After I posted The Best Chicken Fajitas (they really are), I tried that same marinade with some steak fajitas.

You know what? It wasn't as good with steak.

Beef has a stronger flavor and needed a deeper, smokier sort of flavor.

So, I got to work and created the best steak fajitas I've ever made!

Steve was especially excited about this one -- he always orders steak fajitas when we go out for Mexican. It's almost Father's Day, too, so here you go, hon!

You Will Love This Steak Fajitas Marinade

• Great for group entertaining on a Blackstone griddle or BBQ grill.
• Can be mostly prepped ahead of time.
• A delicious meal prep with some street taco tortillas, over salad greens, or some rice & beans.
• Works well with chicken or pork!

Homemade Steak Fajitas Ingredients

For the marinade:

• Heat safe oil: I use avocado oil if I know that I’m grilling.
• Coconut aminos: You can also use Worcestershire or soy sauce
• Smoky Chipotle Taco Seasoning: This is a custom seasoning blend that’s easy to make, but you can use any kind of taco seasoning you like.
• Coconut sugar: Brown sugar also works here.
• Hot sauce: Any kind! Or leave it out if you’d prefer.
• Limes: You’ll need the juice for the marinade and also a few to cut up and use a garnish.

For the fajitas:

• Fajita toppings: Guacamole, sour cream, hot sauce, cotija cheese…. whatever you prefer.
• Flank steak or skirt steak: I’ve also used other cuts of steak (NY strip, sirloin) and sliced them really thin after grilling.
• Sea salt
• Bell peppers: any color
• Yellow onions: Sweet or white onions also work well
• Fresh cilantro: Yes. And lots. Unless you think it tastes like soap.
• Tortillas: Any kind!

What type of steak is best for fajitas?

Flank steak is typically the most common cut of beef for steak fajitas. It's a thin, relatively inexpensive cut of meat, which works to your benefit. It's easy to infuse flavor when meat isn't so thick.

Skirt steak would also work well because it's similar in thickness as flank steak.

You can also use other types of steak -- like strip steak or sirloin steak. I'd stay away from thicker cuts like ribeye.

The secret ingredient is the Smoky Chipotle Taco Seasoning I posted recently. If you have a batch of that on hand, the marinade comes together really quickly!

I love that taco seasoning so much.

If you don't want to use my blend for this recipe you can use regular taco seasoning and add a diced chipotle pepper from a can of chipotle in adobo sauce (about 2 teaspoons if you can find them pre-chopped.)

How to Make Stake Fajitas

1. Lay the flank steak in a shallow dish or ziptop bag. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt. Let it sit while you prepare the rest.
2. Chop the bell peppers and onions into ½-inch strips and put them in a separate shallow dish or ziptop bag.
3. For the marinade, whisk the oil, coconut aminos, taco seasoning, coconut sugar, hot sauce, and the juice from both limes.
4. Pour ⅔ of the marinade over the meat and the rest over the peppers & onions. Turn the meat and vegetables a few times (or mush the bag around with your hands) until everything is coated well. Marinate everything (chilled) for at least 4 hours or up to 18 hours. (See recipe note.)
5. Pull the steak out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you plan on cooking it so you can get some of the chill off.
6. Start cooking the peppers and onion in 2-3 batches using a grill skillet or a very hot stainless or cast-iron pan on the stove top. Cook each batch for 10-12 minutes until the onions are very tender and golden brown.
7. Preheat your grill or stove-top grill pan to high heat. Cook the steak for 4-5 minutes on each side until the internal temperature reaches 130-135 for medium rare or about 145 for medium doneness. Remove it from the grill to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
8. Slice the steak thinly, against the grain (perpendicular to the lines running through the steak) and serve in tortillas with some cooked peppers & onions and your favorite toppings.

How to cook fajita peppers and onions

I like to slice my peppers and onions into strips and marinate them along with the meat. It gives them SO much flavor this way, but cooking them on the grill can be tricky.

My favorite way to cook peppers and onions for fajitas is using a grill skillet. If you don't have one and you do a lot of grilling, I HIGHLY recommend getting one.

I got my stainless steel one from Williams-Sonoma several years back (they don't sell this particular one anymore), but Amazon has a similar one. I like that the handles are removable so you can close your grill lid.

Don't have a grill skillet? Saute them in a REALLY hot oiled pan in batches so you get some nice coloring. Don't try to cook them all at once or you'll have some sad, steamed vegetables.

You can also broil them on the highest oven rack.

How to cut across the grain

You've heard the term "cutting across the grain" in steak recipes, right?

This simply means to cut in the opposite direction (or perpendicular) to the direction of the meat grain (or striation lines in the meat).

When you cut opposite of those lines you're cutting through a lot of connective tissue that you'd have to chew through if you cut WITH the grain, or parallel to the lines going through the meat. You don't want that.

Steak Fajitas Marinade Tips

• Make sure to slice the steak against the grain so it’ll be nice and tender and easy to chew.
• I highly recommend marinating overnight. At the very least, marinate it at room temp for an hour.
• Let the steak sit at room temp for at least 30 minutes before grilling to get some of the chill off.
• When you put the steak on the grill, make sure the grill is really hot. And let the steak cook undisturbed for at least 4-5 minutes to form nice grill marks.
• Save time by prepping the marinade ahead of time and slicing the onions and peppers. Chill everything until ready to use.

