If you’re passionate about outdoor cooking, there’s no better tool than a Traeger grill to transform your culinary experience. These wood pellet grills offer the ability to grill, smoke, roast, bake, and even braise your favorite dishes, all with the precision of a digital temperature control. Traeger recipes bring an extra dimension to your cooking by infusing food with a rich, wood-fired flavor, making them perfect for both casual weeknight meals and extravagant weekend feasts.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to try your hand at simple dishes like smoked salmon, or an experienced pitmaster eager to tackle a reverse-seared ribeye, this guide has you covered with a wealth of recipes, tips, and techniques.
Why Choose Traeger Recipes?
The reason Traeger grills are so popular among BBQ enthusiasts is their unique use of wood pellets as fuel. These pellets, available in varieties like hickory, applewood, mesquite, and cherry, offer layers of flavor that traditional gas or charcoal grills simply cannot replicate.
Key Benefits of Traeger Recipes:
- Precision temperature control: With Traeger’s digital controls, you can easily maintain the ideal cooking temperature, whether you’re smoking ribs for hours or grilling steaks quickly at high heat.
- Versatility: Traeger grills allow you to grill, smoke, roast, bake, and braise—all in one device.
- Consistent results: Once you’ve set your desired temperature, the Traeger maintains it throughout the cooking process, ensuring consistent, high-quality results every time.
- Flavor infusion: The use of wood pellets imparts a subtle, smoky flavor to your food, elevating the taste of everything from meats to vegetables.
Whether you’re aiming for a classic BBQ flavor or something more exotic, such as the smokiness of applewood-infused pork, Traeger recipes help you craft incredible meals with ease.
Popular Traeger Recipes by Category
To get you started, here’s a breakdown of popular Traeger recipes organized by food category, complete with ingredients, instructions, and tips to ensure your success on the grill.
🐟 Seafood Recipes for Traeger Grills
Seafood is particularly suited to the Traeger grill because it takes on the smoky flavor beautifully without becoming overpowered. Whether you’re smoking fish or grilling shellfish, the natural sweetness of seafood pairs well with the subtle smoke from wood pellets.
Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon is one of the best introductory dishes for beginners. Not only is it easy to prepare, but it also demonstrates the grill’s ability to infuse delicate foods with a mild, smoky flavor.
- Ingredients:
- 🎣 1 large salmon fillet (with skin on)
- 🍋 Lemon zest
- 🧂 Salt and pepper
- 🌿 Fresh dill
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 225°F, using applewood or alder wood pellets.
- Rub the salmon with olive oil, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and fresh dill.
- Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on the grill grates.
- Smoke for 2–3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
- Serve the salmon with a drizzle of lemon juice and fresh dill for garnish.
To add a little more complexity to your seafood repertoire, explore other fish dishes like the swordfish nuggets recipe that showcases the versatility of the Traeger grill when handling firm, grill-friendly seafood.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
For a quick and flavorful seafood option, grilled shrimp skewers are a great choice. The shrimp’s natural sweetness pairs wonderfully with the smokiness from the grill.
- Ingredients:
- 🍤 Large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 🍋 Lemon juice
- 🧂 Salt, pepper, and paprika
- 🧄 Garlic, minced
- 🌿 Fresh parsley, chopped
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 400°F using cherry wood pellets for a slightly sweet smoke.
- Toss the shrimp with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Thread the shrimp onto skewers.
- Grill for 2–3 minutes on each side, or until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Cedar Plank Grilled Fish
Cedar plank grilling is an excellent way to infuse fish with a subtle, smoky flavor while keeping it moist and tender.
- Ingredients:
- 🎣 1 large fillet of white fish (like halibut or cod)
- 🍋 Lemon slices
- 🧂 Salt and pepper
- 🌿 Fresh rosemary sprigs
- 🌲 1 cedar plank, soaked in water for 1 hour
- Instructions:
- Soak the cedar plank in water for at least 1 hour before grilling.
- Preheat your Traeger to 375°F.
- Season the fish fillet with salt, pepper, and fresh rosemary.
- Place the cedar plank on the grill grates and put the fish directly on the plank.
- Grill for 15–20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Serve with lemon slices for a fresh, tangy finish.
Check out more unique seafood recipes like tuna salmon loaf for additional inspiration when using your Traeger grill.
🥩 Beef Recipes for Traeger Grills
Beef, particularly steaks, brisket, and ribs, is where Traeger grills really shine. The combination of slow cooking and the smoky flavor from wood pellets ensures that your meat is juicy, tender, and full of flavor.
