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29 Smoked Recipes That Prove Patience, Pellets, and Pork Are All You Really Need This Summer

When the smoker’s fired up, there’s no reason to complicate things. These 29 smoked recipes cover everything from pork to poultry, all built to impress without fancy ingredients or a pile of prep. The only real requirement is time, and maybe an extra rack or two for the neighbors. Patience may be a virtue, but it’s also how you end up with leftovers that mysteriously disappear overnight.

A stack of chicken and pineapple on a vertical skewer on a cutting board.
Smoked Chicken Al Pastor. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Smoked Dill Pickle Wings

Smoked chicken wings with pickles on a black plate.
Smoked Dill Pickle Wings. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Smoked Dill Pickle Wings don’t play by the usual wing rules. They’ve got sharp flavor, crispy skin, and just enough smoke to keep things interesting. It’s not subtle, and it’s not supposed to be. Great for game day or any day that needs a little kick. These wings always show up loud and leave quiet.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Dill Pickle Wings

Pork Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

Smoked jalapeno poppers on a platter.
Pork Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

There’s nothing polite about how fast Pork Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers disappear. They’re bold, punchy, and unapologetically addictive. Serve them once and they’ll be expected at every gathering after. They might be bite-sized, but they come with strong opinions. This is what happens when smoke meets heat and doesn’t flinch.
Get the Recipe: Pork Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

Chef Jenn's Cookbook
50+ Smoker Recipes eBook

This full-color ebook cookbook features more than 50 of Chef Jenn’s tried, tested, and favorite smoker recipes! Enjoy:

  • Smoked Beef Kabobs
  • Smoked Chicken Thighs
  • Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Pork Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
  • Smoked Spaghetti Squash with Herbs and so much more!
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Smoked Shotgun Shells

Smoked shotgun shells on a white plate.
Smoked Shotgun Shells. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

There’s nothing delicate about Smoked Shotgun Shells, and that’s exactly the point. They’re bold, satisfying, and gone before anyone can ask what’s inside. Great for feeding a crowd without needing a bunch of plates. Everyone picks them up with their hands anyway. They’re small, but they don’t mess around.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Shotgun Shells

Smoked Tomatoes

Smoked tomatoes in a dish with grilled bread.
Smoked Tomatoes. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Summer doesn’t need complicated recipes when Smoked Tomatoes are on the menu. They show up looking humble, then quietly steal the spotlight. The smoke gives them just enough attitude to make anything next to them seem underseasoned. These belong in salads, pastas, or just on a fork with no explanation. Some sides don’t play backup—they headline.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Tomatoes

Smoked Brisket Chili

Two bowls of smoked brisket chili, tomatoes, and bread.
Smoked Brisket Chili. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Brisket already brings the flavor, but Smoked Brisket Chili takes it even further without getting complicated. It’s rich, slow-built, and gets better by the bowl. People pretend they want a small portion, then go back for seconds without making eye contact. Don’t expect leftovers, just empty pots and satisfied silence. This one earns its spot on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Brisket Chili

Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup

Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup in two white bowls with garnishes nearby.
Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Soup doesn’t usually get this much attention, but this one makes its own rules. Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup lands somewhere between comfort food and cookout favorite, and it handles both roles just fine. It’s smoky, warm, and surprisingly filling, making it the unexpected favorite even in warm weather. Most people take one bite and stop talking.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup

Grilled Smoked Turkey Breast

Sliced roasted turkey breast arranged on a white plate.
Grilled Smoked Turkey Breast. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Leftovers never stand a chance when this hits the plate first. Grilled Smoked Turkey Breast works hot, cold, sliced thick, or picked straight from the board. It’s steady, flavorful, and doesn’t try too hard, which is why it keeps ending up on repeat. People don’t ask what’s in it—they ask when you’re making it again.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Smoked Turkey Breast

Smoked Pulled Pork

Two cast iron skillets with smoked pulled pork in them.
Smoked Pulled Pork. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Once the lid opens and the smoke clears, everyone gets in line. Smoked Pulled Pork draws a crowd without needing a lot of fuss or build-up. It’s tender, rich, and made to go on anything from buns to forks. When it hits the table, the talking stops and the eating starts.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Pulled Pork