How to Serve the Best Steak Fajitas

You can serve these traditionally with tortillas and the usual fixings – guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, cilantro, hot sauce.

The steak and grilled vegetables make a stellar fajita salad over a bed of salad greens and some kind of mexi ranch. My Roasted Jalapeño Ranch Dressing would be delicious here.

You can also put together fajita bowls with Cilantro Rice and Mexican Black Beans.

Storing Homemade Steak Fajitas

Any leftover steak and grilled vegetables can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

You can prep the marinade ahead of time and chop the vegetables, but I don’t recommend freezing anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of my favorite sides and garnish recipes to serve with fajitas!

• Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice -- a knock off of the rice found in Cafe Rio or Costa Vida Mexican restaurants.
• If you're going all out, make a batch of Instant Pot Mexican-Style Black Beans. (See how two Instant Pots can be handy? Situations like this.)
• Homemade Guacamole and Pico de Gallo are non-negotiable.
• Southwest Cabbage Slaw is an EXCELLENT base for a fajita salad.
• And you might as well drizzle some Roasted Jalapeno Paleo Ranch on top.

Homemade Steak Fajitas

Yield: Serves 6-8

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes

Flank steak and veggies are marinated in a smoky marinated with a touch of heat to make these super flavorful fajitas! Use them to make traditional fajitas or throw them on a salad (our favorite way to eat them!) And save the leftovers for breakfast the next day.

Print

Ingredients

For the marinade:

Toggle ingredient group

• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 2 Tablespoons coconut aminos
• 4 teaspoons Smoky Chipotle Taco Seasoning
• 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 2 limes

For the fajitas:

Toggle ingredient group

• 1 1-2 pound flank steak
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 bell peppers, any color
• 2 medium yellow onions
• Fresh, chopped cilantro
• Your favorite paleo or gluten-free tortillas
• Fajita toppings (guacamole, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, extra lime wedges, cotija cheese.)

Instructions

1. Lay the flank steak in a shallow dish or ziptop bag. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt. Let it sit while you prepare the rest.
2. Chop the bell peppers and onions into ½-inch strips and put them in a separate shallow dish or ziptop bag.
3. For the marinade, whisk the oil, coconut aminos, taco seasoning, coconut sugar, hot sauce, and the juice from both limes.
4. Pour ⅔ of the marinade over the meat and the rest over the peppers & onions. Turn the meat and vegetables a few times (or mush the bag around with your hands) until everything is coated well. Marinate everything (chilled) for at least 4 hours or up to 18 hours. (See recipe note.)
5. Pull the steak out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you plan on cooking it so you can get some of the chill off.
6. Start cooking the peppers and onion in 2-3 batches using a grill skillet or a very hot stainless or cast-iron pan on the stove top. Cook each batch for 10-12 minutes until the onions are very tender and golden brown.
7. Preheat your grill or stove-top grill pan to high heat. Cook the steak for 4-5 minutes on each side until the internal temperature reaches 130-135 for medium rare or about 145 for medium doneness. Remove it from the grill to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
8. Slice the steak thinly, against the grain (perpendicular to the lines running through the steak) and serve in tortillas with some cooked peppers & onions and your favorite toppings.

Notes

Nat's Note: If you plan on marinating your steak for more than 8 hours, add the marinade to the peppers & onions later, like a few hours before cooking. If they marinate too long they might get mushy.

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The post BEST Steak Fajitas appeared first on Perry's Plate.

If you're worried about burning the sweet potatoes before they cook through -- that's a legit concern. I made batch after batch and figured out the best way to get these to turn out beautifully every time. I've got your back. It's easier than you think.

Why You'll Love These Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges

• Grilling sweet potatoes is unique and something most people don't do!
• They'll add variety to your grilling sides.
• They can hang out in your grill while you cook other things. Love multitasking.
• They go well with a lot of different toppings. If you don't like hot honey, I'll give you other suggestions.

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes (aka Yams?)

You'll need sweet potatoes that have straight sides for easier and more uniform cutting. Round, bulbous ones may be really thick on the edges and make it harder to cook evenly.

The Hot Honey

Hot honey is having a moment right now, and I'm loving it. If you've never had it, it's honey that has been infused with some sort of spicy element, like chili peppers. I have a similar recipe here on my blog for a Cilantro Hot Honey, if you're wanting to DIY this.

Hot honey is available in most grocery stores these days. I'm particular to Trader Joe's hot honey which has a mild heat level. Hive House Hot Honey a new one that I'm loving! They infuse theirs with Calabrian chilis and it has a slight vinegary taste. It's different from other hot honeys I've tried and REALLY good on these sweet potatoes. Also pizza.

The Oil + Salt

You'll want to use heat-safe oil, like avocado for these, since you'll be putting them on the grill. I use only salt because I want the sweet potato & hot honey to shine here.

