I love smoked chicken and during those rainy days or colder winter months, I still want that smokey grilled flavor on my chicken, and this recipe is the best alternative.
The chicken is lightly seasoned, seared on both sides in a little apple juice.
Then finished in the oven with some liquid smoked, some freshly chopped herbs, and baked to perfection.
If you love the taste of smoked foods this is an easy chicken recipe everyone raves about.
We love fall side dishes you may find some of the ones you in my roundup of Holiday Side Dishes and 30 Delicious Appetizers Recipes.
There are some tips and suggestions to follow so read those also before starting the recipe that will help to make it even more super simple to get that outdoor flavor.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the printable recipe.
Grilled, Baked, Air Fried or Slow Cooker
This chicken can still be made grilled outside, air fried, or even smoked in an electric smoker.
We prefer (for inside cooking) to sear the chicken breasts on both sides then bake it to seal in the juices but you can even air fry this chicken if you prefer after it's coated with the seasonings.
I will give you all those instructions right in my other cooking methods list.
This smoked flavored baked chicken is like having an inside barbecue and you can do it all year long come rain or shine!
Other Tips and Additions:
- mushrooms sliced
- sauteed onions
- add sliced peppers
- make a spicy Jack Daniels Barbecue Sauce for dipping
- Cowboy Beans make a great side dish
- Don't over sear the chicken just brown lightly on each side
- sliced thin chicken leftovers are great in a sandwich
- taste and season it accordingly with more or less heat with listed seasonings
- If the chicken juices start to dry out while baking add more apple juice
- for a sweeter juice add 1 tablespoon molasses
Ingredients You Will Need (scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements
- boneless whole chicken breasts
- hickory liquid smoke
- smoked paprika
- Worcestershire sauce
- chili powder
- dried oregano
- fresh parsley chopped
- granulated garlic powder
- apple juice
- butter or vegetable oil
- salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste
More Recipes To Try:
Chicken Zucchini Casserole
Italian Baked Chicken
Baked Chicken Lemon Cutlets
Other Cooking Methods:
- For Air Fryer: omit the apple juice mixture when frying and use this to marinate the chicken for 3 hours. Shake the chicken into the seasoning before air frying on 400 degrees for 15 minutes, cook longer if the chicken has any pink left inside
- For Outdoor Smokers: place on 275 degree preheated smoker using hickory flavored chips, omit the liquid smoke however use the apple juice and sauce in the pan while smoking. The chicken will take around 1 hour loosely covered.
- Slow Cooker/Instant Pot: Sear first as directed, add the juice increasing 1/4 cup more, and slow cook 4 to 6 hours on low heat.
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The Best Indoor Barbecue
Now you will be on your way to having your picnic indoors all year long.This chicken is great on top of salads, with any picnic side dishes and it's super juicy and delicious.
The recipe is super simple and easily doubles with just adding more chicken and ingredients so adjust to your family's size.
Don't be afraid to season it more or less of how you like it, sometimes I put lots more granulated garlic and everyone loves cayenne pepper here!
Oven Smoked Crusted Chicken Breasts
Yield: 4
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 45 HourTotal time: 45 H & 10 M
This is a recipe for an indoor smoke flavored chicken breast using liquid smoke. Rain or shine you can still have delicious smoked foods using a few simple seasonings and baked, air fry indoors all year long.
This is an easy delicious recipe and so basic you can use any meats you like.
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless whole chicken breasts
- 4 teaspoons hickory liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2/3 cup of apple juice or beer plus 1/4 cup
- 3 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil
- salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste
- Optional Additions:
- Sliced peppers, mushrooms, sliced onions
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the chicken breasts in a plastic ziplock bag and add all the spices and shake them to coat both sides.
- In a small bowl mix the liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, all herbs, and 2/3 cup of apple juice mix together.
- In a cast-iron grill pan or skillet melt the butter adding 1/4 cup apple juice and sear the chicken on each side until browned.
- Place the chicken in an oiled sprayed casserole dish scraping off the bits off the bottom of the pan.
- If using other vegetables add them in the pan.
- Pour the liquid smoke mixture over the top of the chicken and bake the chicken for 45 minutes on 350 degrees or until the juices run clear when cut open.
- For Air Fryer: omit the apple juice mixture when frying and use this to marinate the chicken for 3 hours. Shake the chicken into the seasoning before air frying on 400 degrees for 15 minutes, cook longer if the chicken has any pink left inside.
- For Outdoor Smokers: place on 275 degree preheated smoker using hickory flavored chips, omit the liquid smoke however use the apple juice and sauce in the pan while smoking. The chicken will take around 1 hour loosely covered.
- Slow Cooker/Instant Pot: Sear first as directed, add the juice increasing 1/4 cup more, and slow cook 4 to 6 hours on low heat.
More Recipes We Love:
Pork Belly Burnt Ends
Oven Smoked Pork
Pork Breakfast Homemade Sausages
Mom's Italian Sausage Patties
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2020.