Looking for smoker recipes that actually deliver?
Every recipe on this list has been tested by our team and cooked and rated by thousands of backyard BBQ fanatics in our community. These are our proven favorites, from classic BBQ staples to creative smoked dinner ideas you might not have tried yet.
Whether you’re looking for reliable smoker meals, new things to cook on your smoker, or just a crowd-pleaser that works, you’ll find it here.
Essential Smoker Recipes
Whether you’re new to the smoker or looking to master the classics, these are the foundational recipes every pitmaster should have in their playbook.
1. Smoked Pulled Pork
Brought your first smoker and are not sure where to start? Our Smoked Pulled Pork is a great smoker recipe to get your pitmaster journey underway.
Pork butt is a forgiving cut and not too expensive, this makes it an ideal choice for your initiation to grilling.
We’ve also included our recipes for an easy homemade pork rub and BBQ sauce, which will guarantee maximum flavor.
Recipe: Easy Smoked Pulled Pork
2. Smoked Pork Ribs: Using The 3-2-1 Method
The 3-2-1 method takes the guesswork out of smoking ribs, making it one of the best smoker recipes for novice Pitmasters, but that’s not to say you shouldn’t use it if you’re experienced, either.
The 3-2-1 method results in low and slow, fall-off-the-bone meat that is then brushed with our homemade BBQ sauce.
This is also a great way to cook a pile of ribs for a gathering. The hard work is done before your guests arrive.
Recipe: Smoked Pork Ribs: 3-2-1 Method
3. Hot and Fast BBQ Brisket
Forget the 18-hour overnight cook. This brisket recipe shows you how to get tender, smoky, bark-covered brisket in a fraction of the time. It’s a proven backyard method refined from restaurant and competition experience, perfect for when you want big results without the all-nighter.
One of my favorite parts of smoking a brisket is finding fun ways to use the leftovers. Our Texas Twinkies and Brisket Chili are two great choices.
Recipe: Hot and Fast BBQ Brisket
4. Texas Style Smoked Beef Short Ribs
These massive, tender ribs are as far from “short” as it gets. They take longer than pork ribs, but the payoff is worth every minute.
We go full Texas-style: simple salt-and-pepper rub, low and slow heat, and no sauce. The result is a deep, beefy flavor and a thick, barky crust that pitmasters chase. These ribs also made our list of our best pellet grill recipes, but you can cook them on any smoker.
Pair with our Creamy Coleslaw or Ranch Pasta Salad.
Recipe: BBQ Beef Short Ribs
5. BBQ Brisket Burnt Ends
These burnt ends are made from the point-end of a brisket. The point is smoked whole while the bark develops before being sliced into cubes and smoked in a sauce bath until tender.
If you don’t want to buy a whole brisket you can also make chuck steak burnt ends.
BBQ Brisket Burnt Ends Recipe
6. BBQ Spatchcock Chicken
To spatchcock or not to spatchcock? If you feel intimidated by doing this, follow our simple instructions, and you’ll be a pro in no time.
Spatchcocking is a great BBQ option, you get more surface which means more rub, and cook time is a lot faster.
Our chicken is cooked at a higher temperature to avoid the rubbery skin and given a nice coating of BBQ sauce to finish.
Smoked Spatchcock Chicken Recipe
7. Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends
If you love bacon, you’re going to love these Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends.
Crunchy bark on the outside, moist on the inside. They may even become your new favorite over brisket burnt ends.
These glorious chunks of caramelized meat candy are great served as finger food or piled into slider buns with a squeeze of BBQ sauce.
Recipe: Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends
8. Smoked Pulled Beef
Although not as popular as pulled pork, beef is really versatile once smoked. We’re talking tacos, wraps, pies, and pasta.
We recommend using a whole chuck roast for pulled beef, like in our Smoked Pulled Chuck Roast recipe, or keep scrolling for another great chuck idea.
9. Poor Man’s Burnt Ends
Get that smoky, sticky, bark-covered brisket burnt end flavor without the cost or 12-hour cook.
This recipe uses chuck roast to deliver rich, tender, bite-sized burnt ends that hit all the right notes. It’s the perfect way to stretch your BBQ budget or test your skills before tackling a full brisket.
Recipe: Poor Man’s Burnt Ends
10. Smoked Tri-Tip
I love smoking tri-tip because you can be eating just over an hour after you start. Just like the prime rib recipe above, I like to smoke tri tip to get some smoke flavor, before finishing with a quick sear.
Use a simple SPG seasoning, or give our beef rub a try for a bit more flavor depth.