How to Make Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat (roughly 450F)
2. Cut sweet potatoes into wedges (see details below!)
3. Toss them in oil and salt.
4. Grill on direct heat, covered, for 3 minutes per side to get some good grill marks.
5. Move the wedges to indirect heat and cook for another 8-10 minutes, covered, depending on how thick your potatoes are. Check on them after 8 minutes or so and adjust heat as needed. They should be fork tender.
6. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with hot honey.

How to Cut Sweet Potato Wedges

Guess what? No par-boiling or pre-cooking needed! You're very welcome.

I usually prefer to peel my sweet potatoes, but in this case I'd recommend leaving the skin on. It gives them stability when you're flipping them on the grill so they don't squish when you pick them up with a pair of tongs.

Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, then cut them in half lengthwise and keep cutting to form wedges. Try to make them as uniform as possible. It's hard with sweets because their sizes and shapes vary wildly.

Grilling the Wedges

I lay mine right on the grill. You can also use a grill pan if you prefer or if you're worried about losing them between the grates.

I leave them there for a short time to give them grill marks and then move them to indirect heat to make sure they're cooked and soft all the way through. Try not to move them around too much since they'll get really soft.

Adding the Hot Honey

Drizzle on the hot honey right after they come off the grill and serve! If you like, you can sprinkle on some finishing salt (like flaky sea salt), but really... they're super delicious as is.

Tips for Perfect Grilled Sweet Potatoes

• Try to find potatoes with straight sides and aren't too round. This will make them easier to cut into uniform wedges.
• Try to get the wedges roughly the same size for even grilling.
• If your potatoes are getting too dark too fast, turn the heat way down. Grills can get really hot, really fast. Especially if the cover is on.

Serving Ideas

What goes with grilled sweet potatoes? Um... LOTS of things.

• Great alongside BBQ grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, smash burgers, bison burgers
• Serve as part of a summer BBQ spread alongside potato salad, grilled zucchini, marinated cucumbers
• Pairs well with a simple green salad, cucumber coleslaw, or sweet kale salad.

Variations

• Add a spice rub before grilling (like my sweet potato fry seasoning or a basic steak seasoning)
• Air fryer version: If you're more of an air-fryer than a griller, toss them in your air fryer at 375F for 15-18 min.
• Swap out the hot honey for a different drizzle! My burger sauce is REALLLY good on sweet potatoes. Some homemade ranch dressing or my roasted red pepper sauce or green goddess dip would be delicious, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Here are a few more of my favorite sweet potato recipes!

• Sweet Potato Fries (plus the best Sweet Potato Fry Seasoning!)
• Sweet Potato Chips
• Shredded Sweet Potato Hash Browns
• Foil Packet Sweet Potato Tacos (great for camping!)
• Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chili-Orange Butter
• Vegetarian Paleo Sweet Potato Chili

If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges with Hot Honey

Yield: Serves 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Thin sweet potato wedges grilled until tender and caramelized, then drizzled with hot honey for a sweet, smoky, just-a-little-spicy finish. Five ingredients, no parboiling, and it all happens right on the grill alongside whatever else you're cooking.

Print

Ingredients

• 2-3 medium sweet potatoes
• 2 Tablespoons Avocado oil
• ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
• 3 Tablespoons hot honey

Instructions

1. Preheat grill to medium heat (about 450F)
2. Leave the skins on the sweet potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise. Then cut them into wedges lengthwise. Try to make them as uniform as you can with the wide parts no bigger than an inch.
3. Toss the sweet potatoes in the oil and salt.
4. Lay the wedges on the grill. Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Flip them and cook another 3 minutes covered. By now they should have some good grilled marks.
5. Move the potatoes to an indirect heat area on your grill. Either over a portion of the grill where the flames aren't running or on that little rack above the main rack -- if your grilll has one.
6. Cover and cook for another 8-10 minutes. Check them after 7-8 minutes. If they're getting too dark and aren't cooked through, then turn the heat down. They should be fork tender and very soft with some crisp edges.
7. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with hot honey before serving.

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Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 3-4 wedges
Amount Per Serving Calories 290Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 19gSodium 833mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 0gSugar 26gProtein 0g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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The post Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges with Hot Honey Drizzle (Easy Summer Side) appeared first on Perry's Plate.

If you’ve never had sablefish, it’s a rich, buttery white fish – sometimes called black cod. My kids call it “butter fish” and LOVE when I make it!

Fillets like this only need a handful of ingredients. This recipe has easy to find ingredients and comes together really quickly! Overcooking and under seasoning fish are probably the biggest mistakes that people make, but with my tips, your fish will turn out beautifully!

How to cook Sablefish and why you'll love this Sablefish Recipe

I’m a self-proclaimed fish lover and have been cooking fish weekly for over a decade. Sablefish has a rich, buttery taste that’s different from other types of white fish. (It’s also called black cod, FYI.) But it’s just as easy to prepare!

This grilled white fish is a buttery, flavorful dish that will impress everyone at your table – and won’t stress you out! You can use this technique with any firm white fish, too. (Like cod, halibut, or rockfish.)

