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17 Best Traeger Recipes

People with Traeger smokers love them! The pellet smoker is convenient, reliable, and provides a ton of delicious flavor. Everything is better with a bit of wood smoke flavor. But if you find yourself making the same recipes over and over again, then these Traeger recipes will give you plenty of inspiration!

17 Best Traeger Recipes

There are specific classic recipes included here, like brisket and ribs. But there are some fun twists and ideas you may never have dreamed of, like lava cake!

Some of these are so simple and easy, taking as little as 30 minutes. You will find yourself making these repeatedly and using them to meal prep for the week ahead.

Some of these recipes require a little more time and effort, but the results are so worth it!

They are the perfect recipes for special holidays, celebrations, or if you want to impress your guests.

So get ready to bookmark these fantastic ideas for your Traeger grill!

1. Brown Sugar Honey Smoked Baby Back Ribs

If you want to impress your guests, these brown sugar and honey smoked baby back ribs will do just that!

This is seriously one of the best Traeger recipes out there. These ribs are so juicy, flavorful, and tender. They won’t need any sauce.

The secret ingredient is in the marinade… classic Dr. Pepper soda! The rubs are then treated to a dry rub with salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, garlic, and onion powder.

The ribs are pulled and rubbed with butter at the end of smoking, then sprinkled with brown sugar and drizzled with honey! These are finger-licking good!

2. Traeger Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Jalapeños

These buffalo chicken stuffed jalapeños will be the star of your next tailgate party or game day! Jalapeño peppers are split and cored and then stuffed with buffalo chicken dip.

You could use your recipe, a premed dip from the deli section of your local grocery store, or use the dip recipe embedded in this recipe.

These are then smoked for only 20 minutes, making these so so simple to prepare!

These jalapeño poppers are hot, bubbly, and creamy. Everybody will love these appetizers.

3. Traeger Chocolate Lava Cake

Have you ever grilled or smoked chocolate cake? Then you have not lived! This chocolate lava cake “erupts” when you eat it, and it is always a hit.

This cake is made in a cast-iron skillet with self-rising flour, sugar, cocoa powder, milk, vanilla, and butter.

The secret to this lava cake is pouring boiling water on the raw cake batter before placing it on the grill.

After about 45 minutes, you will have a delicious, gooey cake that serves 10 people.

Top with your favorite ice cream and fresh berries for a delicious dessert!

4. Traeger Beef Jerky

This beef jerky is so good. You will never rebuy your own! By using your smoker, you can make a lean, healthy jerky that is the perfect snack.

A jerky is a great option for long drives and road trips, hiking, or camping. Or you can enjoy it as a protein-packed treat any time of day.

And by using your ingredients, this jerky will be cheaper per ounce than what you buy in the store.

This jerky is spicy, sweet, and savory, thanks to the combination of soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and Sriracha sauce!

5. Traeger Grilled Chicken Thighs

These grilled chicken thighs are so juicy and delicious. You will make them over and over again! Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sea salt, thyme, and paprika.

A secret is to allow these chicken thighs to come to room temp before placing them on your grill. In less than an hour, these chicken thighs are ready!

Just let these thighs rest for a few minutes before serving. This chicken is so smoky, juicy, and flavorful.

6. How to Smoke a Brisket

If you love perfectly smoked brisket, then this Traeger smoker recipe is for you.

While this brisket takes a while to smoke, the effort is worth it. You will be rewarded with juicy and flavorful meat! A brisket is rubbed with mustard and your favorite dry rub.

Then the brisket is injected with beef broth or liquid seasoning. It then marinates overnight or a full day.

The brisket is smoked for several hours before being wrapped in butcher paper and returned to the smoker.

This technique traps the moisture after the brisket has developed a bark or crust. When the meat is done, just let it rest for about an hour before slicing!

7. Traeger Banana Bread

Have you ever thought of smoking your banana bread? Yep, you can make classic banana bread with this Traeger grill recipe!

This banana bread is so unique and delicious, people will beg you for more. Smoking the bread brings out a distinct sweetness in the bananas.

Extra ripe bananas are mashed with eggs, oil, sour cream, sugar, flour, and baking soda.

Cinnamon sugar is swirled throughout and sprinkled on top. Then this bread is baked on the grill for about an hour.

Allow the bread to cool before slicing and serving with soft butter.

8. Traeger Smoked Country Style Ribs

These country-style ribs are fall-off-the-bone good! Ribs are first treated with a homemade rib rub with paprika, salt, brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, garlic, and onion powder.

Then the ribs are put on the grill and spritzed with apple juice.

When they are at the correct temperature, they are pulled from the grill and put in a pan with apple juice and butter, covered, and then returned to the smoker.

When everything is done, let the ribs rest for a few minutes before serving. These ribs are amazing!

9. Traeger Smoked Queso

If you love queso cheese dip, then crank it up a notch with this smoked queso recipe! Velveeta cheese is combined with chorizo, onion, tomato, and jalapeños in a foil pan.

This is placed on the smoker for about 45 minutes, and then sour cream is added and smoked for a few minutes more.

This dip is perfect for crispy tortilla chips, pretzel rods, or crunchy raw vegetables like celery sticks.

