating them.