I have a couple of tips to get the most out of your sablefish fillet (hint: use fresh herbs!). And I’ll walk you through every step.

What is sablefish?

I got a box of sablefish (also called Alaskan black cod) thinking, "Nice! More cod!"

But when I read a little about sablefish and tried some out, I realized this wasn't like Pacific cod.

Sablefish has the highest omega-3 content out of all fish (even more than salmon!) and has a rich, buttery texture and taste.

I was seriously blown away. It's my new favorite fish.

When you get your share boxes in the mail, the fish is packed with dry ice and blast-frozen just hours after its caught. It's about the freshest fish you can get without eating it boat-side.

How to season Grilled Sablefish

In my opinion, the best way to get fish (and shrimp) well-seasoned is to sprinkle a little sea salt on it and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before you cook it.

If I'm using a marinade, I still sprinkle salt on it before I add the marinade so the marinade doesn't wash all the salt off.

When I made this sablefish recipe, I literally just sprinkled it with salt, let it sit for a while, and the put it on the grill.

How to cook Sablefish

1. Lay the fillets on a large plate, skin-side down, and sprinkle each fillet with a generous pinch of sea salt. Let the fish rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, put the oil and garlic into a small skillet and GENTLY heat over medium-low heat. When the garlic starts to sizzle a little, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the herbs and a pinch or two of sea salt. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes so the flavors can combine well.
3. Preheat the grill to high heat. Grease the grill grates, if needed.
4. Place the fillets on the grill skin-side UP. Cook, covered, for 3-4 minutes and then flip them over. You'll want to use a large spatula for this and use swift movements.
5. Continue to cook until the fish seems to be separating and it pulls apart easily with a fork. Don't over cook it.
6. Transfer the fish to a large platter and drizzle the herb oil over the top.

Tips for cooking Whitefish on the Grill

1. Only grill thick fish fillets like sablefish, salmon, cod, halibut, snapper, and rockfish -- especially if you're a beginner. Thinner fillets like Dover sole fall apart much more quickly and you may end up with half of your fillet slipping between the grates. For fish like that and smaller things like shrimp, I highly recommend using a grill basket.
2. Make sure your grill grates are greased. You could also drizzle some heat-safe oil on the fish itself to keep it from sticking.
3. If your fish has skin, put it on the grill skin-side up first. (This also applies when cooking fish in a skillet.)
4. Only flip it once. Or you'll be sad.
5. Don't overcook it. The fish should start to separate on its own and pull apart easily with a fork. It'll continue to cook a little with its residual heat.

When I took my sablefish off the grill and tasted it -- WHOA. I have never had such great tasting fish before using such little seasoning.

Just salt. That was it.

But, of course, I wanted to take it a step further.

How to take this Sablefish Recipe to the next level

I went out to my herb garden (the only thing I can grow sometimes) and picked a few herbs -- dill, thyme, mint, basil, and sage.

I wanted this to taste like those dipping oils you use with crusty bread at Italian restaurants.

I gently heated some extra-virgin olive oil. Like... super gently. EVOO shouldn't ever be heated to high temps because it oxidizes super quickly.

I added some microplaned garlic and chopped herbs, took it off the heat, and just let it hang out while the fish was cooking.

I'm glad I followed my gut with this one because THIS. SABLEFISH. WAS. AMAZEBALLS.

This infused oil drizzle would be great with any type of fish, but starting out with a super high quality fillet like sablefish made it even better.

What to serve with Grilled White Fish

Grilled fish makes such an easy dinner! Here are a few ideas for sides you could whip up super fast...

Grilled Vegetables -- toss the asparagus (or another quick-cooking vegetable) with oil and put it on the grill alongside the fish. They'll be done at the same time.

Seasoned Rice -- Honestly, I'd go for grilled vegetables AND rice. My Instant Pot Lemon Herb rice would be FANTASTIC with this fish.

A Great Salad -- I've been known to hack salad kits, but when life is nuts and you just want to eat a great salad, buy a salad kit. If you have an extra few minutes, my Copycat Costco Kale Salad would go well with this fish. Speaking of asparagus, this Grilled Asparagus and Melon salad would be a fancier, fun side, too.

I'd love to know what you think of this. And how it works with other types of firm fish, too.

Best Grilled Fish FAQs

How can you tell if fish is fresh?

When you're at the store, smell the package of fish, if you can. If there's a fishy smell, PUT IT BACK.

I usually buy my wild-caught fish at Costco, which is pretty good most of the time. Our Costco stores out west have a lot of Alaskan salmon and other types of fish.

How do you thaw frozen fish?

The safest way is to let it hang out in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Fish thaws out much faster this way than ground beef or chicken.

If I'm in a rush or I forgot to take it out of the freezer, I put the frozen fish in a bowl of tepid water. Usually within a couple of hours (depending on the thickness of the fish) it'll be thawed out.

(This is probably breaking all kinds of food prep violations, but I do it anyway. #rebel)

Don't use your microwave's thawing program. In fact, don't ever put fish in the microwave. Ever.

