Smoked Pulled Chicken

The flavor of this Smoked Pulled Chicken will pull you right in wanting more. This simple chicken recipe is tender and flavorful, and a great way to meal prep or create a hearty meal. With just four simple ingredients needed, you're going to crave the simplicity of this recipe. 

We tend to eat a lot of chicken in our house for two main reasons. The first is that it's one of the more affordable types of meat at the store, and the second is that chicken does an amazing job at taking on flavors. 

Prepping this easy chicken recipe proves that you don't have to take a ton of time to make a delicious meal. Once you cook this chicken in the smoker once, you'll have plenty of flavorful chicken to enjoy or use in other recipes. 

Be sure to check out our Onion Soup Mix Potatoes and Baked Mac and Cheese, which are great side dishes to pair with this recipe. 

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs - This makes for less prep and work, and easier to start seasoning and grilling right away. 
• Olive oil - Olive oil is necessary to help the spices stick and adds moisture. 
• Kosher salt - Salt is needed to bring out the flavor of the chicken. Without it your chicken will be bland
• Black pepper - We also like to season chicken with coarse black pepper.

See quantities in the recipe card.

How To Make Smoked Pulled Chicken

Step One: Preheat the smoker to 225.

Step Two: Drizzle the chicken with the oil and rub it with the salt and pepper mixture. Make sure to coat it evenly.

Step Three: Place the chicken on the grate of the hot smoker. Cook for one hour. We use a mix of pecan and hickory wood chips.

Step Four: Wrap the par-cooked chicken in aluminum foil and insert the temperature probe. Cook an additional hour until the chicken reaches 165.

Step Five: Let rest for 30 minutes and then shred the chicken with two forks or meat claws.

I like to use meat claws to shred the chicken meat in a large mixing bowl, but if you don't have any, you can use forks or even just pull apart the chicken by hand, once it's cooled down enough to touch. 

Variations

• Add different seasonings - This is where you can really have fun with the flavor of this chicken. Some other seasonings that you can add to the rub would be garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika (for extra smoky flavor), brown sugar, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar - and the list could go on. 
• BBQ sauce - Once you make the pulled chicken, you can smother it with bbq sauce and enjoy it as well. Try our recipes for Sweet BBQ Sauce, Sriracha BBQ Sauce, and Hot Honey BBQ Sauce. This Chick fil A Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce Recipe is my fave!
• Add liquid smoke - If you are worried that you're not going to have enough smoke flavor, you can always add some. 
• Chicken breasts - Check out our recipe for Smoked Chicken Breast.
• Skin on thighs - This Traeger Chicken Thighs recipe is the one you need!

Common Questions

At what temperature is chicken considered cooked and safe to eat? 

The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to verify the correct temperature. Using an instant-read thermometer works best. 

What are some good ways to use pulled chicken?

There are so many ways to use smoked chicken! We like adding the pulled chicken to the tops of salads or using the meat to make chicken sandwiches or tacos as well. Or use it to make Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip!

Once you cook the chicken and shred it, there are endless ways to use it. It is also great added to our Boursin Pasta Recipe.

Will this work with a whole chicken?

Yes, just make sure to check the internal temperature. Check out our post on Smoked Whole Chicken for specific information!

What condiments pair well with pulled chicken?

Everyone has their own flavor cravings when it comes to pairing chicken and taste. Some people like to drizzle it with honey for a bit of sweetness, while others like to pair it with mustard, ketchup, or barbecue sauce. 

I tend to use the same dips for my smoked chicken as I do with my pulled pork. I also keep fresh buns handy so that I can make a quick sandwich when the craving hits. 

How do you store leftover pulled chicken?

The easiest way to store leftovers is to let the chicken cool down all the way and then store it in the fridge. I use an airtight container so that the chicken doesn't dry out.

You can also freeze smoked chicken, so this is a great way to meal prep and save some for later. All you have to do is add the shredded chicken to a freezer-safe bag and store it in the freezer for later.

To thaw, just move the frozen chicken to the fridge and let it thaw that way. You can then reheat on the stove or in the microwave. 

Recipe

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 Originally Published May 5, 2022. Revised and Republished January 7, 2026.