Best Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill

This smoked salmon recipe turns an ordinary piece of fish into an extraordinary, delectable, melt-in-your-mouth, flavorful morsel that will become a new favorite with just your first bite. What is really amazing is how easy it is—hardly any prep and utter deliciousness. I mean, seriously. It is so unbelievably easy!

We absolutely love salmon around here. Plus, it is incredibly healthy for you. It is very low in saturated fat and a good source of protein. It's also one of the best sources of vitamin B12, potassium, and other nutrients like iron and vitamin D.

I also love how quick and easy this salmon is to cook up on a wood pellet grill. You mix the rub, put it on the salmon, and place it on the grill. Set the temperature, set the timer, and that's it! Super easy!

Jump to:

• Why a pellet grill?
• Do you have to brine salmon before smoking?
• What are the best wood chips to smoke salmon?
• What is the best salmon for smoking?
• How long does it take to smoke?
• Is smoked salmon cooked?
• Ingredients
• How to smoke the salmon
• Top tips for smoking
• Side dishes
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Why a pellet grill?

Over the last couple of years, my husband and I had heard really marvelous things about wood pellet grills. Our friends all told us how much they loved them, but we didn't think it was worth the added expense. We already had a natural gas BBQ; why buy something else that would do basically the same thing? Boy, were we wrong.

This spring, it has been hot, so we decided to start the barbecue early. However, the burner on one side no longer worked. So it was time to buy another one. We did a bunch of research and decided that it was healthier to eat food over wood instead of food cooked over burnt gas.

So, we decided to purchase a Pit Boss smoker 8-1 grill that uses 100% wood pellets as fuel instead of gas and propane. From the first time we used it, we were hooked. We love using it. It adds so much flavor. This is not a sponsored post; we love it that much.

Do you have to brine salmon before smoking?

No, you don't have to brine salmon before smoking, not for this recipe anyway. That's just an extra step that you don't have to do. This is just a simple step-by-step recipe on how to smoke a salmon. We are not going to do anything too complicated this time. It turns out fantastic without brining it...trust me.

What are the best wood chips to smoke salmon?

Hardwood chips are the best for salmon. We use the Competition Blend, which is a mixture of maple, hickory, and cherry woods. Other good choices would be hickory and applewood.

What is the best salmon for smoking?

Larger pieces of salmon with a high oil content will be more flavorful and more tender when smoked. 

• Chinook salmon: This has a high oil content and is one of the largest salmon.
• Sockeye salmon: This also has a high oil content but has a firmer texture than Chinook.
• Coho: This is lower in fat but is also super delicious. This is my husband's all-time favorite.

How long does it take to smoke?

This recipe only takes 1 hour at 275-300 degrees, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Thicker fillets will take longer than thinner fillets.

Is smoked salmon cooked?

Yes. This is hot smoked salmon, so it comes to a safe internal temperature and is fully cooked. You are slowly heating the salmon to a safe internal temp while the smoke from your wood chips infuses the salmon with a light smoky flavor, resulting in moist, melt-in-your-mouth salmon.

Ingredients

With just a handful of ingredients, you can prepare this delicious, moist, melt-in-your-mouth recipe.

• Salmon. Fresh or frozen. About a 2-3 pound fillet. Leave the fillet whole.
• Rub Ingredients: Paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, raw sugar.

How to smoke the salmon

Preheat your smoker. Set the temperature to 275-300 degrees. Make sure you have topped it up with wood chips of your choice. We like the Competition blend. Mix the ingredients for the spice rub (paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and raw sugar) in a small bowl. Place salmon fillet on a large plate or dish and sprinkle spice mixture over the top of the salmon.

When the grill has come up to the correct temperature, place salmon on the grill.

Cook for about 1 hour at 275-300 degrees until the internal temperature of the salmon, measured in the middle of the thickest part, reaches 145 degrees.

Enjoy your smoked salmon immediately when it is done!

Top tips for smoking

• Invest in a high-quality temperature probe for your meat. We use the ThermPro-Wireless Digital Meat Thermometer. You just set the probes in the meat, set what kind of meat it's for, and it lets you know when it reaches that temperature. It is not advisable to open the lid during the cooking process, so you don't need to until the meat is cooked if you use a temperature probe.
• Cook with the thermometer, not the clock. All grills cook differently, and there are so many variables that play a part in the cooking time, such as weather, different types of grills, fresh or frozen meat, etc.
• Make sure you add your wood chips before you start the grill. Check during the cooking time to make sure you don't run out.

Side dishes

Some of our favorite side dishes to eat with this decadent smoked salmon are Extra Crispy Oven-Roasted Potatoes, Perfectly Fluffy Rice Every Time, Coleslaw, or even Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries. I also love this served with a fresh green salad.

Looking for an oven-baked salmon recipe? Try Insanely Good Maple-Soy Glazed Salmon.

If you’ve tried this Smoked Salmon on the Pellet Grill or any other recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you!

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