These Quick Smoker Recipes are jam-packed with flavor and don’t take all day to make. Smoking food is typically a low and slow process, but there are many recipes you can make in less than three hours.
You’ll find everything from sweet main dishes to savory side dishes in this roundup of delicious smoker recipes. Smoked food has a unique flavor that can’t be replicated with any other method of cooking.
🍽️ Why You’ll Love These Recipes
- They can all be made in under three hours.
- Each one is seriously delicious!
- Perfect for beginners that don’t have a lot of experience smoking food.
- Great for parties and entertaining.
- Works on any smoker whether you have a Big Green Egg, Traeger, Camp Chef, Masterbuilt, Weber or Charbroil.
🐮 Beef, Pork and Lamb
Beef | Grab any pack of beef at the store and you can smoke it. Most of them (if they are small enough) can be smoked in under 3 hours or even less like the Smoked Flank Steak. Don’t pass by that ground chuck or ground sirloin as smoked hamburgers and meatballs are scrumptious when they come off of the smoker.
Pork | Visit the pork section of your butcher and you will find many cuts of meat that are ideal for quick smoking. Smoked Pork Loin (similar to the tenderloin), Smoked Tomahawk Chops or Smoked St Louis Style Ribs.
Lamb | Tender smoked lamb comes off the smoker so delicious that your mouth will be watering. Quick options are lamb breast, lamb chops and leg of lamb can be done in just over 3 hours.
Smoked Pork Tenderloin
In under two hours you can smoke a pork tenderloin that will make your taste buds dance. Tender, juicy pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon and slathered in barbecue sauce. If flavorful meat is your thing, this is the ideal recipe for you. It’s unforgettable!
Smoked Breakfast Fatty
If you don’t know what a smoked breakfast fatty is, then you are in for a treat. It’s a complete meal packed with bacon, sausage, eggs, peppers, cheese, pico de gallo, and coated in a barbecue sauce. The meat is sprinkled with dry rub to give it even more flavor. Make it this weekend and watch it disappear!
Best of all, it takes only about one hour to smoke it.
Smoked Hot Dogs
If you are looking for a brilliant way to prepare hot dogs, try smoking them. It only takes about 45 minutes, and I promise, it is 100% worth it!
They are plump, juicy, and quick to make. The smoky flavor really enhances the meat and when you add all your favorite toppings, it’s heaven! Try it and you may not go back to boiled hot dogs ever again.
Smoked Tri Tip
This tender smoked tri tip is an impressive dinner idea that makes a lot of food. The easy-to-follow directions result in some of the best meat you will ever taste.
It takes just a bit over an hour to smoke. Take it to all your summer potlucks or enjoy it for a nice dinner at home. This is better than almost every take out recipe and is a win all around.
Smoked Pork Steaks
You aren’t going to find much better than a thick, smoked pork steak. This is made with a dry rub with brown sugar, salt, chili powder, paprika, and pepper, and gives you sweet and spicy flavors.
You can prep the steaks in 15 minutes and cook them in about an hour and a half. Try these for dinner tonight!
Smoked Hamburgers
Thick and delicious smoked hamburgers are going to change the way you feel about a burger! Ground chuck, onions, salt, pepper, and a homemade chipotle mayo are amazing together.
Top the burgers with all the fixings and devour every last bite. Serve with buns or skip them to go low carb. No matter how you serve them, I promise it’s going to be love at first taste.
I love that it only takes about one hour of smoking, making it a very quick smoked meal!
Meatloaf
Another comforting dish, is homemade smoker meatloaf. Tender slices of meatloaf made with pork and beef, bacon, panko bread crumbs for a crunch, seasonings, and cheese.
Since we are smoking it at a higher temperature, it takes less than an hour to cook and is absolutely delicious.
Lamb Chops
While lamp chops are normally fairly fancy, you would think they take a long time to prepare. But in reality, these smoked lamb chops are done in less than an hour.
Garlic, refresh rosemary, and red wine vinegar create the best lamb chops ever. Serve them to dinner guests and they will be amazed.
🐔 Chicken and Poultry
Chicken | Most of the chicken found in the butcher’s department are ideal for quick smokes this weekend. Inexpensive Chicken Thighs served stand alone or turned into Pulled Smoked Chicken (can be made from a whole chicken or breasts). Don’t overlook the classy Smoked Cornish Hens as they can be done in a snap.
Turkey | There are so many options for turkey meat at the meat department that you are able to finish in under the 3 hour mark including Smoked Turkey Thighs, Smoked Turkey Wings and Smoked Turkey Legs.
