Smoky Chicken Marinade Recipes

SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Combine water, kosher salt, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a large bowl. Stir until salt and brown sugar are dissolved. Place chicken breasts into brine, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat an electric smoker according to manufacturer's directions to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C) using maple wood chips.
• Remove chicken breasts from brine and rinse under cold water. Pat dry. Combine salt, black pepper, paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over chicken breasts and place skin-side up on a grill rack in the preheated smoker. Place a drip pan underneath.
• Smoke chicken breasts in the preheated smoker until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 4 hours, adding maple wood chips as necessary to keep the smoke continuous. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

SMOKY AND SPICY JERK-MARINATED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix brown sugar, salt, sesame seeds, black pepper, red pepper flakes, chili powder, thyme, coriander, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves together in a bowl.
• Mix Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, molasses, and liquid smoke together in a separate bowl. Combine with the spice blend to make the marinade.
• Remove tenderloins from chicken breasts and cut the rest of the breasts in half. Reserve about 1/4 of the rub; coat chicken with the remainder and marinate 4 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Grill marinated chicken pieces over direct heat until no longer pink in the centers, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve with reserved marinade.

MARINATED BONELESS, SKINLESS SMOKED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, hot honey, shallot, garlic, and chili powder in a medium bowl. Combine hot honey mixture and chicken thighs in a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. Seal bag and gently massage to work marinade into thighs. Chill in a refrigerator, at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours.
• Prepare a smoker according to manufacturer's instructions, bringing internal temperature to 225 to 250 degrees F (107 to 120 degrees C); maintain temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove chicken thighs from marinade, and pat dry with paper towels; do not discard marinade.
• Stir together cornstarch and water in a small metal bowl until combined.
• Strain marinade through a fine-mesh strainer into a small saucepan; whisk in cornstarch mixture. Bring marinade mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking frequently. Reduce heat to low and cook, whisking occasionally, until sauce is thickened, about 3 minutes. Set sauce aside to cool at room temperature.
• Sprinkle chicken thighs evenly with salt and pepper.
• Smoke chicken thighs, maintaining temperature inside smoker, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, brushing chicken thighs with reserved sauce every 15 minutes after the first hour of smoking. Transfer chicken thighs to a plate or platter and serve immediately.