Smoked Chicken's Perfect Cheese Pairing: Finding The Right Flavor

Smoked chicken is a versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of cheeses to enhance its flavour. From creamy cheeses like brie and camembert to sharp and tangy cheddars, the addition of cheese can take your smoked chicken to the next level. For those who enjoy a more mild and creamy flavour profile, cheeses like smoked mozzarella or provolone are excellent choices. These softer cheeses provide a beautiful contrast to the smokiness of the chicken. On the other hand, if you're looking for a bolder flavour, consider smoked cheddar or blue cheese, which offer a sharp and tangy twist to your dish. For a truly indulgent experience, you could even experiment with adding some smoked cheese to your dessert, such as pairing smoked cheddar with dark chocolate for a surprising and decadent treat.

Smoked chicken with blue cheese slaw

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 2 whole chickens (about 5 lbs each)
• 1/4 cup of your favourite BBQ rub
• 1/4 cup of your favourite seasoning (e.g. salt, black pepper, and garlic)
• Pecan chunks (or your favourite wood) for smoke

For the slaw:

• 10 oz shredded red cabbage
• 1/2 cup white BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 3 green onions, sliced fine
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon celery seed

Method

First, remove the chickens from their packaging and rinse under cool water. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity and be careful when handling raw chicken. Season the outside of each chicken with your chosen seasoning and a layer of BBQ rub.

Set your smoker to a higher temperature than usual—275°F is optimal for cooking the skin and meat. Place the chickens breast side up on the rack and close the lid. It will take about 3 hours to smoke the chickens. After an hour, insert a wired probe thermometer and set the alarm for 165°F internal temperature for the breast and 175°F for the thigh.

While the chicken is smoking, prepare the slaw. Combine the shredded red cabbage, white BBQ sauce, blue cheese crumbles, green onions, white sugar, and celery seed. Place the slaw in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

Once the chicken is done, remove it from the smoker and cover loosely with foil. Let it rest for 15-20 minutes before pulling the meat. Separate the chicken from the bone and shred it into equal-sized pieces.

To assemble the sandwiches, split open a jumbo burger bun and pile on the pulled chicken. Drizzle with white BBQ sauce and top with a generous scoop of blue cheese slaw.

Tips and Variations

• You can also make this recipe with 16 oz of pre-cooked, shredded chicken.
• Try serving the sandwiches with spicy sweet pickles on the side.
• For a different take on blue cheese slaw, try making a dressing with mayonnaise, crumbled blue cheese, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. Toss this with the cole slaw mix and season with salt and pepper.

Smoked chicken bombs with cream cheese

Ingredients:

• 4-6 chicken breasts
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 2 slices of thin bacon per piece of chicken
• Jeff's original rub
• 1 quart of cold water
• 1/4 cup of coarse kosher salt
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 2-3 jalapeño peppers

Method:

Step 1: Brine (optional)

Brining is recommended for adding moisture and flavour to the chicken, but it can be skipped if you are short on time. To brine the chicken, make a solution of one quart of cold water, 1/4 cup of coarse kosher salt, and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Stir well until everything is dissolved. Place the chicken breasts in a zip-top bag or container, cover with the brine, and refrigerate for about 2 hours. After brining, remove the chicken, rinse, pat dry, and set aside.

Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese/Jalapeño Mixture

Leave the cream cheese out to soften for about an hour. In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese with 2-3 diced jalapeño peppers, depending on your desired spice level. Deseed and clean the peppers beforehand, and soak them in Sprite to reduce their heat.

Step 3: Season and Stuff the Chicken Breasts

Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with Jeff's original rub. Add a heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese/jalapeño mixture on top. Fold the chicken over itself, and coat the outside with olive oil and more seasoning.

Step 4: Wrap with Bacon

Lay 2 thin slices of bacon across each stuffed chicken breast and wrap them "artistically."

Step 5: Smoke Cook the Chicken

Place the stuffed chicken on a pan with a rack and set up your smoker for indirect heat at 225-240°F. Use a water pan if available. Smoke the chicken for around 1.5 hours, applying smoke for at least an hour. Use a digital probe meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Tips:

• If you want to add more ingredients to the cream cheese mixture, try including leftover holiday ham or Cajun boudin.
• You can also glaze the chicken with sauce or add onion to the cream cheese mixture.
• For uniform thickness, you can pound or roll the chicken breasts to an even thickness before stuffing and wrapping.

Smoked chicken with gouda

Smoked chicken and gouda is a flavour combination that works. Smoked gouda is a culinary gem that brings complexity and depth to a wide variety of dishes. Its creamy, rich, and intense flavour can complement and enhance other ingredients.