More Recipes on Perry's Plate

• Pineapple Basil Smoothie
• Spicy Sushi Rolls
• Spatchcocking
• Sriracha Seasoning Recipe
• Strawberry Paleo Ice Cream
• Lentils Curry
• How to Make Grilled Chicken Salad
• Roasted Potato Salad With Vinaigrette
• Roasted Carrot Salad Recipe

The Best Grilled Fish

Yield: Serves 4-5

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This is an EASY way to make delicious sablefish (black cod), but you can use this method with any firm white fish like salmon, Pacific cod, halibut, or rockfish.

Print

Ingredients

• 4-6 Sablefish fillets (about 4-6 ounces each)
• Sea salt
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed or grated with a Microplane grater
• 1-2 Tablespoons minced fresh herbs (dill, thyme, basil, mint)

Instructions

1. Lay the fillets on a large plate, skin-side down, and sprinkle each fillet with a generous pinch of sea salt. Let the fish rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, put the oil & garlic into a small skillet and GENTLY heat over medium-low heat. When the garlic starts to sizzle a little, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the herbs and a pinch or two of sea salt. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes so the flavors can combine well.
3. Preheat the grill to high heat. Grease the grill grates, if needed.
4. Place the fillets on the grill skin-side UP. Cook, covered, for 3-4 minutes and then flip them over. You'll want to use a large spatula for this and use swift movements.
5. Continue to cook until the fish seems to be separating and it pulls apart easily with a fork. Don't over cook it.
6. Transfer the fish to a large platter and drizzle the herb oil over the top. Serve.

Notes

Nat's Note: You can use any firm white fish or salmon, too.

The post How to Cook Sablefish appeared first on Perry's Plate.

First, if you’re new to smoking meat or recently bought a Traeger or a CampChef grill you might be intimidated by the smoker itself. I’ll show you the settings and give you the tricks to getting this bird to turn out well.

Second, let’s not overcomplicate this chicken with fancy rubs or marinades. The smoke will do the majority of the work for you! You’ll see how easy I have made this recipe, and you’ll feel like a superstar for nailing a smoked chicken.

TIP: The best way to get a lot of flavor into the chicken is to let it sit with the seasonings for several hours before you cook it. I've found this to be more important than the actual seasonings you use. This works for roasted chickens and also for turkeys. It's similar to dry-brining.

What you'll need for Smoking Chicken

• Whole chicken
• Kosher salt or coarse sea salt
• Coarsely ground black pepper

What kind of pellets are good for smoked whole chicken?

I like to use applewood.

If you want a stronger smoky flavor, try using hickory or a blend. I like CampChef's pellets the best and use their Competition blend quite often.

How to Smoke a Whole Chicken

1. The day before (or early morning the day of) you plan to smoke the chicken, prep it for the fridge. Combine the salt and pepper in a small bowl and set it next to your work area.
2. Place the chicken on a large rimmed sheet pan or baking dish. Remove any packaging from the chicken any organs or the little white bag from inside the chicken cavity.
3. If you choose to spatchcock the chicken (cut out the back bone so it lays flat), do this now. Rub ALL of the salt and pepper mixture all over the outside of the chicken.
4. Place the chicken UNCOVERED in the fridge for at least 8 and up to 24 hours before cooking.
5. When it's time to cook, remove the chicken from the fridge and let it sit on your kitchen counter until your smoker has preheated. Preheat it to 220°F (105°C) and high smoke (if you have that option).
6. Insert a thermometer into your chicken into the thickest part of the breast area, but don't stick it clear down to the bone. Attach the thermometer to your smoker.
7. Smoke the chicken for an hour at 220°F, covered. Then turn the temperature up to 350°F (180°C) and continue to cook the chicken until the thermometer read out says 160-165°F (70°C). This should take anywhere from 45-75 minutes depending on the size of your chicken and how well your smoker holds the temperature. Spatchcocking a chicken will help it cook faster, too.
8. Transfer your chicken to a large cutting board and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing it -- otherwise the juices will run out all over and the chicken will be more dry.
9. Carve up the chicken how you like and serve immediately.

How long to smoke a whole chicken?

The way I do it takes roughly 2 hours. So not terribly long. And not as big of a commitment as smoking a brisket.

I start off by smoking it for an hour at a lower temperature (lower temperatures have more smoke output). And then finished it off at a higher temp.

You could tinker with the smoking times, too, if you wanted to let it smoke longer at that lower temp.

See how evenly this smoked whole chicken has browned? I'm blown away at how gorgeous they come out of our smoker. Much better than our mediocre oven for sure.

If you have any other questions about smoking a chicken, leave a comment below and I'd be happy to help!

Can I use this recipe to smoke a turkey?

YES! Absolutely.

I'd allow for a longer time for the turkey to sit in the fridge to dry out -- probably 24-48 hours.

The smoking times would be longer as well and would vary depending on the size of your turkey. Plan for 30-40 minutes per pound at 220F.

Tips for Smoking a Whole Chicken

Make sure to let the chicken sit with the seasonings for at least 8 hours before cooking it for maximum flavor and crispy skin, as this process acts like a dry brine.