That smoky flavor makes this queso dip unique, and it will be a hit at your next party!

10. Traeger Smoked Twice Baked Potatoes

There’s only one thing better than twice-baked potatoes… and it’s smoked twice-baked potatoes! Potatoes, bacon, and garlic are first smoked on their own.

Then the stuffing is made with smoked bacon and garlic, Greek yogurt, cheese, parsley, potato flesh, and black pepper.

This mixture is then spooned back into the empty potato half skins, topped with more cheese, and grilled for a few more minutes.

These would be an awesome side dish to grilled chicken or steak, or they could even stand as their main dish!

11. Smoked Shredded Beef Dip Sandwich

This smoked shredded beef sandwich is the hot sandwich of dreams! A beef roast is seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic and then grilled for a few hours.

Then it is placed in a roast pan with water, beef stock, onion, garlic, and the secret ingredient, au jus powder.

Everything is covered and grilled for another few hours. The roast at this point will fall apart into shredded beef at the touch of your fork.

Reserve the liquid in the roast pan for dipping, and serve the shredded beef on toasted buns with cheese and a side of au jus dipping sauce.

12. Traeger Meatloaf Recipe

This meatloaf will quickly become a family favorite! It turns out so juicy and so tender, not tough. Ground beef, onion, egg, bread crumbs, and your favorite barbecue sauce are combined and placed in a loaf pan.

Then it is placed on your Traeger grill to bake. Once done, allow to cool and then slice to serve.

This recipe is great to serve with additional warmed barbecue sauce on the side, plus mashed potatoes and a steamed vegetable or crisp green salad.

13. Smoke a Traeger Brisket like a Boss

Here’s another delicious brisket recipe that will leave your family and guests asking for seconds and thirds.

A brisket is trimmed and then brushed with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and garlic.

Then dry rub is used to season the meat while it chills in the refrigerator for hours.

Before smoking, the brisket is set to come closer to room temperature and sprayed with apple juice.

The brisket is wrapped in butcher paper mid-smoke and then allowed to rest before carving.

14. Smoked Chicken Wings

Can you imagine a party or game day without wings? These smoked chicken wings are to die for! Chicken wings are rubbed in a mixture of paprika, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper.

The dry rub is allowed to sit on the wings for a bit, and then they are popped in your smoker for about 2 hours.

You can even put these under the broiler to make them extra crispy. These are so good when served with your favorite dipping sauce!

15. Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts

This is one easy Traeger recipe that is sure to please! These smoked chicken breasts are tender, juicy, and delicious, and they only take 30 minutes to prepare.

Chicken breasts are rubbed with a delicious spice rub and set aside for a few minutes before they are loaded into your smoker.

You can easily serve these chicken breasts whole, sliced, or shredded and use them in many recipes.

These make a healthy protein for any meal, so these are great for meal prepping.

These pair well with many kinds of salad, potatoes, roasted vegetables, or creamy risotto!

16. Smoked French Onion Soup

What is better than a warm, comforting bowl of French Onion Soup? Smoking is, of course! Yellow onions are smoked and then sliced and caramelized.

Then they are cooked in beef broth or smoked turkey broth with some sherry. Toasted baguette slices and cheese are broiled on top of soup crocks until everything is warm, golden brown, and bubbly.

While this recipe may take some time, it is well worth it. The onion soup freezes well, so feel free to make a big batch and tuck it away in your freezer to pull out when a craving strikes!

Top with toasted baguettes and cheese, and then pop under the broiler.

17. Traeger Bourbon Candied Bacon

It’s bacon, but better! Thick-cut bacon is given the star treatment in this recipe.

A mixture of brown sugar, maple syrup, and bourbon is whisked Goethe and then poured over bacon strips. 

Then the bacon is laid out flat and put in the smoker.

This recipe makes 3 pounds of bacon, so it is perfect for a holiday brunch, a weekend treat, or to store for breakfast for later!

17 Best Traeger Recipes

17 Best Traeger Recipes

Ingredients

  • 3 lb sirloin steaks
  • 2 c soy sauce
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1 c pineapple juice
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 2 tbsp red pepper flake
  • 2 tbsp hoisin
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic

Instructions

    1. Gather all of your ingredients together along with a mixing bowl, cutting board, knife, and large ziplock plastic bag.
    2. Slice the beef against the grain into 1/4 inch thick strips. Remember that the beef will shrink as it dries, so cut them into pieces you would enjoy the most.
    3. Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in the mixing bowl.
    4. Place all of the sliced beef into the bag, and then pour the marinade over it. Push out excess air and seal the bag, then massage the marinade and meat together to make sure all the meat is evenly coated.
    5. Place the bag of meat and marinate in the refrigerator for 6-24 hours.
    6. Pull the bag out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temp about an hour before cooking.
    7. Preheat your grill and get ready to smoke. When it is preheated to 180-190 degrees, lay the meat on the grill, leaving about half an inch between the beef slices. Close the lid.
    8. After about 2 hours, flip the slices over and continue to smoke for another 2-3 hours.
    9. Remove the beef from the grill, and allow it to cool. Once it is close to room temperature, you can bag it for storage in your refrigerator.

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