How to Cook Chicken Breast on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill
The Pit Boss pellet grill is one of the best brands for those looking for a high-quality barbecue. With spring and grilling season approaching, I thought it’d be an excellent opportunity to address the true dilemma of cooking juicy chicken breasts every time.
If you’ve been considering acquiring one or just want to learn how to operate a Pit Boss pellet grill, you’ve come to the perfect spot. I’ve owned my Pit Boss for a little over a year, and here’s what I’ve learned about how to cook chicken breast on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill.
What You Need to Know about A Pit Boss Pellet Grill Basics
Pellet grills need electricity to burn the hardwood pellets that serve as fuel. The auger, hopper, igniter, fire pot, and fan are the primary components of a Pit Boss barbecue. Pellet grills, unlike traditional barbecues, can do much more than just cook. They work as an outdoor oven and cook with indirect heat. Basically, everything cooked in an oven or convection oven can be cooked on a pellet grill.
Anyone can cook over indirect heat using a choice of Pit Boss pellets, making it simple to prepare gourmet meals directly in your backyard. The pellet grills are constructed of genuine wood.
The auger feeds the pellets into the firepot after being provided to the pellet hopper, where they catch fire and cook the food in the cooking area. Unlike ordinary barbecues, some Pit Boss units have an 8-1 capability, making it the second most popular grill behind the Traeger brand.
How to Cook Chicken Breast on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill Step-by-Step Guide
Chicken is one of my favorite foods to cook on the Pit Boss. It’s not only a healthier alternative to other meats, but it’s also simple to make. This step-by-step instruction will show you how to cook smoked chicken breast Pit Boss.
1. Pound the Chicken
Pound the chicken breasts to an even 12-inch thickness in a 1-gallon freezer bag. This tenderizes the meat while also ensuring even cooking. When left in its original form, the thin side of the filet dries out as the broader side cooks. If you don’t have a meat mallet, you may use a rolling pin or a saucepan.
2. Prepare the Marinade
Although lemon is an essential element in the marinade, I just use the zest. Opposite to common belief, acidic substances (such as vinegar or lemon juice) don’t tenderize meat. They do the polar: they “cook” the outside of the meat, giving it a leathery feel. The zest adds lemon flavor to the chicken without changing its delicious texture.
- A microplane grater is ideal for zesting oranges. Gently rub the lemon across the blades in one direction, rotating the lemon as you go. Remove just the yellow pith; the white pith beneath is bitter.
- After zesting the lemon, combine all of the marinade ingredients (excluding the chicken) in a 1-gallon zip-lock bag (go ahead and use the same one you used for pounding if it is still in good shape).
- Place the chicken breasts in the bag and massage the marinade into them until they are uniformly covered.
- Seal the bag and set it in a dish in the refrigerator (the bowl prevents leaks); marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Some people believe that you should never cook cold chicken breast on Pit Boss Pellet Grill. Allow it to come to room temperature for 15 minutes before putting it on the grill. Personally, I’ve never had a problem cooking cold chicken, though it’ll take much longer to prepare it.
3. Preheat the Pit Boss
Turn the temperature down to 350 degrees if you’re not going to smoke the chicken before cooking. I’ve discovered that cooking chicken at this temperature speeds up cooking while keeping the chicken moist and juicy.
Cooking chicken on Pit Boss Pellet Grill on low heat for an extended period may cause it to dry out. Remember this if you choose to smoke your chicken at 180 degrees before cooking it. Personally, I’ve never smoked my chicken breasts before grilling them, yet they always have a smoky flavor.
4. Start Grilling
Before frying the chicken, make sure your grill is scorching. Chicken breasts need just 2 to 3 minutes each side when pounded thin… no more! If you try to turn the chicken, and it becomes stuck, wait 30 seconds. When it’s ready, it’ll come out naturally. A decent thermometer can help you monitor the temperature and determine when the meat is thoroughly cooked.
You’ll want to turn the chicken if you wish to grill marks on both sides. Keep an eye on the chicken and flip it to the other side when it gets white. However, you should only flip the chicken once since flipping it more than once will cause the flesh to dry out.
5. Let Chick Rest
Let the chicken rest for 3 to 4 minutes after taking it from the grill before cutting into it. This will help keep the liquids in and the moisture in the meat. While chicken breasts on Pit Boss Pellet Grill are best served hot off the grill, it’s also the type of food you can cook in bulk and freeze for later use in salads, portions of pasta, and sandwiches.
Place the chicken on a plate and set it aside for 5-10 minutes before slicing it. The resting period allows the liquids to redistribute throughout the chicken, resulting in a more moist flavor. Wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the chicken. The aluminum foil will keep the chicken warm until it’s rested for around 10-15 minutes.
6. Serve Chicken Breasts
Pit Boss Pellet Grill chicken breast pairs well with quinoa, potatoes, and vegetables, or it may be sliced into pieces and served on top of a salad. Several side dishes go well with chicken. Personally, I prefer to fill it with veggies and another side, such as quinoa or potatoes.
Key Takeaways
Hopefully, this in-depth guide has demonstrated how cooking chicken breast on Pit Boss Pellet Grill is simple. It’ll take some practice to figure out how to operate it, but you can always refer to the instruction booklet if you encounter any issues after purchasing one.
The Pit Boss pellet grill makes it simple to prepare smoked chicken in minutes. Consider smoking some chicken the next time you want to make something simple for supper. It’s one of the simplest ways to offer your family a healthy dinner without putting in great effort!
FAQ
How Long Do I Cook Chicken Breast on Pit Boss Pellet Grill?
The average cooking time for chicken breasts at 350 degrees is 20-30 minutes. Smaller chicken breasts will cook in 10 to 12 minutes. However, the cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts. If the oven isn’t hot enough – only 350 degrees to 400 degrees – the chicken may overcook before browning. After approximately an hour at 425 degrees, the chicken is thoroughly browned but still moist.
What Temperature Do You Cook Chicken Breast on Pellet Grill?
The temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit allows the chicken to cook fast while being moist and juicy. Cooking the chicken on low heat for an extended period may cause it to dry out. Remember this if you choose to smoke your chicken at 180 degrees before cooking it. Regardless of size, the safe internal temperature for your chicken is at least 165 degrees. To keep an eye on your chicken, use a decent meat thermometer.
How Long Does It Take to Smoke Chicken Breast at 350 Degrees?
At the temperature of 350 degrees, smoking chicken breasts takes around 30 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts. This temperature is ideal for crisping up the skin. Smaller breasts (4-6 ounces) take 20-30 to cook, whereas bigger breasts (8 ounces or more) require closer to more than an hour. Watch out that cooking the chicken for a long time over low heat may lead it to become dry.