Smoked Lamb Chops

Smoked lamb chops on a white plate with a green napkin.
Smoked Lamb Chops. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Smoked Lamb Chops make an entrance without raising their voice. They bring bold flavor and don’t need a single extra thing to feel complete. Whether you’re feeding a couple or a crowd, these hold their own. People ask about them before the first bite and keep talking about them after the last one. Smoke just knows what to do here.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Lamb Chops

Smoked Berry Crisp

A spoon lifts a portion of Smoked Berry Crisp from a bowl.
Smoked Berry Crisp. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Most desserts don’t get near the smoker, but Smoked Berry Crisp isn’t most desserts. The sweet and smoky balance makes it feel like a main event, not an afterthought. It works warm, cold, or somewhere in between with no wrong answers. People will pretend to be full until this hits the table. One spoon and they’re back in.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Berry Crisp

Smoked Lil Smokies

A bowl of smoked lil smokies with sauce and dipping sauce.
Smoked Lil Smokies. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

There’s always that one dish people pretend they’re too good for—until it’s gone. Smoked Lil Smokies somehow disappear faster than anything else on the table, even with a full spread. They’re easy to grab, hard to stop eating, and always start conversations that end in second helpings. The tray gets lighter every time someone walks by, like snack magic.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Lil Smokies

Grilled Smoked Pulled Pork

Shredded Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Smoked Pulled Pork on a white plate.
Grilled Smoked Pulled Pork. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

You don’t have to overthink it when the flavor does the heavy lifting. Grilled Smoked Pulled Pork holds nothing back and doesn’t need a sauce to be taken seriously. It works on sandwiches, plates, or straight out of the tongs, and people treat it like a reward. Nobody leaves hungry when this shows up.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Smoked Pulled Pork

Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock

Roasted chicken on a slate board with carving knife and fork.
Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

There’s something satisfying about cutting into a bird that cooks evenly and tastes like this. Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock is the kind of recipe that looks harder than it is and always delivers better than expected. It’s juicy, smoky, and made to be shared—or hoarded. Either way, the platter doesn’t stay full for long.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock

Smoked Pork Shots

Smoked pork shots in a skillet with basil and tomatoes.
Smoked Pork Shots. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Party trays wish they had something this effective. Smoked Pork Shots disappear without warning and get mentioned long after the party’s over. They’re small enough to justify a dozen but bold enough to remember. Put out one batch and it’s never enough.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Pork Shots

Smoked Gimlet Cocktail

Two lime gimlets with smoke on top.
Smoked Gimlet Cocktail. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

This drink doesn’t come with a warning, but maybe it should. Smoked Gimlet Cocktail manages to be refreshing and bold without going overboard, which makes the second glass a little too easy. It feels like summer and smoke decided to collaborate just for fun. Great for grill nights or pretending you know your way around a shaker.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Gimlet Cocktail

Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb

Whole cooked leg of lamb on a board with a knife.
Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Nobody forgets the dish that smells this good before it even hits the plate. Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb doesn’t wait for a holiday to take over the menu and make everyone hover nearby. It’s rich, full of character, and the kind of centerpiece that feeds both a crowd and their curiosity. There’s nothing subtle about it—and that’s the point.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb

Smoked Carver Ham

Smoked sliced ham on a cutting board.
Smoked Carver Ham. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

This isn’t the kind of ham that hides on the edge of the table. Smoked Carver Ham shows up thick-sliced, smoky, and ready to be picked at until the platter’s clean. It works whether it’s the main attraction or quietly stealing the spotlight from the sides. Every slice just makes you wish you cut it thicker.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Carver Ham

Smoked Eye of Round

A whole and sliced smoked eye of round with on a wooden cutting board.
Smoked Eye of Round. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Not every cut gets this much out of smoke, but this one knows how to use it. Smoked Eye of Round carves lean, holds flavor, and shows up like it’s got nothing to prove. It feeds a crowd without blowing the budget or cutting corners. Reliable never tasted so good.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Eye of Round

Smoked Beef Tenderloin

A sliced smoked beef tenderloin on a white plate.
Smoked Beef Tenderloin. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

