Best Meats to Smoke for Beginners

Here are some easy recipes to start indulging in your curiosity for smoking meats. These cuts and recipes are the best meats to smoke and will get you started on your way to becoming a BBQ pitmaster.

Why are These Meats Perfect to Smoke?

Our top choices for best meats to smoke involve cuts with sufficient fat to keep the final dish juicy and tender. The more fat there is, the harder it is to mess up that smoked recipe.

I'm going to list in order the top meats to smoke (recipes) from easiest to more challenging.

These are all pretty easy meals to make for you and your family. So start at the top of the list for a foolproof delicious dinner!

Top 8 Smoked Recipes you Should Smoke First

Don't try smoking a brisket as your first meal after setting up your smoker. That takes time and practice. Learn your smoker and hone your skills by making these great easy to make smoked meat recipes first.

1. Smoked Pork Butt

This fall apart smoked pork butt recipe is perfect for beginners due to its sufficient fat content; this will guarantee a crowd pleasing meal of succulent, delicious, extremely flavorful pork.

2. Smoked Whole Chicken

You can't go wrong with smoking a whole chicken! No dried out chicken here. This bad boy is uber juicy and full of flavor! These taste 10x better than the crap you get at the grocery store. I'll show you how to cook this to perfection.

3. Smoked Baby Back Ribs

Who doesn't love ribs?! It's a must on anyone's best meat to smoke list. This classic smoked ribs recipe with detailed step by step instructions is perfect for beginners and will result in finger licking delicious smoked ribs.

4. Poor Man's Burnt Ends

Another classic piece of meat to smoke, poor man's burnt ends. This beef protein extravaganza is inexpensive, tastes delicious, and practically impossible to screw up!

5. Smoked Pork Tenderloin

If you want to take pork tenderloin to the next level, smoke it. Tenderloin doesn't have a lot of fat, but as long as you keep a close eye on the internal temperature, this pork is amazingly delicious!

6. Smoked Steak

We took these fatty Ribeye Steaks to a whole other level by smoking em'. I'll show you how to smoke em low and then turn the heat up to finish them off. These are some of the best steaks you will ever cook.

7. Traeger Pork Chops

Pork chops is a rather lean meat for smoking but the trick is, to marinate it in brine. Once properly brined and topped off with a great spice mixture, these smoked pork chops will turn out moist, tender, and the perfect smoke flavor.

8. Smoked Prime Rib

Smoked prime rib is a definite crowd pleaser for ANY holiday meal. When smoked, it's got layers and layers of flavors between the smoke and the fat it contains. Pair this with some creamy mashed potatoes, horseradish, and au jus for dipping and you've just made a 5 star meal NO ONE will forget.

Backyard 4th of July Favorites

Everyone loves hamburgers and hotdogs when it comes to a quick backyard BBQ. I put these in their own category because it's not what most people think about when they hear "smoked meats".

Don't let these simple classic meals fool you though. When smoked correctly, this classic American backyard meal will astound your guests. Take your BBQ to the next level, smoke it!

Smoked Hot Dogs

Everyone loves hot dogs, but don't you dare buy the crap brands. Buy 100% beef from a top brand such as Hebrew National or Nathan's. Now let's smoke em and make them GREAT!

Smoked Burgers

Get out of here with that no flavor 93% lean burger meat. Grab some 80:20 mixture and let's make some of the best burgers you have ever eaten.

Let me know in the comments what your favorite smoked meal is. What was your favorite smoked meat when you first started your pitmaster career?!