Got a brand new electric smoker and you’re not quite sure what to do with it? Or maybe you’ve had one for a while, but you’re in a rut and need some fresh new ideas on what to make. These 22 electric smoker recipes will spruce up the menu, and keep things from getting stale.
An electric smoker is a culinary game-changer, offering a convenient and foolproof way to create mouthwatering, delicious food. Its precise temperature control and set-it-and-forget-it ease make it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced cooks. With the ability to maintain consistent low temperatures, an electric smoker is perfect for slow-cooking meats, infusing them with rich, smoky flavors that are hard to replicate using other methods. Whether you’re smoking brisket, ribs, chicken, or even vegetables, the electric smoker ensures that your food is cooked to perfection, tender, and bursting with smoky goodness. Plus, it eliminates the need for constant monitoring, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your meal preparation or simply enjoy the anticipation of savoring a delectable dish. Thanks to its reliability and versatility, an electric smoker has become an indispensable tool in the arsenal of any cook, ensuring that each meal is a flavorful masterpiece.
1. Electric Smoker Recipes: Whole Chicken
Let’s start with chicken! You could always buy a rotisserie chicken, but smoking a whole chicken at home is often cheaper, and it’s a great way to infuse a ton of flavor into the bland meat. Let your electric smoker do the work for you while you get the sides ready. No need to tend to the chicken, it’ll cook perfectly every time!
2. Smoked Orange Chicken Quarters
These smoked orange chicken quarters are prepped with a homemade rub, and smothered with an orange marmalade. While the chicken quarters cook, the orange marmalade caramelizes to create a delicious sauce covering the chicken. You get fantastic, crispy skin, not to mention a world of flavors all around.
3. Best Smoked Pork Butt
Once you smoke a pork butt, you’ll be doing it weekly for sure. Having pulled pork on hand is a great way to whip up a quick meal like tacos, nachos, BBQ baked potatoes, or even BBQ sandwiches. This smoked pork butt recipe is very detailed and will take you through the entire process from start to finish – leaving you with a delicious, tender, pull-apart pork butt.
4. Electric Smoker Recipes: Green Chili Chicken
Green Chilil Chicken is a fantastic meal prep meat. Keep it stocked in the fridge or freezer to use for any meal. Microwave rice or veggies or even a low-carb wrap will go well with this smoked chicken. It’s not too spicy, but it’s absolutely packed with flavor.
5. Smoked Burgers
These Smoked Burgers are juicy and flavorful and are sure to satisfy any meat lover’s cravings. You can use pre-made patties or make your own. Either way, a good dose of seasonings plus the smoker will create a mouthwatering burger fit for any summer cookout. Serve with a hefty bun!
6. Smoked Flank Steak with Chimichurri
Smoked Flank Steak topped with a bright chimichurri is a perfect combination. Serve this at your next date night in for a chance to wow your significant other. It’s rich, and flavorful, but not too heavy so you’ll end the meal feeling great. If you don’t have the carrot greens the recipe calls for, you can use parsley. But carrot greens is such a fun ingredient, you should try to find it.
7. Electric Smoker Recipes: Chili
Chili is one of the best comfort foods for a cold winter night. It’s hearty and meaty, and the one flavor that goes great with those two things- smoke! Smoked chili will make you feel like you’re enjoying a warm bowl right next to a campfire (without having to deal with the actual smoke in your face!)
8. Smoked Mac And Cheese
If you’re not smoking your mac and cheese, what are you doing?! Missing out, that’s what. This mac and cheese features a creamy bechamel sauce that pulls the pasta together perfectly. The top is covered with a crunchy layer of browned cheese, and it’s got fantastic flavor throughout. It takes 1-2 hours to smoke, but it’s well worth the wait.
9. Easy and Tender Smoked Salmon
This easy smoked salmon recipe uses a quick dry brine and hot smoking process to get a tender and flavorful smoke flavor. Salmon gets a bad rap for being overcooked, but hot-smoked salmon has the perfect texture every time. This smoked salmon would be amazing over a large crunchy salad or over a big bowl of fresh vegetables and grains.
