If you’re looking for an easy, high-protein dinner that actually tastes good, these smoked chicken tenders are one of my go-to recipes. They come out super juicy, packed with flavor, and are way more affordable than ordering takeout or buying pre-cooked options.
This is one of those recipes I make on repeat because it uses simple ingredients (you can grab everything at Aldi), and it works for meal prep, quick dinners, or even wraps and salads throughout the week.
If you like grilling and smoker recipes check out Spicy Smoked Chicken Thighs, Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos, Traeger Smoked Pulled Pork, and Smoked Almonds.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Juicy and flavorful every time – smoking keeps the chicken tender and never dry
- Budget-friendly – chicken tenders are usually cheaper and cook faster
- High protein – perfect for staying full and supporting your goals
- Great for meal prep – use in wraps, bowls, or salads all week
- Simple ingredients – nothing fancy needed
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Tenders - Chicken tenders are quick to make on a grill or smoker!
- Seasoning Salt of Choice - There are so many seasonings to choose from. I like a good blackened seasoning or Lemon pepper seasoning.
- Salt and pepper to taste
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitution Tips
Optional seasoning ideas:
- Garlic powder + paprika (simple and classic)
- BBQ seasoning or dry rub
- Cajun seasoning for a little heat
- Italian seasoning for a lighter flavor
- Ranch seasoning for an easy, crowd-pleasing option
How to make Smoked Chicken Tenders
Step 1: Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees.
Step 2: Season generously both sides of the chicken strips with salt, pepper, and seasoning of choice.
Step 3: Place the chicken strips on the smoker and they cook for 45 minutes to an hour.
Pro Tips Smoked Chicken Tenders
- Don’t skip drying the chicken—this helps the seasoning stick better
- Keep the smoker temp steady for even cooking
- Use a meat thermometer so you don’t overcook
- Add BBQ sauce at the end if you want a glazed finish
Serving Suggestions
These smoked chicken tenders are super versatile. Try them:
- In wraps with lettuce and ranch
- On top of a salad
- With rice and veggies
- In sandwiches or sliders
- Dipped in BBQ, honey mustard, or buffalo sauce
- Easy Traeger Smoked Corn on the Cob
- Weight Watchers Ranch Dressin
Tips for Smoked Chicken Tenders
The smoker is so great for cooking simple basic food like smoked corn on the cob, smoked meatloaf, bbq ribs for beginners, and smoked salmon. The smoke gives the salmon an extra layer of flavor that you wouldn’t get from a grill.
Some smokers require a preheat before setting the actual temperature to the desired one. Read the instruction manual your smoker came with to make sure.
Recipe FAQs
Chicken tenders do not take long on the smoker at all! It takes any where from 45 minutes to 1 hour on a smoker.
The best way to tell if chicken is ready is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is ready when the temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Pellet grills like Traeger or Pit Boss work perfectly for this recipe. Just set to 225°F and use your preferred wood pellet.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently or eat cold in salads or wraps.
I have had my Traeger smoker and a Ninja Woodfire Grill. The Ninja Woodfire grill is great because it's an outdoor smoker/grill/air fryer all in one! I would recommend that brand to anyone wanting to learn how to smoke food. Traegers are kind of pricey but there are some very reasonably priced smokers for under $100.
If you tried this Smoked Chicken Tenders or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Smoked Chicken Tenders
- Prep Time: 10min
- Cook Time: 45min - 1 hr
- Total Time: 1 hr 10 min
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Smoker
- Cuisine: American
Description
This recipe for simple smoked chicken tenders is as easy as it gets! The chicken tenders come out juicy and perfect every time and it's cooked in the smoker! Great for salads, casseroles, or pasta salads!
Ingredients
- 1 lb of Chicken Tenders
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of Seasoning Salt of Choice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees.
- Season generously both sides of the chicken strips with salt, pepper, and seasoning of chocie.
- Place the chicken strips on the smoker and they cook for 45 minutes to an hour.
Notes
Some smokers require a preheat before setting the actual temperature to the desired one. Read the instruction manual your smoker came with to make sure.
Nutrition
- Calories: 309
- Sugar: 0g
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
Jennifer says
These chicken tenders came out great!