Recipe: Smoked Tri-Tip
11. Hot and Fast Pulled Pork
If you’re short on time you can still enjoy succulent pulled pork in half the time without losing any flavor.
Shred this pork to eat with some classic BBQ sides or use it in Leftover BBQ Pulled Pork Smoked Tacos or Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos.
Recipe: Easy BBQ Pulled Pork
Smoked Appetizers & BBQ Bites
1. Smoked Pig Shots
Bite-sized and packed with flavor, these smoked pig shots are a must-try party appetizer. Thick-cut bacon and sausage form the base, filled with a creamy cheese mix and topped with jalapeño for a smoky, spicy hit.
The two-stage smoking process keeps the bacon crisp and the filling set. Perfect for tailgates, backyard parties, or any time you need a crowd-pleaser.
Recipe: Smoked Pig Shots
2. Smoked Shotgun Shells
Manicotti pasta tubes stuffed with a simple mix of ground beef and cheese, then wrapped in bacon, and brushed with bbq sauce.
This simple but tasty barbecue snack has blown up on our social media with over 6 million views to date!
Recipe: Smoked Shotgun Shells.
The perfect snack or side, simple to make but they pack a punch.
Our Jalapeños are stuffed with cheese, then stuffed with more cheese, wrapped in bacon, and grilled over high heat.
Have a cold beer handy!
Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
4. Smoked Chicken Wings with Garlic Parmesan Sauce
These chicken wings make the perfect appetizer.
With their crispy skin and mouth-watering garlic, parmesan sauce you’ll want to double this recipe so you’re not fighting over them.
Many chicken smoker recipes will call for low temps between 225-250°F. Ignore them.
Smoked chicken should be cooked above 300°F to get nice crispy skin.
Recipe: Smoked Chicken Wings with Garlic Parmesan Sauce
A Texas Twinkie is a Jalapeño Popper on crack and yes they can be highly addictive.
Smoky, spicy, sweet, cheesy goodness wrapped in bacon, need we say more. Well actually like to double up on brisket and bacon by adding it to the cream cheese mixture as well.
These are great served with Blue Cheese Sauce and Wedges on the side, and don’t forget the ice cold beer, essential!
Recipe: Texas Twinkies
6. Smoked Buffalo Chicken Wings
We’re not reinventing a classic here, but helping you to perfect it.
We let you in on our trick that guarantees ultra crispy skin on your chicken wings. Just add some tangy hot sauce and soothing blue cheese sauce, perfection!
Recipe: Smoked Buffalo Wings
7. Smoked Cream Cheese
This ultra-simple smoker recipe turns a humble block of cream cheese into a smoky, savory spread with irresistible flavor.
We score the top, season it generously with your rub of choice, and smoke it low until the outside forms a flavorful bark while the inside stays creamy. Serve it with crackers, chips, or veggie sticks for an easy appetizer that always disappears fast.
Recipe: Smoked Cream Cheese
8. Smoked Party Ribs
These crowd-pleasing ribs are cut into individual sections before hitting the smoker, so every bite gets a full ring of bark and flavor.
They cook faster than a full rack and are perfect for game day, backyard get-togethers, or anytime you want ribs without the fuss. Tossed in sauce and finished hot for a sticky,
Recipe: Smoked Party Ribs
9. Smoked Queso Dip
This easy smoked queso delivers big flavor with minimal effort. Cubes of cheddar, pepper jack, Velveeta, and cream cheese melt together with Rotel tomatoes, taco seasoning, and milk (or beer) into a rich, smoky dip.
Serve it hot off the smoker with tortilla chips or drizzle over chili dogs and nachos. Add cooked ground beef, chorizo, or leftover brisket to turn it into a hearty party snack.
Recipe: Smoked Queso Dip
Weeknight Dinner Recipes
It’s pretty easy to overcook a chicken breast and end up with a very dry piece of inedible meat.
We’re about the tender, succulent chicken breast every time.
We like to give it a brine bath, a little rub, a glaze, and a low and slow cook which results in the best chicken breasts you’ll ever taste.
Recipe: Easy Smoked Chicken Breast
2. Smoked Burgers
Forget grilled patties, once you try smoked burgers, you won’t go back. These burgers cook low and slow so the smoke has time to sink in, then finish hot for that perfect crust.
We keep the seasoning simple and let the beef speak for itself.
These burgers are:
- Easy to prep in advance
- Great for feeding a crowd
- Perfect for loading up with your favorite toppings
Pro tip: Use a mix of ground chuck and brisket for next-level beefy flavor. Throw some onions or bacon on the grill beside them while you’re at it.
