Becoming the ultimate pitmaster requires dedication, practice, and a passion for barbecue. The difference between good barbecue and great barbecue often comes down to the small details. Pay attention to factors like meat placement in the smoker, wood selection, and even the type of charcoal you use to elevate your barbecue game.
By cooking different recipes on your home smoker, you begin to understand the role of smoke, temperature control, and wood selection in achieving delicious barbecue flavors. The goal for most of us is to have our guests rave over our food and these recipes set you up for just that.
1. Super Easy Smoked Brisket
Making an easy smoked brisket requires time, patience, and the right equipment. Here’s a simplified recipe that will guide you through the process by using the wrapped method which will help the meat reach the high temperature needed for the fall apart texture.
Get Recipe: Super Easy Smoked Brisket
2. Smoked Pork Butt
Smoking a pork butt, also known as a pork shoulder, is a rewarding and flavorful cut of meat. This pork butt uses a wrapped method which will also keep the meat tender, moist and helps create that exterior bark that smokers love. The results are consistent, giving you the confidence to make this one for a crowd with no worries.
Get Recipe: Smoked Pork Butt
3. Smoked Chicken Wings
Smoked chicken wings offer a unique and delicious flavor profile that sets them apart. Crispy skin on the outside and tender and juice texture on the inside. The slow cooking enhances the smoky flavor without overpowering it. Slather with your favorite sauce and you’ll think you’re at at bbq joint.
Get Recipe: Smoked Chicken Wings
4. Smoked Pork Belly
Smoking pork belly is a one of the simplest and most rewarding meats to cook. It combines rich flavor, tender texture, and endless possibilities for customization. Smoked pork belly is a crowd-pleaser at gatherings, parties, and cookouts. Its rich flavor and indulgent texture are sure to impress guests and leave them coming back for more.
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5. Smoked Pretzels
Cookouts need nibbles and these smoked pretzels are a perfect snack while waiting for the meat to be served. Experiment with different seasonings and spices to customize them to your taste preferences. This is a great recipe for a beginner that is budget friendly and uses only a couple ingredients.
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6. Smoked Ribeye
When you’re ready to impress and money isn’t an issue, smoke a ribeye for your guests. Smoking ribeye steak is a fantastic way to infuse it with a rich, smoky flavor while maintaining its tender juiciness.
Get Recipe: Smoked Ribeye
7. Smoked Whole Chicken
Smoking a whole chicken is a fantastic way to infuse it with rich, smoky flavor while keeping the meat tender and juicy. You won’t believe how juicy the white meat it. We recommend allowing it to tent with foil and sit for 10 minutes or so to keep the juices in the meat after pulling off the smoker.
Get Recipe: Smoked Whole Chicken
8. Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Calling all beginner smokers! This one is for you. Smoked beer can chicken combines the best elements of moist, flavorful meat, crispy skin, and fun presentation, making it a beloved dish among barbecue enthusiasts. Whether enjoyed at a backyard cookout, tailgate party, or family dinner, smoked beer can chicken is sure to be a hit with its unbeatable taste and texture.
Get Recipe: Smoked Beer Can Chicken
9. Smoked Beef Chuck Short Ribs
Smoked chuck ribs offer a winning combination of rich flavor, tender texture, and versatility that makes them a favorite among barbecue enthusiasts. This recipe uses a dry brine overnight to infuse flavor and moisture. Whether enjoyed as a main course at a summer cookout or tailgate, smoked chuck ribs are sure to satisfy with their irresistible taste.
Get Recipe: Smoked Beef Chuck Short Ribs
10. Smoked Chicken Legs
Smoked chicken legs offer a winning combination of rich flavor, tender texture, and versatility that makes them a favorite at bbqs and cookouts. Their finger-friendly size and irresistible flavor make them a hit with both kids and adults alike.
