Smoking your food can be a lot of fun, but it’s hard to know what kind of smoker you should buy and how to use it. This is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to enjoy delicious smoked dishes from their own backyard.
We have put together 25 of the best smoker recipes that are easy enough for beginners, but also tasty enough for seasoned pitmasters. The recipes include beef brisket, pork ribs, salmon fillets, and even BBQ side dishes like Mac & Cheese! There is something in here for everyone.
Best Beef Smoker Recipes
1. Smoked Brisket
Recipe From Hey Grill Hey
There are numerous factors that combine to prepare a good brisket, whether it’s choosing wood to smoke a brisket or using brine. Every choice will help in creating briskets or breaking briskets. The main factor in smoking a brisket is the time it spends in the smoke.
This recipe calls for cooking the meat at low temperatures (usually around 200 degrees) will help ensure that your brisket stays nice and tender, while still receiving all of the smokey flavorful meat you crave.
2. Brisket Burnt Ends
Recipe From Learning To Smoke
Smoked to glorious perfection, burnt ends are the trimmings from the fatty point section of beef brisket. The meat is cubed and tossed in a BBQ sauce before serving for added flavor. This brisket burnt ends recipe is a delicacy often served as a side dish or appetizer.
3. Beef Jerky
Recipe From JerkyHolic
Happy meat lovers! The North American meat snack has become an easy recipe. The perfect snack can also be made in batches and has enough food for a few days.
Beef jerky is also great to take on a day trip or hiking trip.
4. Prime Rib
Recipe From Vindulge
The dark, smoky crust hides intense flavors deep within each slice. For this recipe the meat is cooked slowly over wood smoke and seasoned with a simple BBQ dry rub, tender barbecue beef makes an amazing centerpiece for your weekend party. Prime Rib, often referred to as standing rib roast and rack of beef, is a form of the cut.
This cut comes from the primal rib, which contains ribs six through 12. Here we find some of the most tender and marbled meats on the steer. Prime Rib has earned its popularity because it’s full of flavor with a unique marbling and rich texture.
Prime Rib is a tender, juicy beef meal with the delicious taste of smoke.
5. Beef Cheek
Recipe From The Online Grill
These lovely smoked pork cheeks have rich flavors & have a unique tender texture. Ideal to serve slices as simple smoke side dishes or taco toppings. Beef cheeks are full of rich, meaty flavor.
Beef cheeks are an inexpensive cut of meat that benefits from long, slow cooking to break down the collagen & fat in the cheek and make it tender & delicious.
6. Chuck Roast
Recipe From The Mountain Kitchen
Unlike BBQ Smoke, chuck roast is another great alternative if you like cooking slowly with minimal effort. Most people see chuck roast as the oven or a pan-cooked dish, and it is excellent when prepared by the smoker.
Just like brisket, this recipe for chuck roast takes longer to cook than the rest. Chuck roast is probably one of the most popular cuts of beef for smoking, but remember it does take a long time to cook.
Best Poultry Smoker Recipes
7. Korean Chicken Wings
Recipe From Traeger
South Korea makes chicken wings as much as anyone else, which is exactly the best example of this practice. This smoked Korean chicken wing has been cooked on low heat and combines spicy, smokey, crispy, and crunchy flavors.
Korean chicken wings are a favorite Korean food, which is a stir-fried Korean dish. This Korean smoker recipe includes chicken wings marinated in Korean red pepper paste, hot sauce, and soy sauce or you can even try a dry rub.
8. Beer Can Chicken
Recipe From The Spruce Eats
Beer Can Chicken is just one of the easiest ways to add some smoke and flavor to your chicken. Beer in the can act as a conductor and diffuser, and easily catches the flavorful juices that drip off while cooking. Beer can chicken is easy enough for beginners, but tasty enough for seasoned pitmasters.
Place the beer can on a solid surface before adding the Beer Can Chicken. Use an open flame to heat up the Beer Can Chicken and remove or adjust it as necessary.
