Grill pans

[Gerania]

This? Smoking Ribs in a Homemade Smoker for the Oven - Kelli's Kitchen

[ABQConvict]

Grill pans will not give your chicken a smoky taste. Smoke gives your chicken a smoky taste.

By using a grill pan you will actually reduce the amount of flavor of the chicken because the reduced surface area restricts the Maillard reaction, the browning which gives flavor, to the narrow grill marks. You are better off searing the meat in a standard flat bottomed pan.

If you want smoky flavor, get a charcoal grill, cook over a wood fire, or use a liquid smoke type product.

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by maggie2101

Grill pans just add the grill marks. I have two All-Clad and one cast iron Lodge, which is impossible to clean.

This (the keeping clean portion) is my experience, as well. Esp. with cast iron. Not a fan of grill pans for meat, because of the reduced browning surface, as pointed out earlier.

As others have pointed out, it's the charcoal,etc. not the cooking implement, that makes the food taste smokey. No smoke, no smoke flavor, unless you add one chemically.