10. Smoked Cornbread Recipe
Like the smoked chili, cornbread desires a fireside moment. Imagine eating a hearty piece of cornbread with your smoked chili and a cold beer. It will be a fantastic addition to your winter menu. You can add jalapenos if you like a little heat as well. A bit of honey helps balance out the spice.
11. Dr. Pepper Smoked Chicken
You may have heard of beer can chicken, but Dr. Pepper Smoked Chicken deserves its own spot on the menu. The kids will get a kick out of it, so make sure they’re involved in the process. It’s tender, moist chicken that can be served for any weeknight dinner or saved to snack on throughout the week.
12. Smoked Whiskey Lil Smokies
Smoked Whiskey Lil Smokies are an amazing snackable appetizer. Serve these at your next block party, family get-together, bridal shower, or tailgating event. They’ll be a hit with everyone, so you’re going to want to make a lot of them. The sauce has only six ingredients. They’re super easy to throw together and let the smoker do the rest.
13. Electric Smoker Recipes: Nachos
You can make amazingly flavorful nachos right in your electric smoker in about 15 minutes. If you’ve got leftover smoked meat like chicken or brisket, it can be used in this recipe. While the smoker is melting the cheese, it’s infusing smoky flavor into every bite. It’s great on game days when you need to feed a crowd.
14. Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Here’s the beer can chicken recipe! A homemade rub spices up the outside of the chicken, while the beer steaming on the inside keeps it nice and moist. The rub is made up of ingredients you most likely already have stocked, so you won’t be hunting down unique ingredients.
15. Smoked Chicken Thighs
Smoked chicken thighs are crispy, smoky, and moist when cooked low and slow in the electric smoker. With the brine that they sit in, they come out not needing any sauce at all. They are plenty flavorful on their own. These would be amazing served with roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables, or even grilled vegetables.
16. Smoked Turkey Breast
This Smoked Turkey Breast recipe is perfect when you don’t want to cook a whole turkey, but still want to have turkey. It also frees up the oven for the Sweet Potato Pie and other side dishes. You need just six spices to flavor this turkey breast, and they all pair well with the smoky flavor the electric smoker infuses.
17. The Best Smoked Ribs
Smoked pork ribs are surprisingly simple to make at home on your electric smoker, and are everyone’s favorite feast. Make a side of BBQ Baked Beans, Parker House Rolls, grilled corn, and pour an ice cold beer and you’ve got a classic summer cookout feast. These pork ribs will be fall off the bone good!
18. Electric Smoker Recipes: Bacon Burgers
These bacon burgers are worth making on your electric smoker every single time. They stay thick and juicy, and since both the burgers and the bacon are cooked in the smoker, the flavor is all throughout every bite. You can top these with your favorite cheese, avocado, fried egg, or homemade barbecue sauce.
19. Smoked Pork Chops
If you have issues with pork chops getting dried out in the oven, make them on your electric smoker! It does a fantastic job of cooking the meat all the way through without drying it out. You can use any seasoning you like on pork chops. It won’t matter because they’ll be tender and juicy no matter what. Serve smoked pork chops with an apple and sweet potato hash for all the fall vibes.
20. Easy Smoked Salsa
Salsa is super easy to make right at home. But cooking your vegetables in the smoker before blending the salsa in the blender is the way to go. It adds so much flavor that the salsa won’t feel like it’s homemade. Jar it up and give it as a hostess gift at the next housewarming party. It’ll be a huge hit.
21. Electric Smoker Recipes: Seasoned Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with potato anything, but smoked seasoned potatoes are to die for. When seasoned to perfection and infused with a smoky flavor, you’ll keep going back for more and more. Some powdered garlic and dried herbs are all you need to make these seasoned smoky potatoes.
22. Electric Smoker Recipes: Shrimp
Shrimp is fantastic at taking on flavors, which is why you absolutely have to try them in your electric smoker. They are beautiful once done, so save these for a special date night or fancy dinner party. You can serve it as a appetizer with a few toothpicks, or serve over a large crunchy salad.
Get your electric smoker ready, because with this list of electric smoker recipes, you’re going to put it to good use. Whether it’s summer, spring, fall, or winter, the electric smoker is a great tool to keep your food flavorful and varied.
