Sometimes you just want to put something on the smoker in the morning so you can have something awesome to eat for lunch. We are talking about quick smoker recipes that you can finish in four hours or less!
19 Quick Recipes for Your Smoker That You Can Finish in Four Hours!
I am not going to be listing any “Hot and Fast” barbecue recipes because a lot of folks have electric smokers that top out at 275F. These recipes are going to cover pork, poultry, fish and beef.
The biggest trick to making these recipes be easy is to ALWAYS use a digital thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the meats you are smoking.Â
For some of these recipes if you cook the meat past the target internal temperature then the meat will get tough and dry out. For other recipes if you take the meat out of the smoker before the target internal temperature is reached then you run the risk of the food being unsafe to eat.
The recipes below can be completed in less than four hours, including preparation time and are organized by:
- Pork (5 Recipes)
- Poultry (8 Recipes)
- Beef (4 Recipes)
- Seafood (2 Recipes)
Quick Smoked Pork Recipes
While most people think about “low and slow” ribs when they think about smoking pork there are several cuts that cook extremely fast. These include:
- Country Style Ribs
- Pork Steaks
- Pork Chops
- Pork Loins
- BratwurstÂ
Here is a closer look at each cut with links to the full recipes.
Smoked Country Style Ribs {Under Two Hours}
Country style ribs are inexpensive, flavorful and easy to cook on a smoker.Â
There are a couple of different cuts of pork that are called country style ribs. Some of them are slices of pork but while others are sections of loin back ribs with sections of  loin meat attached. Both varieties are great as long as you don’t overcook them.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 145F
- Great Side Dish: Barbecue Pit Beans
How Long to Smoke Country Style Ribs at 225F
Pellet Grill Smoked Country Style Ribs Recipe
Smoked Pork Loins {Under Three Hours}
A pork loin is an easy way to feed a crowd and they really benefit from the extra flavors that come from a great dry rub, a kiss of smoke and a brush of sauce.Â
Loins generally have a neutral flavor so they are a great way to showcase the rub or sauce. The recipe link below will show you how to quickly cook a large loin but you could use the same methods and cook the smaller pork tenderloin even faster!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Target Internal Temperature = 145F
- Great Side Dish: Smoked Pineapple Slices
Full Recipe For Smoked Pork Loins
Smoked Bratwurst {Under One Hour}
It is hard to beat a smoked brat when it comes to fast, easy and delicious meats to cook on your pit. I like to set things up for a quick smoke followed by a dip in a beer and onion bath.
While the brats are cooking you could also throw on a pan of baked beans that have been doctored up with some bacon, diced onion and barbecue sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 165F
- Great Side Dish: Warm German Potato Salad
Smoked Pork Steaks {Under Two Hours}
Pork steaks might be the best cut of pork hat ever existed. These inexpensive steaks are cut from the butt and are absolutely dripping with flavor. Â
There are two approaches to smoking pork steaks. The quick method cooks them to an internal temperature of 145F at which point they are juicy, tender and need to be sliced. The slow method cooks them to an internal temperature of 205F until they are fall apart tender like pulled pork.
The recipe link below is for the quick method!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 145F
- Great Side Dish: Vinegar based Cole slaw
Full Recipe For Smoked Pork Steaks
Smoked Pork Chops {Under Two Hours}
Pork chops are not as awesome as pork steaks but they are still pretty amazing when cooked on a smoker.
The trick to making great pork chops is to start with a real, bone in chop. If you start with one of those fake boneless chops that is cut from the loin then it will not come out as good.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 145F
- Great Side Dish: Vinegar based Cole slaw
Full Recipe For Smoked Pork Chops
Quick Smoked Chicken and Turkey Recipes
Chicken and Turkey are other great meats that cook fast on a smoker. The recipe links below are for the following cuts:
- Whole Chicken
- Spatchcock Chicken
- Chicken Lollipops
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Chicken Thighs
- Bone In Chicken Breast
- Turkey Breast
- Turkey Meatballs
Yep, that is a big pile of smoked chicken recipes!
Smoked Whole Chicken {Under Three Hours}
Chickens are inexpensive and easy to cook. Our first recipe is for a whole bird that has been stuffed with aromatics and trussed with twine.
If you can plan ahead it is best if you can brine the chicken overnight but if you have to skip that step your bird will still turn out fine.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (four hours if you brine)
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Target Internal Temperature = 165F in breast, 180F in thigh
- Great Side Dish: Creamy Cole Slaw, Baked Beans
Full Recipe For How To Smoke a Whole Chicken
Smoked Spatchcock Chicken {Under Three Hours}
Our second whole chicken recipe cooks a little faster because we flatten it out by cutting out the backbone. Again, you can get better results if you brine the chicken before smoking but that is not a required step.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (four hours if you brine)
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Target Internal Temperature = 165F in breast, 180F in thigh
- Great Side Dish: Creamy Cole Slaw, Baked Beans
Full Recipe For Smoked Spatchcock Chicken
Smoked Chicken Lollipops {Under Three Hours}
With a little knife work you can transform regular chicken drumsticks into chicken lollipops. This technique checks all the boxes: inexpensive, easy, fast and impressive!Â
My recipe has a brining step that helps make the lollipops extra juicy but you can skip the brine if you are short on time.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 180F
- Great Side Dish: Twice Baked Potatoes
Full Recipe for Smoked Chicken Lollipops
Smoked Chicken Drumsticks {Under Two Hours}
This recipe skips the fancy knife work and cooks the chicken legs at a higher temperature than used for the Chicken Lollipops.