Recipe: Smoked Burgers on the Pellet Grill
Pork tenderloin is a boneless, lean, and tender cut that runs alongside the backbone.
We show you a fast, easy method to smoke it, ensuring it stays moist and tasty by wrapping it in salty prosciutto and brushing it with a sweet maple glaze.
It goes well with our Apple and Beet Slaw
Recipe: Smoked Pork Tenderloin
4. Smoked BBQ Meatballs
These Smoked BBQ Meatballs are the perfect combination of juicy, smoky, and saucy, making them an irresistible addition to any cookout or party spread.
Made with 80/20 ground beef, seasoned to perfection, and slow-smoked to absorb rich wood-fired flavor, these meatballs are then coated in a sweet and tangy BBQ glaze for the ultimate bite
Recipe: Smoked BBQ Meatballs
5. Smoked Chicken Thighs
A simple yet delicious smoker recipe. While this one cooks nice and fast compared to a lot of the other recipes, for best results you will want to marinate the chicken overnight or for atleast 4 hours.
This recipe also includes a tasty chicken rub that you’ll want to make again and again.
Recipe: Smoked Chicken Thighs
Such a healthy food, we should eat more of it. And once you’ve tried this method we bet it will become a regular on your menu.
We’ve given it a wet brine overnight and then smoked it at a hot temperature. This gives it, its flakey texture as opposed to the silky texture of cold smoked salmon.
Keep it simple and serve with boiled new potatoes, sour cream, and a sprinkling of dill.
Recipe: Hot Smoked Salmon
7. Smoked Pork Chops
Smoked pork chops are an underrated cut that deserve more love. Bone-in or boneless, they cook quickly and soak up smoke beautifully without much fuss. You can keep them simple with a dry rub or finish with a glaze for extra flavor.
Juicy, flavorful, and easy to prep ahead, they’re a great option for weeknights or when you want big flavor in less time.
Want to give them a shot? Try our Smoked Pork Chops Recipe.
Smoked Sides
These smoked side dishes go on the smoker, not just on the plate. From beans to mac and cheese, each recipe is designed to soak up wood-fired flavor and earn its place alongside the main event.
One of the best things about owning a smoker is using it to cook recipes that would normally call for the oven.
We’ve also added a couple of rather indulgent twists to this dish. Let’s say, you shouldn’t eat this every day, but hey, everything in moderation.
Recipe: Smoked Mac and Cheese
2. Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon
There are some big flavors in this saucy side dish.
Beans are one of the best and most common side dishes to serve with BBQ.
We’ll walk you through how to make smoked beans and offer a range of options so you can customize them with flavors that you love.
If you have leftover BBQ try making our BBQ Sundaes.
Recipe: Smoked Baked Beans
3. Smoked Cornbread
This classic skillet cornbread picks up just the right amount of smoke to pair perfectly with your BBQ mains.
It’s slightly sweet, golden on the outside, and moist on the inside. The hot cast iron skillet gives it a crisp crust, while the honey butter adds a creamy, salty-sweet finish.
Throw it on the smoker while your meat rests, and you’ve got a side that holds its own with ribs, brisket, or chili.
Recipe: Skillet Smoked Cornbread
4. Smoked Loaded Baked Potatoes
These aren’t your average baked spuds. We smoke halved russets until tender, scoop and mix with cheese, sour cream, and crispy bacon, then stuff them high and smoke again for the ultimate BBQ side.
Crispy tops, smoky flavor, and rich filling make these perfect next to ribs or brisket or topped with leftover pulled pork for a full meal.
Recipe: Smoked Loaded Baked Potatoes
Festive BBQ Recipes
1. Smoke Prime Rib
This holiday classic is usually done in the oven, but there’s no reason you can’t cook prime rib in the smoker.
Because this is a large cut, you want to use the reverse sear method, where you smoke low and slow while the temperature slowly rises before finishing with a hot sear for the ultimate crust.
We put together a guide with some of our favorite cuts of beef for smoking if you want more ideas.
Recipe: Smoked Prime Rib
2. Smoked Turkey
Smoking your turkey on a pellet grill gives you crispy skin and juicy meat without the rubbery texture that low-temp smoking often causes.
This recipe uses a higher-heat, smoke-roast method to achieve a golden finish in just 3 hours. Brining, stuffing with aromatics, and basting with seasoned butter lock in flavor. It is perfect for holidays or hosting a crowd.