How to serve a Whole Smoked Chicken

I love serving this chicken with these sides:

• Cabbage Slaw With Cucumber Yogurt Dressing
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Wild Rice Salad with Cucumber and Pesto
• Instant Pot Potato Salad
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Cauliflower Puree
• Southwestern Coleslaw

Storing a Smoked Whole Chicken

I highly recommend eating the whole chicken if you can since it’s best fresh out of the smoker. If you have leftovers you’d like to store, just put it in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

More Whole Chicken Recipes on Perry's Plate

If you'd rather stick to oven roasting, check out my tutorial on How to Roast a Chicken the Easy Way.

Have some leftover chicken? Make The Best Instant Pot Chicken Soup! Smoked chicken is super tasty in chicken soup.

Once you've cleaned those bones, don't throw them out! Here's my favorite way to make homemade chicken bone broth: Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth.

If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Smoked Whole Chicken Recipe FAQs

More From Perry's Plate

Smoking Whole Chicken

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 18 hours

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 20 hours

Smoked Whole Chickens are SO tasty. Smoking them in a pellet grill/smoker has been a game changer for us. Loads of flavor and always juicy and falling off the bones!

It may seem like this recipe takes forever, but most of that time is non-active. The overnight rest in the fridge before you smoke it helps the chicken to absorb all of the seasoning and allows the skin to dry out so it's nice and crispy when you cook it. It's worth planning ahead!

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Ingredients

• 1 3-5 pound whole chicken
• 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt or coarse sea salt
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Instructions

1. The day before (or early morning the day of) you plan to smoke the chicken, prep it for the fridge. Combine the salt and pepper in a small bowl and set it next to your work area.
2. Place the chicken on a large rimmed sheet pan or baking dish. Remove any packaging from the chicken any organs or the little white bag from inside the chicken cavity.
3. If you choose to spatchcock the chicken (cut out the back bone so it lays flat), do this now. Rub ALL of the salt and pepper mixture all over the outside of the chicken.
4. Place the chicken UNCOVERED in the fridge for at least 8 and up to 24 hours before cooking.
5. When it's time to cook, remove the chicken from the fridge and let it sit on your kitchen counter until your smoker has preheated. Preheat it to 220 degrees F and high smoke (if you have that option).
6. Insert a thermometer into your chicken into the thickest part of the breast area, but don't stick it clear down to the bone. Attach the thermometer to your smoker.
7. Smoke the chicken for an hour at 220, covered. Then turn the temperature up to 350 degrees and continue to cook the chicken until the thermometer read out says 160-165 degrees F. This should take anywhere from 45-75 minutes depending on the size of your chicken and how well your smoker holds the temperature. Spatchcocking a chicken will help it cook faster, too.
8. Transfer your chicken to a large cutting board and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing it -- otherwise the juices will run out all over and the chicken will be more dry.
9. Carve up the chicken how you like and serve immediately.

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The post Whole Smoked Chicken or Turkey appeared first on Perry's Plate.

Yes, fish can be… touchy. No one likes fishy fish. Especially fishy-tasting salmon. I’ve smoked salmon DOZENS of times, my friend. Let me show you my fool-proof (yes, actually) method for smoking salmon. All you need is a few ingredients, some time, and a pellet grill.

After you do this once and post it on your social (isn’t that what we all do when we smoke things? It’s an accomplishment!) you’ll be making this again and again. And your friends will think you’ve taken up witchcraft.

The Perfect Smoked Salmon Recipe

Smoked salmon is one of my most favorite things. We always buy some during the holidays, and I incorporate it into a big charcuterie board for Christmas Eve. (More on that later!)

If you've got a smoker or a pellet grill (like a CampChef or Traeger), smoked salmon (or hot smoked salmon) is really easy to make!

And much more economical than buying pre-made smoked salmon at the grocery store.

Pellet Grill Salmon Ingredients

• Salmon fillets
• Sugar
• Sea salt
• Maple syrup

How to Smoke Salmon

1. Start off with a high-quality salmon fillet

I love these ones from Catch Sitka -- a sustainable fishery in Alaska that ships wild-caught salmon and fish all over the country!

The beauty of this recipe is that you can make as much or as little smoked salmon as you like. I wrote the recipe for roughly 8 ounces of salmon. Feel free to scale up or down depending on how much you need.

2. Brine the salmon for several hours

You know I'm partial to dry-brining things, so I attempted that with this recipe, but I liked the result of a wet brine more.

What's in a brine? Just water, sugar, and salt.

The amount of sugar that gets absorbed into the fish isn't substantial, but if you're avoiding white sugar alltogether, you can use coconut sugar or another granulated sugar in this recipe.

For the salt, I use sea salt, but you can use Kosher salt if you like. If you use Kosher salt, increase the salt amount by 25%.

3. Let the salmon sit uncovered after brining

After brining the salmon for several hours, drain it and let it sit uncovered in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, up to 24 hours.

This allows pellicle to form on the surface of the fish. Pellicle is a sticky layer that the smoke adheres to when the fish is smoking. Pellicle = more smoke flavor.

4. Smoke the salmon for 2-3 hours

Set your smoker or pellet grill to 160 degrees F and high smoke.

