Time to get your smoke on! With the popularity of home smokers on the rise, I thought it was a great opportunity to round up some easy smoker recipes.
Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, there is a recipe here for you! Get ready for 28 incredible recipes with delicious smoky goodness!
1. Smoked Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is just perfect for the smoker, soaking up all those tasty smoky flavors without getting soggy. Leave the silk on the cob but remove the husk, then turn the husk back to cover the corn and get ready to smoke for a couple of hours, give or take, depending on your desired level of crispiness.
Grab some butter, cilantro, lime, and paprika and you’ll have the best-tasting corn ever.
2. Smoked Cauliflower
For all my non-meat lovers, this is a great recipe when you want something savory and smoky. To make sure the cauliflower is extra tasty, boil it in a seasoned broth, baste with olive or coconut oil, and add your favorite spices.
Toss it into the smoker at 250 degrees Fahrenheit, and after an hour, you’ll be rewarded with the most flavorful, fork-tender cauliflower that the kids will actually enjoy.
3. Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder
Pulled pork is a classic for a reason, so for your next family BBQ weekend, use this recipe to really wow your guests.
Raid your spice rack for brown sugar, smoked paprika, onions, garlic, pepper, and mustard because you’ll need it to make your secret weapon: the BBQ rub.Smother that mixture all over the pork and let the smoker do the rest.
Juicy, fall-off-the-bone pulled pork is waiting for you at the end of the line.
4. Smoked Chicken Wings
Having great food makes game day even better, and this recipe will have everyone cheering! The wings have a sweet and spicy rub that turns delightful once it’s cooked in the smoker. Smother on the BBQ glaze and serve after they’re done.
You’ve never had a better game day.
5. Beer Can Chicken
Beer can chicken will take your dinner to the next level.
Overcooked chicken is usually dry, but that won’t happen here. The steam coming from the beer will keep your chicken nice and moist while it cooks.
The dry rub really takes these flavors to another level.
6. Smoked Cornbread
I’m sure you’ve had sweet cornbread and savory cornbread before. But have you ever had smoky cornbread? If not, you are in for a treat!
Your cornbread will get a punch of smoky taste and an extra crispy crust. You’ll find it’s delicious in ways you can’t imagine.
7. Smoked Turkey
Turkey itself has a very mild flavor, but the right ingredients can transform it into a family favorite.
For phenomenal flavors, try using soda, onion, apple, celery, and butter for your dry rub. You can also create your own dry rub, if you’d rather.
Coat the turkey inside with your favorite spices, so the flavors can all come together as you cook it in the smoker.
8. Coffee Rubbed Smoked Chicken
The next time you make chicken, you have to try this coffee dry rub. It works so well every single time! You’ll just need fresh coffee grounds, onion and garlic powder, cumin, black pepper, and just a touch of cayenne for a little kick.
Coat the whole chicken with this great dry rub and smoke it for around 2 to 3 hours, and that’s it! The smell alone will make your mouth water, so you can only imagine the flavor.
9. Smoked Tacos Al Pastor
You’ll want to try this pulled pork smoked to perfection and put into tacos.
For those wonderful flavors to soak into the pork shoulder, inject it with a marinade made from garlic, orange and lime juice, adobo sauce, oregano, chile, cumin, and sugar. The pork will also be ridiculously tender and easy to shred after smoking.
10. Smoked Onions
Want to really get that wonderful caramelization that everyone loves? Try smoking your onions.
The slow cooking will pull out the natural sugars so that they get a beautiful color without getting overcooked.
Caramelized onions are perfect in pasta, burgers, pork chops, or steak.
11. Smoked Apples
Hollow out some apples, fill them with your favorite stuffing, and throw them in the smoker for about an hour. You can top with vanilla ice cream or balsamic vinegar or bourbon.
They will be the ultimate BBQ dessert!
12. Smoked Meatloaf
Most families have meatloaf as a staple, and if you haven’t tried smoking it, it’s definitely something you should do. It’s basically ground meat shaped like a loaf.
If you’re looking for extra moisture and flavor, try mixing yours with whiskey and cheese. Bake it in the grill basket to really let the smoky goodness come out.
13. Smoked Baked Beans
Having amazing sides at your BBQs is always a plus. Learning to make smoked baked beans will give you 100 extra points. Your baked beans will have a wonderful smoky taste that you just can’t get any other way.