You don’t have to say much when the knife does all the work. Smoked Beef Tenderloin practically melts once sliced, and it rarely needs an introduction. It’s special-occasion meat that doesn’t require a special occasion. Slice it thick and let people fight over the ends.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Beef Tenderloin

Traeger Smoked Turkey

A smoked turkey on a wooden cutting board.
Traeger Smoked Turkey. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Backyard tables start to feel like Thanksgiving when this lands in the middle. Traeger Smoked Turkey skips the oven and brings the flavor in ways the usual bird can’t. It’s juicy, smoky, and built to be picked at long after the meal’s done. Turkey doesn’t have to be once a year anymore.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Turkey

Smoked Ribeye Roast

Sliced smoked ribeye beef on a cutting board.
Smoked Ribeye Roast. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

People lean in when this hits the board, even if they weren’t hungry two minutes ago. Smoked Ribeye Roast slices like butter, smells like victory, and eats like the best part of the week. It’s bold, memorable, and not trying to be anything it’s not. This is the kind of main that earns applause without asking for it.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Ribeye Roast

Smoked Shrimp

Two pans of smoked shrimp on a table.
Smoked Shrimp. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Just because it cooks fast doesn’t mean it gets forgotten. Smoked Shrimp shows up with smoke and stays in people’s minds long after the plate’s gone. It works in tacos, bowls, or straight off the skewer, and nobody waits for a fork. Keep napkins close, because they’ll be reaching in fast.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Shrimp

Smoked Blackberry Margarita

Smoked Blackberry Margarita with smoke coming out the top of the glass.
Smoked Blackberry Margarita. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Cookout drinks rarely get attention, but this one keeps stealing it. Smoked Blackberry Margarita lands somewhere between cocktail and conversation piece, thanks to its balance of fruit and fire. It’s the kind of drink people take a picture of, then ask for seconds. Good luck going back to the basic stuff after this.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Blackberry Margarita

Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob

Three ears of husked corn were arranged on a dark slate plate.
Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Summer side dishes rarely hold their own, but this one doesn’t need help. Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob brings just enough char and smoke to make it feel like more than a side. It gets eaten by hand, enjoyed in silence, and never left behind. This is the one they ask for next time.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob

Smoked Jalapenos

Smoked Jalapenos in 2 cast iron pans.
Smoked Jalapenos. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

These don’t sit quietly on the side—they take over. Smoked Jalapenos bring heat, smoke, and just enough punch to wake up anything else on the plate. They work solo or stuffed, but either way, they don’t stay put for long. One bite and it’s game on.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Jalapenos

Smoked Cream Cheese

Two slices of smoked cream cheese on a white plate.
Smoked Cream Cheese. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

People don’t expect much from a block of cheese—until this shows up. Smoked Cream Cheese goes from plain to powerful with just the right hit of smoke. It’s smooth, rich, and spread onto everything without hesitation. Once it lands on the board, it never makes it back to the fridge.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Cream Cheese

Smoked Thor’s Hammer

A large roasted meat shank on a bone, displayed upright in a skillet surrounded by nachos, with bowls of lime wedges and sauce nearby.
Smoked Thor’s Hammer. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Some dishes were made to impress before anyone takes a bite. Smoked Thor’s Hammer looks as big as it sounds and feeds a crew that’s ready to eat. It’s dramatic, flavorful, and perfect for people who like their dinner to show up swinging. This one doesn’t go unnoticed.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Thor’s Hammer

Spicy Smoked Chex Mix

Two bowls of snack mix with pretzels and cereal on a wooden table, accompanied by decorative balls and a colorful napkin.
Spicy Smoked Chex Mix. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

It starts as a snack but turns into the thing people won’t stop grabbing. Spicy Smoked Chex Mix sneaks up with heat and smoke in just the right balance. It’s perfect for setting out early and watching disappear before the main course even lands. Skip the store-bought stuff and go with something that actually gets eaten.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Smoked Chex Mix

Smoked Queso

Smoked queso in a black pot.
Smoked Queso. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

The moment it hits the table, people stop what they’re doing. Smoked Queso is warm, bold, and built for dipping anything in arm’s reach. It’s rich enough to stand alone but always better with a crowd. There won’t be leftovers, just scraped dishes.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Queso

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