I joined the pellet grill ground and bought CampChef Woodwind Wifi over the summer. Man, I love this thing. Especially the pizza oven attachment.

We've smoked vegetables, burgers, ribs, chickens, a Thanksgiving turkey, and lots and lots of salmon.

If you're on the fence about investing in a pellet grill/smoker, CampChef is offering $100 off all Woodwind grills through Dec 2021!

My favorite feature is the wifi/Bluetooth connection with the app on my phone and the ability to monitor up to 4 different temperature probes at once.

It makes it so easy to get perfect food most of the time!

(We won't talk about the chuck roast I botched. That's for another day. Heh.)

You'll want the salmon to reach 140 degrees before you pull if off. Make sure to put the probe in the thickest part of the fish.

5. Brush the salmon with maple syrup throughout smoking

Do this. Create that sweet crust on the salmon (it's the best part!). I love the way the sweet-smoky-salty flavors combine.

What kind of pellets are best for Smoking Salmon on Pellet Grill?

I used cherry wood pellets for mine and really like the result. Apple pellets didn't have as much smoke flavor, in my opinion.

Feel free to use what you like or pellets that are recommended for seafood.

I always use CampChef wood pellets because they're 100% hardwood without any fillers.

Look how pretty they've become! These are ready to pull off the grill!

Here's a short cut time line to sum it up for you:

Pellet Grill Smoked Salmon timeline

• Day 1 afternoon: Brine for 4-6 hours
• Overnight: Drain off the brine and let it sit, uncovered, in the fridge for 4-24 hours
• Day 2: Smoke salmon for 2-3 hours

See? It's really not that hard. It does take some planning, but hardly any of that time is active prepping time.

What to serve with Pellet Grill Salmon

I mean... you could just take a fork to it and go nuts here. No judging here. In fact, that's what happens most of the time when I smoke a salmon fillet.

If you want to eat this like a civilized person, here are a few ideas

Make a Smoked Salmon Board -- lots of finger food here, so you can still dig into it with a fork, but not like a barbarian

Serve it during breakfast with eggs or on a Breakfast Salad

Use it in some California Roll Sushi Bowls or Poke bowls! Smoked salmon is one of my favorite maki roll fillings, too.

Make the best avocado toast of your life. Sourdough toast + avocado + Everything Bagel Seasoning + smoked salmon.

Smoked Salmon Recipe Storage

Once the fish has cooled to room temperature, wrap it up in clingwrap and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

If you like this recipe, try curing your salmon and making some gravlax! You could even cure the salmon and then smoke it, too.

More Easy Smoker Recipes on Perry's Plate

Pellet Grill Meatballs

Pellet Grill Chicken Wings

Smoked Cream Cheese

More Recipes on Perry's Plate

If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill FAQs

Smoked Salmon Pellet Grill

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Additional Time: 20 hours

Total Time: 22 hours 15 minutes

Smoked salmon is SUPER easy to make in your smoker! I love brushing mine with maple syrup during smoking to create that sweet-salty crust on top.

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Ingredients

• 8 ounces salmon fillets
• ½ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup sea salt
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup

Instructions

1. Put the salmon fillets in a lidded container large enough for it to lay flat.
2. Put 4 cups of cool water in a large measuring cup. Stir in the sugar and salt until it has dissoved. Pour over the salmon.
3. Store covered and chilled for at least 4 hours, up to 8 hours.
4. Drain and discard the brine and return the salmon to the fridge, UNCOVERED, for another 4-24 hours.
5. When it's time to smoke the salmon, preheat your pellet grill or smoker to 160 degrees F. If you have the option for smoke control, turn the smoke to high.
6. Lay the salmon directly on the grill grates and insert a temperature probe into the thickest part of the fish. Brush the fish with some maple syrup and close the lid.
7. Continue to smoke the salmon until the temperature probe reads 140 degrees. Brush the fish with maple syrup every 30 minutes or so.
8. Remove the fish from the grill and serve immediately.
9. You can also make this ahead of time. When the fish cools to room temperature, wrap it up and store it in the fridge until you're ready to eat. It's great to eat chilled, at room temp or heated up.

Notes

I used cherry wood pellets for this and really liked the results. Feel free to use any pellets you like or ones that are recommened for seafood.

The post Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill appeared first on Perry's Plate.

There's nothing like Smoking Chicken Wings on the Pellet Grill!

Confession: I don’t actually like wings that much, but my family does. BUT I ate a half dozen of these in just a few minutes because they were so good.

You only need a couple of ingredients, too. Use any kind of steak seasoning you like and let the smoker do all the heavy lifting!

Speaking of pellet grills and smokers. I have a CampChef pellet grill, but any type of pellet grill or smoker would work for these if you have good temperature control!

What Sauce to Use with Smoked Chicken Wings?

As delicious as these are on their own, you could add a sauce if you prefer! BBQ sauce, wing sauce, bleu cheese or ranch dressing would all be tasty options.

