10 Great Smoker Recipes You Need To Try Out

Date Posted:16 June 2025 

10 Great Smoker Recipes You Need To Try Out

Cooking outdoors means getting the smoky satisfaction of a good smoker recipe. At the campsite or in your own backyard, a smoker turns simple ingredients into bold, fire-cooked legends.

Using the right setup, like the Ozpig Oven Smoker or the full Big Pig Smoker Combo, you can turn brisket, wings, and even mac and cheese into proper showstoppers. These are meals that keep people talking long after the fire's gone out.

Below are 10 of the best smoker recipes that belong on your next trip, weekend cook-up, or backyard bash. They're easy enough for first-timers, but tasty enough to keep pros coming back.

Let’s get smokin’.
 

1. Pulled Pork Shoulder With Smoky BBQ Rub

You can't talk smoker recipes without pulled pork. This one’s a classic example of slow smoked perfection.

Start with a pork shoulder. Rub it down with a mix of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and a little mustard powder. Let it sit for at least two hours, or overnight in the cooler.

Use your Ozpig Series 2 Smoker Combo to smoke it low and slow for 7–9 hours using hickory or ironbark. Wrap in foil after the first few hours to keep it juicy.

This is true smoked pulled pork: juicy, tender, and packed with flavour. Shred and serve on soft buns with coleslaw and hot sauce. It’s a must-have for every smoky feast.
 

2. Smoked Brisket With Bush-Style Bark

One of the best pellet grill recipes you’ll ever pull off, if you’ve got the patience.

Trim your brisket and coat it with a simple rub: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a touch of paprika. Smoke it for 10–12 hours using your Ozpig Big Pig, keeping the fire steady with lump charcoal and a chunk or two of Aussie hardwood.

Wrap halfway through and let it rest for at least an hour before slicing. If you’ve got any leftover, cube it, hit it with more rub and sauce, and return it to the smoker to make sticky, smoky brisket burnt ends.
 

3. Whole Smoked Chicken With Lemon and Thyme

A smoked chook is easier than it looks, and way tastier than anything from the store. You can use smoked turkey if feeling a little bit fancy.

Rub a whole chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, crushed garlic, lemon zest, and fresh thyme. Stuff a halved lemon inside. Smoke the chicken breast-side up for 2–3 hours until the internal temperature reaches 75°C.

Use your Big Pig Smoker Combo and applewood chips for a lighter, sweeter flavour. This is one of the best smoked chicken recipes for beginners, perfectly juicy and full of flavour.
 

4. Sticky Smoked Beef Ribs

Meaty, sticky, fall-off-the-bone ribs? That’s a smoker flex if we’ve ever seen one.

Coat beef ribs in a spice rub of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a touch of cayenne. Smoke uncovered for 3 hours, then wrap and cook for another 2–3 hours until tender.

Brush with BBQ sauce during the last 30 minutes to get that caramelised glaze. Serve with pickles, cornbread, and a side of smoked pork belly if you really want to go all-in on rich, smoky meats.
 

5. Smoked Mac and Cheese With Bacon Crumble

You’ve had mac and cheese. But not like this.

Cook your pasta, make a simple roux with butter, flour, and milk, then stir through cheddar and mozzarella. Fold in the pasta and pour into a cast-iron pan. Top with crispy smoked bacon bits, breadcrumbs, and more cheese.

Smoke uncovered for 30–45 minutes. This one’s smoky, rich, and worth every bite. An unexpected favourite in the world of pellet grill recipes.
 

6. Smoked Sausages With Onion and Beer

Grab a pack of thick sausages, slice up a couple of onions, and throw it all in a foil tray with a splash of beer and a knob of butter.

Smoke over medium heat for 90 minutes until the sausages soak up all that beery, buttery goodness. Finish them over the grill for a charred snap.

Serve on rolls with mustard or tomato sauce. Or slice them up and serve them as smoked appetisers before the main feast rolls out.
 

7. Fire-Smoked Corn With Garlic Lime Butter

Not everything needs to be heavy. This one’s light, quick, and still packed with flavour.

Wrap corn cobs in foil with garlic butter, lime juice, and smoked salt. Smoke for 45 minutes, turning once or twice.

A great way to break up all the smoked meats and add a little balance to the plate.
 

8. Smoked Buffalo Chicken Wings

These are a fireside favourite. The smoky version just takes it up a notch.

Season chicken wings with salt, garlic powder, and cayenne. Smoke for 90 minutes, then toss in a mix of melted butter and hot sauce. Grill for a few minutes to crisp them up.

These smoked chicken wings are simple, spicy, and always a hit. Serve with ranch or blue cheese for dipping.
 

9. Smoked Cream Cheese With Sweet Chilli and Honey

This one’s become a cult classic for a reason.

Grab a block of cream cheese, score the top, and sprinkle with BBQ rub. Place it in a foil tray and smoke for 2–3 hours. Drizzle with sweet chilli sauce and honey right before serving.

Use as a dip with crackers, or smear it onto flatbread. It’s one of the easiest and best smoked cream cheese recipes out there.
 

10. Smoked Salmon With Dill and Lemon

A little fancy, but still campfire-worthy.

Rub a salmon fillet with salt, pepper, lemon zest, and dill. Place it skin-side down on a cedar plank or foil tray. Smoke for 1–2 hours until the fish flakes easily.

Serve with salad or crusty bread. Great as a main, or flake it cold the next day into wraps or salads. It’s a lighter option for those wanting something beyond red meat, and a top pick for pellet smoker recipes that impress.
 

Ozpig Gear That’ll Get It Done

To try out these smoker legends, get around this gear:

All of them are built tough and made for real fire cooking: no bells, no whistles, just gear that gets the job done.
 

Keep the Fire Going

The best smoker recipes are about slowing things down, cooking proper food, and feeding the crew like legends.

Whether you’re chasing bold beef, juicy chicken, flaky fish, or the smokiest side dishes imaginable, this list has you sorted. Bring your rubs, prep your trays, and fire up the Ozpig.

Because when it comes to smoked chicken thighs, smoked salmon, or smoked pulled pork, nothing beats the flavour of cooking with fire.


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Great bit of kit

We have the ozpig series 2 under a patio. Only just bought the house and the pig so we haven't got it in a specific final spot just yet. But having these extra offset and pieces helps keep smell and smoke (not that there is much using nice ironbark) definitely recommend this kit for use under a patio. Plus fast and easy postage made buying them easy as. 5 Stars

Big pig - loving it

We love our big pig . It’s so beautiful to sit around having the large opening and we are loving the smoker having started making beef jerky . We had a baby pig but this one is hands down the best

Series 2 - a genuine belter!

Series 2 - a genuine belter! Loving my series 2! During my "burning in" tests it really does belt out some heat, one of the primary reasons for the purchase. Guaging heat, I've cooked a couple of hamburgers and some stove top coffee all with great success. My only suggestion is when you've finally decided to treat yourself to a piggy, super treat yourself and get as many of the accessories as you want at the same time. You'll want to use em and I guarantee you'll go back and buy them anyway. No sell, thats a fact, so go the full hog! (thats a pun) Great service, fast post and I'm genuinely looking forward to the colder weather kicking in.

Exactly what I was looking for

- I was looking for something wood-fired and portable that I could take anywhere to boil water and cook a meal on and that could also be my home BBQ. The Pig is simpler and safer than a camp fire and a great back-up at home if everything goes down. I’ve only done BBQs so far and I’m enjoying the added wood-smoke taste. Looking forward to cooking more sophisticated meals down the track.