Want to speed things up? Try our Spatchcock Turkey method for even faster cook times.
Recipe: Pellet Grill Smoked Turkey
A leg of ham makes a great centerpiece when celebrating a holiday or cooking for a crowd.
We’ll show you how to prepare your ham from scoring the traditional diamond pattern, smoking low and slow to retain juiciness, and then finish off with our sweet maple and mustard glaze.
If you picked up a spiral-cut ham, you’ll want to check out our smoked spiral ham recipe instead.
Recipe: Double Smoked Ham with Maple and Honey Mustard Glaze
3. “Cheats” Smoked Pastrami from Corned Beef
Want pastrami without the 7-day brine?
Our recipe starts with store-bought corned beef and transforms it into smoky, pepper-crusted pastrami in a single day. You still get that deep flavor and signature bark, minus the wait.
Perfect for sliced hot for Reubens or piled onto rye with mustard. And if you want the 7-day Pastrami from scratch recipe, we’ve got you covered.
Recipe: Smoked Pastrami From Corned Beef
If cooking a big bird is not your thing for Thanksgiving, a smoked turkey breast might just be for you.
We use an easy Texas-style rub to add flavor and give you some great tips to make sure your turkey breast is moist every time.
Recipe: Smoked Turkey Breast
Underrated and Unexpected Favorites
1. Smoked Lamb Shoulder
A lot of people are not familiar with cooking lamb, especially on the smoker.
Being slighter fattier meat with a gamey flavor it is an ideal cut to smoke and also a good choice for a newbie pitmaster.
One of the great things about lamb is that it lends itself to many different flavors: Moroccan, Portuguese, Asian or check out our Smoked Lamb Shoulder with a Mediterranean spin.
Recipe: Smoked Lamb Shoulder
A classic dish loved by families.
Our version is cooked on a pellet grill and slathered with a sweet BBQ sauce. Plus our tips to keep your meatloaf moist and tender whilst maximizing the smoky flavor.
Serve with our Southern Potato Salad or Brazilian Cilantro Garlic Bread and a side of greens.
Recipe: Smoked Meatloaf with Homemade BBQ Glaze
3. Smoked Picanha
Relatively inexpensive, this cut of beef can be sliced and cooked as steaks, but I prefer keeping it whole and smoking before finishing with a quick sear for a perfect crust.
Recipe: Smoked Picanha
4. Over the Top Chili
Over the top chili is an easy method that packs deep, smoky flavors without the need for browning, giving you a unique twist on traditional chili.
Recipe: Over the top chili
Beef cheeks lend themselves perfectly to low and slow bbq style cooking.
These well muscled morsels turn into silky soft, pieces of smoked beef goodness and are a perfect base for tacos, try them with our homemade fresh and zesty salsa.
Recipe: Smoked Beef Cheeks (Barbacoa) Tacos
Duck breasts and a layer of smoke go hand in hand. Add our cherry orange sauce and you have a match made in heaven.
Using a method very similar to a reverse sear, we cook the duck breast with a higher than usual indirect heat smoke, followed by a quick sear over high heat to render some fat and crisp up the skin.
Recipe: Smoked Duck Breast with Cherry and Orange Sauce
DIY Smokehouse Projects
Possibly the one low and slow BBQ recipe where you do want your protein to turn out dry.
We take you through choosing your protein, how to slice it so it doesn’t get tough, a couple of different methods for smoking and a marinade to create the classic beef jerky flavor.
No more Jack Links!
Recipe: How to Make Smoked Beef Jerky
Bacon does make it better! And smoking your bacon at home may just change your life.
The choices are yours: nitrate-free, ethically raised, you choose the flavor and the smoke level, and best of all, thick or thin slices.
It’s a labor of love but well worth it.
Recipe: How to Smoke Your Own Bacon at Home
3. Smoked Snack Sticks
Turn your wild game haul into the ultimate high-protein snack. These homemade venison sticks combine deer, pork, and beef for a rich, meaty flavor and a satisfying bite.
Ideal for hunters, hikers, and meal preppers, they smoke low and slow for hours to develop that classic cured texture. You can go for a softer sausage finish or extend the smoke time for a jerky-style snap.
Recipe: Smoked Venison Snack Stick
If you’ve made it through the list of our favorite recipes to cook on the smoker, it’s time to stop drooling and fire up your smoker. If you’re hungry for more, head over to our smoker recipes collection for loads more pitmaster-approved ideas.
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50 Best Smoker Recipes To Try
These are the best smoker recipes for the novice through to the experienced pitmaster to try.
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