One recipe for smoked chicken with gouda involves pounding and flouring boneless, skinless chicken breasts, browning them in a pan, and then adding chicken broth, grated ginger root, and gouda chunks to the pan. After the cheese has melted, a slurry can be added to thicken the sauce, along with sour cream or yogurt. The chicken breasts are then added back to the pan, topped with a slice of gouda, and sprinkled with green onions. This dish can be served with rice or noodles.

Another recipe involves flattening chicken breasts to a 1/4" thickness, seasoning them with cayenne, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper, and then placing small pieces of gouda on the chicken before rolling it up and wrapping it with bacon. This is then browned over medium heat and baked in the oven.

A third recipe is even simpler: pat dry and season boneless, skinless chicken breasts, tear gouda slices in half and place on the chicken, and bake in the oven until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This dish is served with garlic butter green beans and a honey BBQ aioli.

Smoked chicken with cheddar

Smoked chicken and cheddar is a flavourful combination that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas and recipes to try:

Smoked Chicken and Cheddar Dip

This make-ahead dish is perfect for a potluck or party. You will need:

• 1 1/2 cups of smoked chicken breast, cut into small cubes
• One 8-ounce brick of cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
• 5 green onions, sliced

Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a medium-sized casserole dish, mix the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Stir in the cubed chicken and sliced green onions. Spread the mixture evenly in the dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until the dip is creamy and the cheddar cheese has melted. Serve warm with tortilla chips or crackers.

Smoked Cheesy Chicken and Potato Casserole

This casserole is sure to impress your guests with its depth of flavour. It makes about 8-10 servings. You will need:

• 1 10-ounce can of cream of chicken with herbs soup
• 1 1/2 cups of shredded smoked cheddar cheese
• 1 (20-ounce) package of frozen diced hash brown potatoes with onions and peppers, thawed
• 1 pound of smoked or roasted chicken cut into strips (rotisserie chicken works great)
• 1 cup of crushed croutons
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter

Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. In a large bowl, combine the soup, cheese, and sour cream. Add in the chicken and potatoes, and transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Mix the croutons and butter and sprinkle them on top of the casserole. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until heated through.

Smoked Cheddar Stuffed Chicken

This simple yet incredibly satisfying recipe will leave you with juicy, flavourful chicken. You can cook it in an air fryer or oven. You will need:

• Smoked cheddar cheese
• Bacon
• Chicken

Stuff the chicken with smoked cheddar and wrap it in bacon. If using an air fryer, cook according to your fryer's instructions, keeping an eye on it as it may not take as long as the oven. If using an oven, preheat to 350°F and bake until the bacon is crisped and the chicken is cooked through.

BBQ Smoked Chicken with Cheddar

The sharp, pungent flavour of cheddar pairs perfectly with the smoky richness of barbecued chicken. There are several ways to incorporate cheddar into your barbecued chicken dish:

• Top your chicken with shredded cheddar, which will melt and create a delicious, cheesy topping.
• Mix cheddar into your barbecue sauce for a cheesy, flavourful sauce.
• Make a barbecued chicken pizza using barbecue sauce, chicken, and cheddar on a pre-made pizza crust.

Other Ideas

• Smoked chicken and cheddar can be used in a variety of pasta dishes, such as mac and cheese, alfredo sauce, or lasagna.
• Try grilled chicken with smoked cheddar, where the cheese melts over the chicken, adding creaminess and smoky depth.
• For a simple snack or side, top smoked chicken with shredded cheddar and serve with crackers or a crusty baguette.

Smoked chicken with mozzarella

Smoked chicken and mozzarella is a flavour pairing that works. The smokiness of the chicken is complemented by the mild, creamy flavour and smooth texture of the mozzarella.

One recipe for smoked chicken with mozzarella involves pounding chicken breasts thin, sprinkling them with salt and pepper, and coating them in seasoned breadcrumbs. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add the chicken, cooking for 4 minutes, then turning and cooking for another 2 minutes. Top the chicken with thin slices of smoked ham and mozzarella, and sprinkle with dried sage. Cook until a thermometer inserted into the chicken reads 165°, which should take 1-2 minutes.

Variations

Some variations on this recipe include adding pesto to the dish, or serving the chicken with pasta. Another option is to stuff the chicken with a mixture of mozzarella and rice, and secure it with toothpicks or butcher's cord before dusting with flour and sauteing in olive oil.

Other Pairings

Mozzarella is a soft cheese, and smoked chicken can also be paired with other soft cheeses such as brie or camembert, which will melt over the chicken, adding creaminess and a smoky depth. Harder, sharper cheeses like cheddar or gouda can also be used, providing a stronger flavour and a crunchy texture.

Frequently asked questions