The smokiness gives the beans an amazing sweet and savory combination. These beans will be so good that your friends and family will want you to bring them to every potluck!
14. Smoked Cake
I know what you’re thinking: you can use the smoker to bake a cake? Well, yes, you can! The secret to baking a fantastic cake in a smoker is to pick wood that gives a light smoky flavor.
Some examples of this wood are apple, pecan, maple, and alder. Top the cake with a wonderful buttercream frosting for a dish that will be gone in minutes!
15. Smoked Beef Brisket
If you are a smoker, there’s one recipe you just have to try: smoked beef brisket. Once you make it the right way, you’ll want it over and over.
All you’ll need for the brisket itself is pepper and salt since the method, not the ingredients, is the secret here. If you need help choosing the right brisket, check out my post called What is Brisket?
16. The Pressed Hangover Waffle
For the ultimate in smoked comfort food, try this recipe. The dish smashes together golden-crusted waffles and smoky pulled pork with a luscious chicken stock gravy.
I mean, what could you want more? You can have it for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner. It’s even great as a midnight snack!
17. Smoked Sweet Potatoes
You might not have known it, but smoked sweet potatoes make an amazing side dish.
You can just add some salt and throw them in the smoker, but there’s so much more you can do! Take them up a notch by adding a scoop of maple cinnamon butter on top before digging in.
You will want to keep this recipe on hand for years to come.
18. Chipotle Peppers
Chipotle peppers are really just dried and smoked red jalapenos used to intensify the flavor of a dish. They are flavor enhancers, so they are great for things like tacos, adobo sauce, beef meatballs, glazed ham, and chicken.
If you smoke the peppers for 3 hours and let them dry for 10 hours, you will have a great homemade pantry item.
19. Smoked Pineapple
When you cook something sugary at a high heat, you’re sure to get something beautifully caramelized that will make you say YUM with each bite.
You can add smoked pineapple to salads, sandwiches, and so much more! The dish is just so versatile that it’s guaranteed to have you coming back for more.
20. Bacon Explosion
Crispy bacon crumbles meet savory Italian sausage, all wrapped in even more bacon!
Just how great does that sound? The best thing is that you can totally customize it, and you can add hot sauce, jalapenos, or cheese if you like a kick.
Smother with your best BBQ sauce when the smoker’s done and you’re ready to serve.
21. Smoked Prime Rib
You don’t get good prime rib that often, so when you do, pull out your smoker and prepare to be blown away.
Make sure you coat the prime rib evenly, whether you use a dry rub or butter and herbs. The smoker will infuse those flavors like nothing else you’ve ever tasted.
22. Homemade Smoked Chorizo
Making your own chorizo is one of the coolest things you can do. Chorizo is a pork sausage from Spain that you can make by cooking or fermenting and curing.
Whichever one you choose, the smoker will be key to packing that chorizo with flavor.
23. Smoked Tomatoes
You can make your classic tomato sauce even tastier. And you already know how: the smoker! Just smoke those slices of tomatoes for around an hour.
Make sure to use wood with a light flavor, such as alder. You’ll have the perfect pasta sauce after you puree your smoked tomatoes.
24. Smoked French Fries
Try smoking the fries before you fry them to give them much more flavor.
You have to try this technique. They will be a total game changer.
Once you’re done smoking them, you can either deep-fry or air-fry them. It’s all up to you.
25. Smoked Salmon
It takes around 11 hours to get smoked salmon from the prep to the table, so get ready to be patient. The secret to fantastic flavors in your salmon is to let it sit in a brine made with maple syrup, kosher salt, and orange juice for at least 8 hours.
It will all be worth it once the smoker does its thing, and you’ll have the best-tasting salmon you’ve ever had.
26. Smoked Mac and Cheese
Ready for some creamy, cheesy goodness? Imagine tangy cream cheese in a delicious cheese sauce with al dente elbow macaroni.
Sounds great, right? Take it up a notch and add even more cheese!
The more cheese, the better.
If you want some extra crunch, add some crispy bacon and panko bread crumbs on top.
27. Smoked Vegetables
Pull out whatever veggies you have: squash, red onion, potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, yams, whatever. Make sure they are all the same size so that they cook at the same rate.
Drizzle a little balsamic vinegar on top, toss them in the smoker, and that’s it. In just 45 minutes, you’ll have some amazing BBQ sides.