Smoked Wings Ingredients

• Chicken wings -- I like to use party wings which are chicken wings separated into a "flat" and a "drumette".
• Cooking oil -- I like to use avocado oil because of its high smoke point.
• Kosher salt -- I like using Kosher salt when I season meat because it seasons it really well without being overly salty. If you use sea salt, reduce the amount by half. If your grill seasoning has a lot of salt you might not even need extra salt.
• BBQ Grill Seasoning -- You can use whatever kind you prefer. I like to use my Homemade Steak Seasoning as an all-purpose grill seasoning.
• BBQ Sauce -- Again, use whatever you like! If you're wanting a low sugar option, I have a few BBQ Sauce recipes on my site that allow you to control the sugar content: Balsamic BBQ Sauce, Honey Ginger BBQ Sauce, and Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce would all work well here.

How to Smoke Chicken Wings on Pellet Grill

1. Preheat your smoker.
2. Toss the wings in oil, BBQ seasoning, and salt.
3. Smoke for about an hour.
4. Toss them in a little BBQ sauce.
5. Finish them off under your oven broiler.
6. Serve!

What Sauce to Use with Smoked Chicken Wings?

As delicious as these are on their own, you could add a sauce if you prefer! BBQ sauce, wing sauce, bleu cheese or ranch dressing would all be tasty options.

How long to smoke Chicken Wings

I like to smoke mine for an hour at 275F. Its long enough to get a lot of smoke flavor into them and cook them well without drying them out.

Tips for Smoking Chicken Wings

• Season the wings well. I use a combination of BBQ grill seasoning and Kosher salt to make sure they're super flavorful.
• Don't smoke them too long. They won't be as moist and the skin will get leathery.
• Don't put too much BBQ sauce on them or it'll make the skin mushy and the sauce might burn under the broiler.
• Don't broil them for too long or the sauce will burn.
• Eat them right away! They're best right out of the oven as soon as they've cool enough to eat.

Smoked Wings Recipe Variations

Make them spicy: Use a seasoning and a BBQ sauce with a little kick to give it some heat.

Smoked Buffalo Wings: Use buffalo or another kind of cayenne pepper sauce to make buffalo wings.

What to serve with Pellet Smoked Chicken Wings 

Chicken wings are typically part of a party spread, but if you wanted to make these for a main dish, here are a few side dish ideas:

Cabbage Slaw With Cucumber Yogurt Dressing

Roasted Broccoli and Instant Pot Lemon Herb Rice

Instant Pot Potato Salad

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Cauliflower Puree

Southwestern Coleslaw

Storing the Best Smoked Chicken Wings

I highly recommend eating them all if you can since they're best fresh out of the oven. If you have leftovers you'd like to store, just put them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheating Pellet Smoked Chicken Wings

I recommend putting the wings on a sheet pan and warming them in a 375F oven to reheat them. It should only take 10 minutes or so. You could also reheat them in an airfryer or a toaster oven.

I don't recommend using your microwave unless you like rubbery chicken skin.

Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe FAQs

More On Perry's Plate

More Easy Smoker Recipes on Perry's Plate

Pellet Grill Meatballs

Smoked Cream Cheese

Chicken Breast on Pellet Smoker

If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe

Yield: 30 pieces

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Throwing some chicken wings on your smoker or pellet grill is a great way to add even more flavor to an inexpensive party food! My version is super simple, super tasty, and you can use your favorite grill seasoning and BBQ sauce!

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Ingredients

• 30 chicken wings (bone-in)
• 2 Tablespoons avocado oil or another heat-safe oil
• 2 Tablespoons BBQ seasoning (see note)
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat your smoker or pellet grill to 275 deg and a high smoke setting (if you have the option.)
2. Put your chicken wings in a large bowl. Drizzle oil over them and sprinkle the BBQ seasoning and salt over the top. Use your hands to toss everything to coat the wings well.
3. Lay the seasoned wings directly on the grates of your smoker. Cover and cook for 45-60 minutes. Or until the chicken is 165F on the inside and the skin has started to crisp up a bit.
4. Meanwhile, prepare a large rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment and preheat your oven broiler.
5. Transfer the smoked wings to a clean bowl. Pour ½ cup BBQ sauce over the top and toss them to coat. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheet and put them on an upper oven rack under the broiler for about 2-3 minutes or until they crisp up a little. Watch them carefully -- don't leave them in too long or the BBQ sauce will burn.
6. Take them out of the oven and serve them immediately with the remaining BBQ sauce.

Notes

1. I like to use party wings which are chicken wings separated into a "flat" and a "drumette".
2. I like to use my Homemade Steak Seasoning as an all-purpose BBQ seasoning.
3. I have a few homemade BBQ sauce recipes on my site if you're looking for something with less sugar. Balsamic BBQ Sauce, Honey Ginger BBQ Sauce, and Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce would all work well here.

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 Serving Size 5 wings
Amount Per Serving Calories 590Total Fat 40gSaturated Fat 12gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 24gCholesterol 112mgSodium 1318mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 1gSugar 17gProtein 24g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post may contain affiliate links. Any purchases made by using these links won't cost you any extra and helps keep my content free. These links may be Amazon links as I am part of the Amazon Associate Program.

The post How to Smoke Chicken Wings appeared first on Perry's Plate.