This beer can chicken recipe is a favorite of many quick and easy summertime meals, but whatever your preference, beer, and BBQ make for a great combination that tastes amazing.
9. Smoked Chicken Breasts
Recipe From Smokey Grill BBQ
Slow-smoked chicken is one of the first dishes people think of when they think “barbecue.” Regardless, you’ll find that the long and slow cooking time adds a pleasant smokiness to your bird. Smoked chicken can be used as an ingredient in sandwiches or salads, or simply served as a main dish with some sides.
10. Smoked Whole Chicken
Recipe From Little Sunny Kitchen
There are few meals more comforting to us than a whole, smoked chicken. This smoked chicken is moist, flavorful, and it can be served in so many different ways.
Smoked whole chickens are not only delicious but also very affordable because the breast meat does not need much to taste great.
11. Smoked Turkey Breast
Recipe From Oh So Delicioso
Smoking a whole turkey breast is an excellent option for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner because it eliminates the problem of uneven cooking that can sometimes occur with a whole bird. Smoked turkey breast is wonderful served hot or cold.
Smoked turkey breast is great for sandwiches, salads, or soups.
Best Pork Smoker Recipes
12. Smoked Pulled Pork
Recipe From House Of Yum
Smoked pulled pork is made up of delicious, tender, slow-cooked meat that falls apart at the touch of a fork. Smoked pulled pork is great for sandwiches or just by itself.
Smoked pulled pork is a regular staple at many BBQ restaurants, and for good reason. The best thing about smoked pulled pork is that it does not take long to prepare, especially if the meat has already been cooked beforehand.
13. Smoked Pork Shoulder
Recipe From The Chunky Chef
These smoked pork shoulders are a rich and savory meal that is full of flavor. Smoked pork shoulder is one of the most delicious cuts of meat for smoking, and it can be used in sandwiches, salads, soups, or just by itself.
When we first tried out this recipe with our Meater Block, it turned out superb!
Smoked pork shoulder is a great combination of meat and fat that makes it tender, moist, and delicious after hours upon hours of smoking. Smoked Pork Shoulder’s versatility makes the dish adaptable to many different types of cuisine from Asian to Mexican flavor profiles.
14. Smoked Glazed Ham
Recipe From Dinner At The Zoo
This smoked ham is another classic combination that can be used in many different ways. Smoked ham pairs well with sweet flavors like brown sugar and mustard, but it is also delicious on its own.
Most types of hams can be smoked to make them taste even better. The time you smoke the ham depends on the type of ham you get and how much fat is on the outside.
15. Smoked Pork Chops
Recipe From Dinner At The Zoo
Slow smoked pork chops are another great dish for summer grilling or even wintertime smoking. Slow cooking adds flavor, but it also helps keep the meat moist and tender.
Smoked pork chops are served with some sort of sauce on top, generally BBQ sauce. This dish goes well with some side dishes like baked beans or potato salad.
Best Seafood Smoker Recipes
16. King Crab Legs
Recipe From Traeger
Smoked king crab legs are a tasty way to serve up your favorite kind of seafood. These smoked king crab legs can be served with a variety of different sauces and seasonings, but it is most commonly prepared with butter or some other type of sauce.
King crab legs are best smoked using a water smoker because the low temperatures needed for cooking could damage a steel smoker.
17. Smoked Salmon
Recipe From Smokey Grill BBQ
If there is one dish that most people associate with smoking fish, it’s salmon. This smoked salmon has a rich and smoky flavor that can be enjoyed by itself or as an addition to different dishes.
Smoked salmon is often served cold, but it is also delicious when fried up in some sort of batter and served as an appetizer.
18. Smoked Lobster Tail
Recipe From Food Folks and Fun
Smoked lobster tails are a luxurious dish – this recipe makes for a great special occasion meal or a treat. The flavor of the rich meat is complemented by smoke and salt, making it something people think about long after their last bite.
Lobsters can be smoked using both cold smoking and hot smoking methods. Cold-smoked lobster tails are delicious without being cooked, but hot-smoked lobster tails are melt-in-your-mouth perfect.