The result is a delicious, juicy smoked chicken leg with crispy skin that is ready to eat in under two hours.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 180F
- Great Side Dish: Twice Baked Potatoes
Full Recipe for Smoked Chicken Drumsticks
Smoked Chicken Thighs {Under Three Hours}
Chicken thighs are delicious but come with a problem. The skin on the thighs can become rubbery and unappetizing when cooked on a smoker.
Don’t worry though, this recipe shows you the trick for getting tender, bite through skin on your smoked chicken thighs without resorting to scraping the fat!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 180F
- Great Side Dish: Twice Baked Potatoes
Full Recipe for Smoked Chicken Thighs
Smoked Bone In Chicken Breasts {Under Three Hours}
Bone in chicken breasts are an absolute bargain and easy to cook on a smoker.
The recipe that follows shares two massive tips:
- How to get great skin
- How to keep the meat incredibly juicy without using a brine
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 155F
- Great Side Dish: Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Full Recipe for Smoked Bone In Chicken Breasts
Smoked Turkey Breast {Under Two Hours}
I really prefer smoking a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. You can smoke a breast really fast and make some great sandwiches with the meat. When you smoke just the breast you can nail the final temperature to perfection without worrying if the thighs and legs are fully cooked.
Throw three or four turkey breasts into your smoker and you will have enough meat to feed a nice size crowd.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 165F
- Great Side Dish: Apple and Grape Fruit Salad with Walnuts
Full Recipe for Smoked Turkey Breasts
Bacon Wrapped Turkey Meatballs {Under Two Hours}
This recipe starts with a couple of bone-in turkey thighs and ends up with some spectacular bacon wrapped meatballs coated in a sweet and spicy pepper jelly.Â
Work your way through this easy recipe and I promise that your barbecue skills will go up a couple of levels. You can skip the process of making your own turkey meatballs but you will be doing yourself a disservice.
You can adapt this recipe for all types of meatballs so feel free to go crazy 🙂
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 165F
- Great Side Dish: Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Full Recipe for Bacon Wrapped Turkey Meatballs
Fast Beef Recipes for Your Smoker!
We are going to take a look at some easy cuts like:
- Tri Tip
- Sirloin Tip
- Hamburgers
- Frozen Meatballs
Smoked Tri Tip {Under Two Hours}
I love tri tip and think it is great when cooked with a kiss of smoke! Smoking a tri tip adds a wonderful complexity of flavor that you don’t normally get with a grilled steak.Â
The only downside of smoking a steak is that you don’t get a beautiful crust but you can fix that with a quick sear in a cast iron pan.
- Prep Time: Ten Minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 135F
- Great Side Dish: Caesar Salad
Full Recipe for Smoked Tri Tip
Smoked Sirloin Tip {Under Three Hours}
As much as I love throwing a tri tip onto my smoker it is not always an easy cut to find.Â
If you are looking for an easy to find alternative to a tri tip, that also happens to be less expensive, then go grab yourself a Sirloin Tip Roast.
The recipe that follows is a standard recipe for a smoked steak/roast but comes with the special carving instructions needed for a Sirloin Tip.
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 135F
- Great Side Dish: Bacon Grilled Brussel Sprouts
Full Recipe for Smoked Sirloin Tip
Smoked Hamburgers {Under Three Hours}
I am amazed at how long it took me to figure out that smoked hamburgers are quick and spectacular.  You can stuff the burgers or just let them run plain and make them spectacular with the toppings.Â
The recipe I am sharing is for some smoked burgers slathered in butter but you can take them in any direction you want.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 165F
- Great Side Dish: Stuffed Mushrooms
Full Recipe for Pellet Grill Smoked Burgers
Smoked Frozen Meatballs {Under Two Hours}
It doesn’t get much easier than throwing a bag full of frozen meatballs onto your smoker if you are looking for a fast, delicious and easy smoker meal!
These are perfect for a Game Day or general party appetizer. You can also use them to make some tasty meatball subs if desired!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 150F
- Great Side Dish: Chicken Wings!
Full Recipe for Smoked Frozen Meatballs
Quick Smoked Seafood Recipes
Fish is always great when cooked on a smoker. Two of my favorites are:
- Cod
- Mahi Mahi
Smoked Cod {Under Three Hours}
There are a lot of fish that you can smoke in less than four hours but my favorite is cod. Fish smokes up pretty fast and I love using the finished product to make amazing fish tacos.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 145F
- Great Side Dish: Mexican Street Corn
Full Recipe for How to Smoke Cod and Make Amazing Fish Tacos
Smoked Mahi Mahi {Under Three Hours}
Mahi Mahi is a dense, meaty fish that has a mild flavor profile. This combination makes Mahi Mahi wonderful for experimenting with bold flavor profiles.
I use the frozen filet portions from Costco and they always turn out great.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Target Internal Temperature = 145F
- Great Side Dish: Pineapple and Corn Salsa