Smoked Turkey Dumpling Soup
Warm up to a bowl of turkey dumpling soup! Hearty turkey, moist dumplings, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, potatoes, heavy cream, and seasonings in every spoonful.
This soup is great any time of year, especially when it’s cold outside. It works as an amazing comfort food. It is one of the longer “quick smokes,” but I think you’ll still appreciate that it will be well worth the wait.
Smoked Chicken Wings
You can really have a list of quick smoker recipes without at least one for chicken wings!! These wings are so tender and have the perfect crispy skin. Smother them in your favorite sauce and eat these finger licking good wings.
They take less than two hours and the taste is simply divine!
Smoked Chicken Breast
All you need is your favorite rub, olive oil, salt, and some boneless skinless chicken breasts to make some of the juiciest chicken you’ll ever taste. It is fast and easy enough to become a household staple. Kids and adults are more than happy to eat it and it goes well with all sorts of sides.
It only takes 60 – 90 minutes to smoke this chicken breast!
Smoked Whole Chicken
Sure, you could head to the market and pick up a rotisserie chicken, but after you try this whole smoked chicken you won’t want to! Smoking it yourself is actually pretty simple.
The chicken turns out moist and juicy every time. Sprinkle on your favorite barbecue rub, it’s going to be a new favorite chicken recipe. It will be fully cooked in about two hours!
Smoked Chicken Tenders
These are succulent smoked chicken tenders rubbed in a brown sugar spice blend with garlic and bacon. Each tender is wrapped in a piece of bacon and cooked to perfection.
Hickory pellets give the chicken an incredible flavor. In about an hour, you will will have the best chicken dish.
Smoked Poblano Pepper Stuffed Chicken
Smoked chicken oozing with cheese, bacon, and peppers is going to blow your mind. The combination of flavors is unforgettable and you’ll want to make them over and over again. Serve with your favorite sides, a garden salad, or some roasted veggies.
Smoked Turkey Breast
It doesn’t have to be holiday season to enjoy some smoked turkey breast. The turkey breast is brined in an apple cider and mixed fruit mixture and smoked using apple wood.
This recipe will take a little less than two hours to smoke, and it is worth every second.
🐟 Seafood
Smoked seafood is so delicious and so healthy for you to eat. Visit any fish market and just start at one end picking what you would like to smoke as most of them are going to be under 3 hours like the Smoked Trout.
Forget 3 hour smoke, some of the recipes can be made in under an hour like the Smoked Cod or
Many of these smoked recipes can then be turned into additional recipes like the Smoked Trout Dip and Smoked Salmon Dip. Turn them into quesadillas, tacos, nachos, soups or stuff portobellos. Anywhere you would like to add a bit of smokey seafood flavor.
Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon is incredibly easy to make. Flaky fish with a sweet glaze makes an elegant or low key dinner idea. Whip it up and it’s ready to munch on in as little as an hour and 45 minutes. Serve with roasted veggies, salads, or your favorite side dish. Makes a tasty meal the entire family will like.
You know this is good when your family stands at the end of the counter and eats it before you even get a chance to plate it!
Smoked Fish Tacos
Refreshing fish tacos smoked with a rub made from chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. The garlic cilantro lime coleslaw is incredible and is the perfect ingredient to pair with the fish. The flaky tilapia has the right amount of smoky flavor and will definitely up your taco Tuesday game!
Shrimp & Grits
It doesn’t get better than shrimp and grits. The ultimate comfort food with a southern kick. Made with simple ingredients like chicken broth, milk, bacon, scallions, lemon juice, Old Bay Seasoning, butter, and plump shrimp it’s impossible to go wrong here.
It smokes in just over half and hour, making is a very quick recipe to get on the table!
Smoked Caribbean Jerk Spiced Shrimp
Bring the Caribbean right to your kitchen! Smoky Caribbean jerk spiced shrimp is simple to make and oh so good! Everything about this recipe is amazing. The homemade jerk seasoning is inexpensive, flavorful, and gives the shrimp a little bit of heat and some sweetness.
I think this is the fastest recipe on the list at just 15 minutes!
Smoked Lobster Tails
If you love seafood, this smoked lobster tail recipe is exactly what you need. Beautifully cooked lobster tails smothered in butter and smoked to perfection. Can be made in a little over an hour to be a mindblowing dinner! Excellent for entertaining and all your guests will love it.
🍲 Dips
Quick smoke infused dips pulled off of the smoker make incredible appetizers for your bbq, cookouts or neighborhood block party.