19. Smoked Trout
Recipe From Hey Grill Hey
Smoked trout is a great way to serve up fish that can be enjoyed by any seafood lover. This smoked trout recipe has a smoky flavor with light hints of salt, giving it a delicious taste without being too overpowering.
Trout is usually smoked using the cold smoking method, but hot smoking works great as well. The best thing about trout is that it does not have too strong of a taste, so you can flavor it with just about anything.
20. Smoked Tilapia
Recipe From The Spruce Eats
Smoked tilapia is a delicious way to serve fish that can be enjoyed by people who are not too crazy about seafood. The filets are fairly thin, making them perfect for smoking with different herbs and spices.
Tilapia is usually smoked using the cold smoking method because it has a fairly delicate flavor profile. The cold smoking method creates a delicious smoky flavor without cooking the fish, so it can be eaten unheated.
Best Side Dish Smoker Recipes
21. Smoked Mac and Cheese
Recipe From Smokey Grill BBQ
Everyone loves a classic dish like mac and cheese, but smoking it takes it to a whole new level. The rich flavor of the cheese pairs perfectly with the smoky goodness from the smoke.
This smoked mac and cheese recipe is best served as a side dish or as an appetizer because all that’s needed is some crusty bread for dipping in the gooey goodness.
22. Smoked Baked Beans
Recipe From Jerky Holic
These smoked baked beans are a great side dish to serve with any sort of smoked meat. Baked beans possess a rich flavor all their own, but the addition of smoke enhances the taste.
Baked beans can be cooked either on a smoker or in an oven, depending on how much time you have and how many appliances you want to use.
23. Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Recipe From Bon AppeTeach
These smoked sweet potatoes are a delicious side dish to serve with any sort of meat. While regular baked or boiled sweet potatoes are good, smoky ones make for a tasty treat everyone can enjoy.
Sweet potatoes absorb smoke flavor really well and the taste goes great with lots of different flavors. Smoked sweet potatoes go well as a side dish, but they are also delicious fried up as a side dish.
24. Smoked Corn on the Cob
Recipe From Blackberry Babe
Smoked corn on the cob is a tasty and inexpensive way to serve up delicious corn. The hot smoking method makes for a perfect lightly smoky flavor that everyone loves.
This corn on the cob recipe goes great with just about anything you can think of – butter, salt, pepper, cheese – it’s all good! It also tastes great with a variety of different spices.
Smoked Corn on the Cob goes great with any smoked meat, but they’re also tasty all by themselves.
25. Smoked Green Beans
Recipe From Recipes Worth Repeating
These smoked green beans are a great way to serve up fresh, delicious vegetables. The hot smoking method is the best way to bring out the rich flavor of the veggies while not overcooking them or covering up their natural crispiness.
Green beans are usually seasoned with salt and pepper, but you can also use any sort of spices you want. The rich smoky goodness goes well with just about everything.
Best Smoker Recipes FAQ:
What is the Easiest Food to Smoke?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the easiest food to smoke will vary depending on the smoker’s preferences and experience.
However, some smokers find that fish or meat is an easy food to smoke, as it doesn’t require a lot of preparation and can be smoked using a simple setup.
Additionally, some smokers prefer to start with smaller items like sausages or hot dogs, which are easier to handle and tend not to produce as much smoke as larger smoked meats.
What is the Easiest Meat to Smoke in a Smoker?
The easiest meat to smoke in a smoker is beef.
Beef has a high-fat content, so it’s going to be juicy and flavorful after smoking. Plus, the salt will help preserve it during cooking which means you don’t have to do as much seasoning later on.
Pork also works well because of its low moisture content.
Final Thoughts
Smoking meats is a popular cooking method in many cultures. It has been used for centuries to add flavor and texture, but it can be tricky to master the process without burning your food or imparting an excessive smokey taste.
To help you out with this challenge we’ve compiled 25 great smoker recipes that will give you all of the smoky flavors (and textures) you could want while still maintaining perfect doneness on your meat.
You should find at least one of our electric smoker recipes here that suits your needs!