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11. Smoked Baby Back Ribs
Smoked baby back ribs offer a winning combination of tender texture, rich flavor, and versatility that makes them a favorite among foodies. Change them up with different bbq rubs and sauces to make these different every time while keeping the perfect caramelized exterior.
Get Recipe: Smoked Baby Back Ribs
12. Smoked Chicken Quarters
Since these go on sale all the time in the summer, you will be grabbing these for all the cookouts this season. Smoking chicken quarters at a low temperature for an extended period helps to lock in moisture and render fat, resulting in exceptionally juicy and succulent meat. Their hearty size and irresistible flavor make them a hit with both kids and adults alike.
Get Recipe: Smoked Chicken Quarters
13. Smoked Country Style Ribs
Smoked country-style pork ribs offer a winning combination of juicy texture, rich flavor, and versatility that makes them a favorite among bbq foodies. These tender and juicy ribs are great for brand new pitmasters. Simple rub and wood to smoke is all you need. BBQ sauce is optional but always great added layer of flavor. Enjoy as a casual weeknight meal or summer cookout, smoked country-style pork ribs are sure to impress and no one will know you’re a newbie.
Get Recipe: Smoked Country Style Ribs
14. Smoked Pork Loin
Smoked pork loin is universally loved and makes a fantastic main course for cookouts. Pork loin is naturally lean and tender, and smoking it at a low temperature helps to preserve its juiciness and tenderness. Adding a nice sauce complements the smoky wood undertones of the meat.
Get Recipe: Smoked Pork Loin
15. Smoked Little Smokies
Make these crowd pleasers when starting out learning to smoke. Smoked little smokies, also known as cocktail sausages, are a delicious and savory snack that’s perfect for parties, gatherings, or game day. When smoked, little smokies develop a slightly crispy exterior while maintaining a tender and moist interior.
Get Recipe: Smoked Little Smokies
16. Smoked Pork Roast
Smoked pork roast, also known as smoked pork shoulder or smoked pork butt, is highly regarded for it’s tenderness and versatility. The key to success with this roast is to scoring the roast to allow the meat to cook faster and not dry out. It is a bit more lean and doesn’t have the marbling fat to render and keep it moist. Crosshatch prior to putting on the smoker for best results.
Get Recipe: Smoked Pork Roast
17. Smoked St Louis Ribs
St. Louis-style ribs are crowd pleasers with the combination of meatiness, flavor, tenderness, and versatility. While St. Louis-style ribs have more fat and connective tissue compared to baby back ribs, they become tender and succulent when cooked low and slow. The collagen in the meat breaks down during the cooking process, resulting in ribs that are tender and fall-off-the-bone.
Get Recipe: Smoked St Louis Ribs
18. Double Smoked Ham with Orange Bourbon Glaze
Double smoked ham offers a combination of intensified flavor, enhanced texture, versatility in serving options, impressive presentation, and memorable eating experience that makes it a beloved choice for holidays. Taking pre-cooked ham, smoking it allowing the wood to penetrate deeper into the ham for robust flavor in every bite.
Get Recipe: Double Smoked Ham with Orange Bourbon Glaze
19. Honey Basted Smoked Salmon
With just a few basic ingredients and minimal hands-on time, you can create a sophisticated and flavorful dish that’s sure to impress family and friends. What makes this one so great it is it is simple to make and nobody will know. As the honey basted smoked salmon cooks, the honey caramelizes on the surface of the fish, creating a beautiful glaze that adds depth of flavor and visual appeal.
Get Recipe: Honey Basted Smoked Salmon
20. Smoked Chicken Thighs
Smoked chicken thighs offer a winning combination of juicy texture, rich flavor, versatility, and convenience that makes them a favorite for family and friends. Chicken thighs contain more fat and connective tissue compared to white meat cuts like chicken breasts, which helps them stay juicy and moist during the smoking process. The slow smoking method allows the fat to render and the connective tissues to break down, resulting in tender meat that practically falls off the bone.
Get Recipe: Smoked Chicken Thighs
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
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