Smoked Teriyaki Spam Burnt Ends

Alright, stick with me on this one. I know a can of spam is far from the first thing you might think to throw in the smoker. Well, this easy BBQ recipe turns it into smoked Teriyaki spam burnt ends, and it’s so good! I was a little doubtful at first, but now this dish is one of my all-time favorites.

Ever since I first made this grilled half chicken with Teriyaki BBQ sauce, I have kept trying to find more uses for this sweet and sticky sauce that mingles so well with the smoky flavor of grilled food.

My smoker and I have had our fair share of wild experiments. To be honest, this one started as a laugh on a Saturday afternoon.

After all, if you can make smoked hot dog burnt ends and Bologna burnt ends, why not spam burnt ends too?

We stopped laughing after the first bite, because these sticky cubes are to die for!

Smoking spam and glazing it in a tangy Teriyaki sauce creates a wildly delicious dish. It’s amazing how the meat from that little blue can become something completely new.

🥫 Ingredients

🥣 Teriyaki BBQ Sauce

This is the creative part of my recipe and it’ll take you 10 minutes to make it. You just need to add all the ingredients to a pot, simmer to thicken and let it cool before using.

• Soy Sauce
• Brown Sugar
• Garlic Cloves
• Ginger
• Chili Flakes (optional)
• Apricot Jam
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Sesame Oil

🥫 Spam Burnt Ends

We used three cans of spam for 8 servings, but you can use just one or two for a smaller gathering.

• Three Cans Spam
• BBQ Rub

🍖 Simple BBQ Rub (optional)

This is the same basic rub we use for our grilled beer can chicken. However, feel free to adapt it or use a completely different rub. Just keep in mind that the Teriyaki sauce is already full of flavors, so steer clear of the more pungent spices.

• Brown Sugar
• Paprika
• Black Pepper
• Sea or Kosher Salt
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Celery Seed

👩🏻‍🍳 Instructions

Teriyaki Sauce

👉Step 1: Measure the ingredients one by one, adding them to a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally.

👉Step 2: Let it simmer for 10 minutes and allow it to cool before using.

Spam Burnt Ends

👉Step 1: Preheat the smoker to 225°F. Add wood chunks.

👉Step 2: Cut the spam into 1-inch cubes and toss them with the BBQ rub.

👉Step 3: Spread the seasoned spam cubes on a baking grate and place it in the preheated smoker. Smoke for 40-60 minutes or until there are some charred edges on the chunks.

*Don’t forget that spam is already cooked so we’re not worried about the internal temperature. Our goal is to get a bit of a crispy exterior. That’s why they call them ‘burnt ends’!

👉Step 4: Remove from the smoker and transfer the smoked spam cubes to a disposable aluminum pan. Cover with the Teriyaki sauce and give them a good mix. Place back on the smoker for 45-60 minutes or until they are caramelized.

Serve them hot!

🔄 Additions & Substiutions

This recipe is as straightforward as it is forgiving. And it also lets you get creative. I totally get the urge to play around with the ingredients, so here are some of my favorite ideas.

📌The Spam – Believe it or not, there’s a whole world of Spam out there beyond the classic blue can. We used the original for this recipe, but you could have a lot of fun experimenting. The Hot & Spicy variety would add an extra kick, or you could lean into the smokiness even more with the Hickory Smoke flavor. Feel free to grab a couple of different kinds and see which one you like best.

📌The Teriyaki BBQ sauce – We’re pretty proud of this homemade teriyaki-style sauce. The apricot jam gives it a fantastic sticky sweetness, and it works so well for spam burnt ends. I also plan to try these burnt ends with my smoked pumpkin bourbon BBQ sauce.

But if you’re short on time or have a favorite sauce you love, go for it! A sweet pineapple-teriyaki glaze or even your go-to spicy BBQ sauce would be delicious here.

📌Salt level – This is the most critical tip in the whole recipe. Do not add any extra salt to your sauce or rub. Spam is already very salty, and adding more will make the final dish overpowering. Trust me on this one – you won’t need it.

📌Smoking wood – Spam takes on the smoke flavor pretty quickly, so you have a lot of control over the final taste.

We used oak wood for this recipe as we wanted a solid, balanced smoke flavor. Both stronger and milder woods also work. Check out my free smoking wood chart for more options!

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

When I smoke a main dish, my primary concern is if I can also smoke or grill a side dish next to it. I have a lot of those up my sleeve – I do love my meals as effortless as possible.

Of course, the flavor of the main also matters. For these smoked Teriyaki spam burnt ends, there are a few sides that simply click. And all of them can be cooked right next to the spam.

⭐Grilled pineapple slices go incredibly well with the Teriyaki-style burnt ends. Their tang and crunchiness make a wonderful contrast with the softness of the spam cubes. I just lay them on the grate when I put the ends in the smoker for the second time.

⭐Another side that’s light and flavorful is smoked asparagus bundles. For a more delicious wrapping, you can use bacon instead of twine.

⭐Smoked fingerling potatoes are another one of my go-to universal sides, and they’re the perfect tool to wipe off some of that extra Teriyaki glaze that stubbornly sticks to your plate.

⭐And if you need another wildly easy appetizer for a more varied spread, you have to try a smoked cream cheese block. The soft, creamy, and smoky cream cheese is a great crowd-pleaser that’ll never fail you.