Smoked Baked Brie
Creamy and dreamy smoked baked brie is sure to put a smile on your face. It’s a rich and delicious appetizer that is ideal for entertaining. Serve with crackers, bread, or with an array of fruits, nuts, and berries. It’s ready to serve in about 45 minutes. Make this brie for your next party and your guests will be thanking you.
Smoked Brisket Queso
You have lived until you have dipped a tortilla chip in this cheesy and hearty smoked brisket queso. It’s quick to prep, beautifully smoky, and the ultimate crowd pleaser. This queso is your new best friend. Devour it with chips, veggies, or slather it on top of your favorite smoked meats.
It only takes about one hour to smoke it.
Easy Smoked Cream Cheese
Smoking cheese isn’t a new practice and has become increasingly popular. However, this unique recipe for smoked cream cheese is a fun way to add flavor to your dinner. The cream cheese has a cross pattern and seasonings to that turns it into a real masterpiece.
Serve on a charcuterie board or on a platter with pretzels, crackers, or vegetables. It takes about two hours to smoke it, but it is worth every single second.
Smoked Jalapeño Popper Dip
All the things you love about jalapeño poppers but in a smoky dip! This dip combines bacon, fresh jalapeño peppers, cream cheese, sour cream, gooey cheese, barbecue rub, and a crunchy topping. Eat it as an appetizer or make it your main course. Serve with chips, crackers, or your favorite veggies for a show stopping treat.
It smokes for just one hour and is great for your next game day!
Refried Bean Dip
Making food in your smoker isn’t just about the main dish! Tortillas make the perfect shovel to gobble up this bean dip. Covered in lots of melted cheese, these aren’t your typical refried beans. It’s a favorite when watching the game or when you are serving Mexican food.
This is one of the best quick smoker recipes because it is super fast (45 minutes on the smoker!) and tasty.
🥦 Vegetables and Fruit
Some of the quickest and easiest foods to smoke in a pinch are going to be fruits and veggies. Choosing the wood for these doesn’t have to be tricky if you have the Wood Smoking Cheatsheet to guide you. Smoked Baked Potatoes are an easy, hands off recipe that everyone loves to load up with their favorite toppings.
Smoked Asparagus Bundles
These smoked asparagus bundles are the BOMB. Smoked on cedar plants and paired with lemon and garlic, they are the ultimate side dish. The cedar adds an incredible earthy flavor and it’s so easy to cook with. Make this for a simple side dish for parties or during a busy week.
It smokes for about 45 minutes.
Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a summer staple at our house. This is another one of my favorite quick smoker recipes because it’s simple to make and has the best combination of buttery goodness, salt, and pepper. Serve with burgers or a big fat steak!
It takes about one hour for this to smoke.
Refried Bean Dip
Making food in your smoker isn’t just about the main dish! Tortillas make the perfect shovel to gobble up this bean dip. Covered in lots of melted cheese, these aren’t your typical refried beans. It’s a favorite when watching the game or when you are serving Mexican food.
This is one of the best quick smoker recipes because it is super fast (45 minutes on the smoker!) and tasty.
Smoked Peaches
When it comes to quick smoker recipes, most of them are all about the main dish or appetizers. But, we had to throw in at least one sweet treat into this list. Smoked peaches with a spiced rum whipped cream are one of the best things you’ll taste. The peaches are smoky, tender, and sweet. The key is using fresh peaches, sugar, and whipped cream with a little bit of mint.
This only takes 30 minutes to smoke, so it can even be started right before you start eating your meal!
Smoked Summer Salsa
Fresh onions, juicy tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeños and drizzled in lime juice creates delicious salsa. Smoking it amps up the flavors even more. This fun twist on a classic appetizer is a party favorite. Serve with tacos, burritos, or a big bowl of tortilla chips. There is no wrong way to serve this summer salsa.
It takes just 30 minutes to smoke and that makes it one of the quickest recipes here!
Smoked Mac N Cheese Stuffed Peppers
Everyone’s favorite dish is macaroni and cheese, but this has a fun twist to it! Fresh bell peppers filled with ground beef, mac and cheese, jalapeños, and barbecue rub to give you an explosion of flavors. I promise you have never had mac and cheese like this before. Try it and see how great these stuffed bell peppers are.
Wrap Up
When you are short on time and still want to create finger licking good recipes that everyone is craving for the recipe, this gives you a kick start to not wait or a long weekend to pull out the smoker.
Related Articles
