Love the flavor that comes from a smoked recipe but can't deal with coal? If this is the case, then pellet grills are your best bet. It makes grilling so convenient that second-guessing is impossible.
If you’re wondering about the best foods to cook on a pellet grill, you aren't the only one. With many recipes available, it's tough to choose. Luckily, our top chefs have the answers here.
10 Best Types of Food to Smoke on a Pellet Grill
You should probably know by now that smoked foods are beneficial to one's health. Aside from being flavorful, smoking foods kill bacteria and serve as a great addition to your diet.
With a pellet grill, the task of cooking foods is even easier compared to the other traditional counterparts like charcoal. Temperature is better regulated on a pellet grill. Moreso, they are durable and easy to clean.
Also, some foods are best prepared on a pellet grill. With that aside, let's discuss the best foods to grill on the pellet.
#1: Chicken Wings
Cooking chicken wings on a pellet grill is an amazing experience. A grilled chicken wing is tasty and super sweet, especially when sauced. When preparing this, our experts advise you keep a tong by the side to take the wings from the grate.
#2: Burger
When properly done, a pellet grill will give you the tastiest and most flavored burger. Many people have their ways of cooking burgers, but to our grilling experts, the most convenient way is to heat it and smoke it later.
Medium to high heat is preferred when smoking, and you must cook each side for about four minutes. This is to retain the evenness.
#3: Pork Ribs
Pork ribs are one of the best things to smoke on a pellet grill and a staple for many occasions. The good thing about cooking ribs is you can't overcook them. The best way to cook it is using the 3-2-1 rule – three hours of smoke, two hours of low cooking, and an hour of saucing.
Remember that you'll have to trim the ribs first and toss them side up into the grill after preheating it for 10 to 15 minutes.
#4: BBQ
BBQ is almost everyone’s favorite because it's not challenging to cook, and above all, it's delicious when done. Within 30 - 45 minutes, you would be done. If you're still new to this, you might experience some difficulties, but don't too worry, you can use the 3-2-1 method, as explained above.
#5: Bacon
Bacon is straightforward to cook, as no recipes are required. What do you need? Just purchase some bacon and throw them into the grill under low to medium heat. If you ever wonder what your first meal would be from a pellet grill, you can try out the bacon first.
#6: Vegetables
Smoked vegetables are a perfect meal any day, especially in the summer. Pairing it with a steak/chicken, tomatoes from the skillset, and a glass of wine is a whole new adventure.
#7: Brisket
Our cooking team admits that brisket is amongst the hardest meals to cook. That's because the processes involved are exhausting, from trimming to wrapping and rubbing.
Before trimming and seasoning it, you need to dry the brisket with a paper towel. Also, the pumped side must face up when smoking it. The brisket must cool off for about an hour before it's sliced against the grain.
#8: Salmon
Seafood lovers would be happy with this. A smoked salmon is a delight for any occasion and a healthy dish to grill [1]. You'll have to marinate it in a resealable bag using salt and pepper for two hours and then refrigerate it bare for like two hours.
It takes about thirty minutes to cook salmon. Since it holds up well in low smoking, you won't have issues getting the desired taste. When smoking, ensure the sides touch the grill.
#9: Pizza
Surprised? Well, don't be. Like burgers, you can smoke pizza on a pellet grill. The grill gives the pizza a unique flavor and taste that you would love compared to charcoal grills. You have to be careful not to overcook it, as it's easy to turn out bad.
#10: Pie
Want to try something unique? You can cook apple pie. Pie isn't meat, but it can take you to cloud nine once you prepare it. Remember to add some apple pellets or flavors to it once it's cooked.
FAQ
What is the best meat to smoke on a pellet grill?
The best meat to smoke on a pellet grill is brisket. It's flavorful and doesn't necessarily require too much seasoning or saucing. That makes it very straightforward to smoke.
Conclusion
Cooking on a pellet grill is an experience like no other. Aside from making cooking straightforward, it creates unique and unparalleled flavors and tastes. If you are out of options of what to cook, you can try out these options. Our chefs consider these as the best things to smoke on a pellet grill, and we are confident that you won't be disappointed.