When the smoker is already running, stopping at one tray almost seems like a waste. These 21 backyard smoking recipes cover the full spread, from pork, wings, shrimp, queso, and stew to sides, cocktails, and dessert. Some need a long afternoon, while others slide in while the bigger cuts are still going. By the time the last plate comes around, the smoker has handled more than just the main event.
Smoked Tomato Soup with Mascarpone
Built from slow-smoked Roma tomatoes, Smoked Tomato Soup with Mascarpone blends 10 tomatoes with shallots, garlic, broth, thyme, balsamic vinegar, and mascarpone in 2 hours 30 minutes. The recipe makes 6 servings and finishes silky enough for bowls, grilled cheese, or bread on the side. 9 ingredients total.
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Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Four scrubbed sweet potatoes take on smoke at 250 F before chipotle butter goes on top in Smoked Sweet Potatoes, a 4-serving side with 10 minutes of prep and 2 hours on the smoker. The butter mixes salted butter, chipotle in adobo, garlic, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Add it to barbecue plates when the main meat is already outside.
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Smoked Pork Belly Tacos
Rubbed with brown sugar, paprika, cumin, guajillo, and chipotle powder, Smoked Pork Belly Tacos turns 4 pounds of pork belly into 10 servings in 3 hours 15 minutes. The spicy pickled vegetables bring cucumber, carrots, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and rice wine vinegar to the tortilla. Good for a backyard taco tray that does not need much else.
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Smoked Double Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Large russet potatoes get smoked, scooped, mashed, and filled again in Smoked Double Stuffed Baked Potatoes, with 15 minutes of prep and 2 hours 20 minutes of cooking. Bacon, heavy cream, butter, cheddar, and green onions fill the skins. Makes 4 servings and works as the side people treat like a main.
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Smoked Beef Kabobs
Sirloin or ribeye cubes meet zucchini, red onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper in Smoked Beef Kabobs, with 10 minutes of prep, 1 hour marinating, and 45 minutes on the smoker. Soy sauce, Worcestershire, balsamic vinegar, honey, and garlic build the marinade. Feeds 4 and belongs beside potatoes, rice, or a salad.
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Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup
A 30-minute pot, Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup uses cooked smoked chicken with onion, jalapeno, garlic, broth, canned tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, black beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, chipotle, and lime. The recipe makes 8 servings. Top bowls with tortilla strips, avocado, shredded cheese, cilantro, or sour cream when the backyard meal needs a smoky soup course.
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Smoked Pulled Pork
Low-and-slow all day, Smoked Pulled Pork coats a 5-pound pork butt with mustard, brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper before apple juice spritzing. Total time is 12 hours 10 minutes, and the recipe makes 12 servings. Pile it into sandwiches, tacos, or plates with sauce.
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Smoked Cream Cheese
A block of cream cheese becomes the snack board anchor in Smoked Cream Cheese, a 4-serving appetizer with 5 minutes of prep and 2 hours on the smoker. It needs only cream cheese and a spice blend. Put it out with crackers, pita crisps, apple slices, or toasted bagels before the bigger meats come off.
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Smoked Turkey Thighs
Two turkey thighs and Montreal Chicken Seasoning keep Smoked Turkey Thighs simple, with 10 minutes of prep and 2 hours on the smoker. The recipe makes 4 servings, with one thigh feeding about 2 people. Slice it after a 5-minute rest and pair it with corn salad, a green side, or potatoes.
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Smoked Queso
Loaded into a foil pan, Smoked Queso combines chorizo, red onion, garlic, cheddar, Rotel tomatoes, Velveeta, jalapeno, evaporated milk, and cilantro in 2 hours 15 minutes. The recipe makes 8 servings and stays scoopable for tortilla chips, vegetables, grilled chicken, or enchiladas. 9 ingredients total.
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Smoked Shrimp
Taco seasoning, butter, and lime juice coat 2 pounds of shrimp in Smoked Shrimp, a 6-serving main with 10 minutes of prep and 2 hours of cooking. The shrimp start at 180 F, then finish with lime butter at 225 F. Pass bread for the pan juices or add it to a smoky snack spread.
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Smoked Blackberry Margarita
Fresh blackberries set the color and fruit base for Smoked Blackberry Margarita, shaken with tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, and creme de cassis in 5 minutes. It makes 1 cocktail and uses a smoked cocktail kit for the finish. Pair the glass with chips, guacamole, or anything coming off the smoker.
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Smoked Chicken Al Pastor
Marinated for 8 hours, Smoked Chicken Al Pastor stacks chicken thighs with pineapple after a blend of guajillo chiles, garlic, onion, juices, cider vinegar, achiote, brown sugar, cumin, oregano, chipotle, and salt. Total time is 11 hours 10 minutes, and it makes 8 servings. Slice it for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or rice bowls.
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Smoked Gimlet Cocktail
Bright and quick, Smoked Gimlet Cocktail shakes gin or vodka with fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and ice in 2 minutes. It makes 1 cocktail and gets its smoke from a cocktail kit before the lime twist goes on. This is the small glass to hand out while the long smoker recipes finish.
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Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings
Dry rub does the heavy lifting in Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings, coating 2 pounds of wings with olive oil, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and smoked hot paprika. The recipe lists 10 minutes of prep, 1 hour of cooking, and 6 servings. Crisp them briefly at high heat before the platter hits the table.
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Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail
Whiskey leads Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail, stirred with simple syrup, Angostura bitters, ice, cherry, and orange peel before the smoke kit finishes the glass. The recipe lists 4 minutes total and 1 cocktail. It fits the end of a backyard smoke session when the food is handled and the chairs are still full.
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Smoked Peach-Chipotle Wings
Peach jam and chipotle bring the glaze in Smoked Peach-Chipotle Wings, which uses 2 pounds of chicken wings, salt, pepper, adobo sauce, and apple cider vinegar. The recipe lists 5 minutes of prep, 1 hour of cooking, and 4 servings. Put extra sauce on the side so the sweet heat keeps going.
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Smoked Beef Stew
Beef cubes spend time in the smoke before the pot fills out in Smoked Beef Stew, made with celery, onion, garlic, red wine, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves, broth, potatoes, carrots, pickled onions, and peas. The recipe lists 30 minutes of prep, 1 hour of cooking, and 6 servings. Ladle it over mashed potatoes or with thick bread.
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Smoked Peaches with Spiced Rum Whipped Cream
Ripe peaches take a quick turn outside in Smoked Peaches with Spiced Rum Whipped Cream, a 4-serving dessert done in 40 minutes. The peaches smoke with turbinado sugar while heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, and spiced rum turn into the topping. Bring it out warm when the backyard meal needs a sweet finish.
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Smoked Chicken Legs with Red Pepper Glaze
Chicken legs get a sticky finish in Smoked Chicken Legs with Red Pepper Glaze, using 3 pounds of chicken, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, rosemary, red pepper jelly, bourbon, and Sriracha. The recipe lists 10 minutes of prep, 1 hour 30 minutes of cooking, and 6 servings. Extra glaze on the side keeps the plate messy in the right way.
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Smoked Tomatoes
Roma tomatoes shrink down and concentrate in Smoked Tomatoes, made with 2 pounds of tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in 1 hour 10 minutes. The recipe makes 6 servings. Use them on grilled bread with mozzarella or ricotta, turn them into salsa, or fold them into sauce or chili.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Tomatoes