So you’ve bought a decent electric smoker and now you’re wondering what meat and recipes to go ahead with? - Well, we got you covered on this one! In this read, we will discuss the best things to smoke in an electric smoker for that perfect barbecue that you’ve been looking forward to!

Some pro barbecuers might not like the idea of an electric smoker, mainly because they’re used to the traditional method of using charcoal while smoking meat. However, modern-day electric smokers give you the perfect ‘smoke ring’ that results in fine meat tenderness and flavorful taste.

What is an Electric Smoker

An electric smoker is a type of cooking appliance that smokes meat using electric rods as its primary heating source. Unlike traditional smokers, it doesn’t burn wood, charcoal or propane. 

The working mechanism of an electric smoker is somewhat similar to that of an electric oven. They usually involve heating the cooking chamber electric rods (element), up to the desired temperature. Wood chips are heated by the element and release smoke. The meat is placed on racks and cooked until the required doneness is achieved.

Why Should You Buy an Electric Smoker

If you’re not yet a pro at barbecuing, we recommend you start with the easier side of things. Electric smokers are less complicated as compared to other types of smokers that require at least some sort of familiarity with the entire cooking process.

Modern-day electric smokers come in all shapes, designs, and prices. These smokers can be a perfect start for you if you’re keen on learning to bbq and getting those best flavors out of your meat cuts. You can head to BBQgodfather.com if you want to learn the most popular Electric Smokers you can buy online.

Also, there are some areas in the United States where charcoal burners might not be allowed, especially during summers. In such places, an electric smoker might save the day for you.

Things to Smoke Using an Electric Smoker

Here are some of the meat types and other food items that you can smoke using your electric smoker:

Applewood Smoked Chicken

If you’re a chicken meat lover, you’ll be absolutely blown away by the smoky chicken delight you’ll get from a perfectly made applewood smoked chicken.

It combines the flavors of paprika, salt, brown sugar, oregano, garlic powder, onions and chili powder. When smoked using an electric smoker, all you have to do is set your cooking preference to ‘slow’ cooking, so that the chicken meat is uniformly smoked to achieve that perfect taste and flavor of the meat and the spices.

Competition-style BBQ Ribs

Competition-style BBQ ribs are a very popular choice - whether it’s a small family or friends dinner that you’re hosting in your own backyard, a large-scale event or, a renowned restaurant in your area that serves barbecued food.

To smoke ribs using an electric smoker, you’ll need to ‘dry rub’ the ribs with brown sugar, pepper, cumin and some salt. Let it smoke for around 6 hours in the smoker and you’ll have your competition-style BBQ ribs ready.

BBQ Chicken Breast

Whether you’re experimenting with some new barbecue recipes or you consider yourself as a pro – chicken breasts will surely remain one of your favorite chicken pieces to smoke.

Mix some paprika, chili powder and thyme that blends well in an electric smoker. Let it cook over applewood for about an hour and your amazing BBQ chicken breast is ready to be served! 

Bacon Explosion

So you thought we overlooked pork meat cuts for your next barbecue? Absolutely not. This recipe is a perfect mix of sweet barbecue sauce flavors and those Italian sausage salty flavor notes. 

Add some crumbled sausage to your bacon, roll it and smoke it until you see the perfect, brown color of the meat (some might prefer extra cooked).

Double Smoked Turkey

Adding a turkey to your family & friends barbecue is always an exciting treat for your guests. The double-smoked turkey is a dish that is sweet and spicy at the same time. It does satisfy a variety of taste buds out there with its strong flavor profile.

Using hot sauce, barbecue rub, butter, honey and some vegetable oil, you can have this tasty dish ready within three hours of smoking with your electric smoker.

Beef Brisket

Without a doubt, beef brisket is one of the most loved meat cuts by barbecue lovers. The unique flavor of this recipe is achieved through a combination of black pepper, paprika, cumin, oregano and onions smoked at 250F for three hours in an electric smoker.

A perfectly smoked beef brisket will give you a juicy, soft and flavorful experience which is an absolute delight!

Beef Jerky

If you are a beef lover and you want to add more to your barbecue menu apart from beef briskets, beef jerky is what you need!

This is a relatively thinner cut that is marinated using soy sauce (or other sauces of your preferences), mixed with some pepper and honey. Beef jerky is smoked using the slow-cook method and can be used for weeks once it has been dried.

Smoked Burgers

Looking to add some fast-food items to your barbecue list? Well, smoked burgers can be a nice way to entertain your younger generation or kids, who might not be too interested in other meat recipes.

You might use your own homemade recipes for smoked burgers, however, you can use the recipe where onions, salt, pepper, and garlic are mixed and smoked for about an hour. The best part about smoked burgers is that they tend to stay moist during smoking.

Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

Apart from meat-based recipes, you can use your electric smoker for other food items as well, hickory-smoked jalapeno poppers being one of them.

You can enjoy this delicious, smoky recipe by mixing jalapenos, cheddar, bacon, cheese and some pepper. Smoke the mixture using the slow-cook technique and enjoy this amazing dish!

Smoked Pork Butt Tacos

In the mood for some tacos? Great! This recipe is pretty simple and quick to make using an electric smoker.

Get a dry rub of pork butt, coat it using mustard and place it in your smoker for about 1.5 hours. Once ready, you can add some more sauces or toppings of your preference and your yummy smoked pork butt tacos are ready!

Our Final Word on Electric Smokers VS a Perfect Barbecue

These are just a few recipes that you can enjoy using your electric smoker. There are a lot more things to smoke in an electric smoker that you can experiment on your own when it comes to meat cuts, spices or other toppings.

We do not say or guarantee that electric smokers will give you the same flavor notes as charcoal smokers do, however, if you’re following the right recipe, the right meat cut and the right smoker, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to get the perfect, smoky taste using an electric smoker.