A pellet grill or pellet smoker burns wood pellets instead of propane or charcoal, giving you much more control and versatility when it comes to flavoring your food, and there’s a wide range of options for great smoked meals, including:
- Brisket
- Pork ribs
- Beef ribs
- Lamb ribs
- Whole chickens
- Chicken thighs
- Chicken wings
- Salmon
- Trout
- Peppers
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
- Pizza
Over the years, pellet smoker technology has advanced to offer digital controllers that monitor and regulate cook time and temperature, even wirelessly from your phone!
Wood Pellets for Smoking
Pellet grills also provide even heat distribution, making them ideal for smoking meats. With a wide variety of wood flavors to choose from, you’ll never get bored of adding a layer of smoky goodness to your meals.
Some of the most common wood pellet flavors used for pellet smoking include:
- Hickory: The classic smoky flavor, great for smoking beef, pork, and poultry
- Mesquite: A strong, smoky flavor, pairs well with beef and pork, but be wary – it’s powerful and can be easily overused
- Apple: A milder and sweeter flavor, great with pork and poultry
- Cherry: A sweet and mild flavor, excellent for poultry, pork, and beef, and especially ribs
- Maple: A sweet and subtle flavor, just right for poultry, pork, beef, and vegetables
- Oak: A mild, nutty flavor good for meat and especially fish
Pellet Grill Recipes
Ready to put your pellet grill to the test? Here are a few recipes using different wood pellet flavors that are sure to please the palate of your neighbors, friends, and family!
Hickory-Smoked Pulled Pork
Ingredients:
- 8-10 lb pork shoulder
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup hickory wood pellets
Instructions:
- Preheat your pellet grill to 225°F using hickory wood pellets.
- Combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a bowl to make a rub.
- Rub the pork shoulder all over with the spice rub.
- Place the pork shoulder on the pellet grill and smoke for 8-10 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 200°F.
- Remove the pork shoulder from the pellet grill and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Shred the pork shoulder with two forks and serve with your favorite barbecue sauce.
Apple-Smoked Turkey Breast
Ingredients:
- 1 turkey breast, bone-in, and skin-on (about 6 lbs)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup apple wood pellets
Instructions:
- Preheat your pellet grill to 325°F using apple wood pellets.
- In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme to make a marinade.
- Place the turkey breast in a large resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over the top.
- Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Remove the turkey breast from the marinade and discard any excess marinade.
- Place the turkey breast on the pellet grill and smoke for 2-3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove the turkey breast from the pellet grill and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Cherry-Smoked Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients:
- 2 racks of baby back ribs (about 4 lbs)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup cherry wood pellets
Instructions:
- Preheat your pellet grill to 225°F using cherry wood pellets.
- In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to make a rub.
- Rub the rib racks all over with the spice rub.
- Place the rib racks on the pellet grill and smoke for 3-4 hours.
- Wrap the rib racks tightly in aluminum foil and return them to the pellet grill for another 2 hours.
- Remove the rib racks from the pellet grill and let them rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving with your favorite barbecue sauce.
Discover the Versatility of Pellet Grills and Smokers
Looking for a grill that can do it all? Versatile pellet grills and smokers have you covered whether you’re searing steaks, smoking ribs, or baking pizza, well-priced grills can handle it all. With digital controls and all-natural hardwood pellets, you can achieve perfect results every time.