Reverse-Seared Ribeye
For perfectly cooked steaks with a smoky crust, the reverse-sear method is ideal. This technique involves slowly cooking the steak at a low temperature, then finishing it off with a high-heat sear for the ultimate crust.
- Ingredients:
- 🥩 1 thick-cut ribeye steak
- 🧈 Garlic butter
- 🧂 Salt and pepper
- 🌿 Fresh thyme
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 225°F.
- Season the ribeye steak generously with salt and pepper.
- Smoke the steak until it reaches an internal temperature of 120°F (approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour).
- Remove the steak and increase the grill temperature to 450°F.
- Sear the steak for 2 minutes on each side to develop a caramelized crust.
- Top with garlic butter and fresh thyme, and let the steak rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Want to learn more about this method? Check out the reverse sear steak method to perfect your technique.
Traeger Smoked Brisket
Brisket is one of the quintessential BBQ dishes, and the Traeger grill is perfect for the low-and-slow method needed to achieve the ideal tenderness.
- Ingredients:
- 🥩 1 whole brisket (10–12 pounds)
- 🧂 Dry rub (paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, black pepper)
- 🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 🧈 Butter for basting
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 225°F with hickory or mesquite pellets.
- Rub the brisket all over with the dry rub and minced garlic.
- Place the brisket fat-side up on the grill and smoke for 10–12 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F.
- Baste the brisket with melted butter every 2–3 hours to keep it moist.
- Once done, let the brisket rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
For more beef inspiration, check out recipes like chipotle steak, which pairs smoky heat with a rich, flavorful marinade.
Traeger Beef Ribs
- Ingredients:
- 🥩 2 racks of beef ribs
- 🧂 Dry rub (chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper)
- 🍯 Honey for basting
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 225°F with mesquite pellets.
- Season the beef ribs with the dry rub.
- Smoke the ribs for 6 hours, basting with honey every 2 hours.
- Once the ribs reach an internal temperature of 205°F, remove and let them rest for 10–15 minutes.
- Serve with BBQ sauce and your favorite sides.
If you’re looking to shake things up, try serving your ribs alongside a fresh, tangy salad like Din Tai Fung cucumber salad to balance out the richness of the meat.
🐖 Pork Recipes for Traeger Grills
Few things beat the flavor of slow-cooked, smoky pork. From pulled pork to ribs, pork absorbs smoke wonderfully and becomes tender and juicy with hours of low-and-slow cooking.
Pulled Pork
Pulled pork is a staple in the BBQ world, and the Traeger grill makes it easy to achieve perfectly shredded, flavorful pork.
- Ingredients:
- 🐖 Pork shoulder (8–10 pounds)
- 🧂 Dry rub (paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar)
- 🍯 Honey or BBQ sauce for serving
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 225°F using applewood or hickory pellets.
- Rub the pork shoulder generously with the dry rub.
- Smoke the pork shoulder for 8–10 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F.
- Remove the pork shoulder and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Shred the pork and serve with your favorite BBQ sauce or honey drizzle.
You can use pulled pork in a variety of dishes, from tacos to sandwiches. Looking for a twist? Try using it in a low-carb sub-in-a-tub meal for a healthier option.
321 Ribs (St. Louis Style)
The 321 method is a popular technique for cooking ribs on a Traeger grill, resulting in tender, fall-off-the-bone meat with a balance of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors.
- Ingredients:
- 🐖 St. Louis style ribs
- 🧂 Dry rub
- 🍯 Honey for wrapping
- 🍷 Apple cider vinegar for wrapping
- Instructions:
- Smoke the ribs at 225°F for 3 hours.
- Wrap the ribs in foil with honey and apple cider vinegar, and cook for another 2 hours.
- Remove the foil and finish with BBQ sauce for 1 hour.
- Serve with extra BBQ sauce and your favorite sides.
For a healthier pork option, consider trying Celtic salt pork dishes to incorporate natural flavors with fewer additives.
🍗 Poultry Recipes for Traeger Grills
Poultry, whether chicken or turkey, comes out juicy and flavorful when smoked or grilled on a Traeger. The grill’s ability to maintain low temperatures while infusing the meat with smoke makes it ideal for cooking poultry to perfection.
Smoked Pulled Chicken
- Ingredients:
- 🍗 Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 🧂 Dry rub (paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, salt)
- 🍋 Lemon juice for serving
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 225°F using hickory or applewood pellets.
- Rub the chicken with the dry rub.
- Smoke the chicken for 1.5–2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Shred the chicken and serve with BBQ sauce or in tacos, salads, or sandwiches.
Smoked Turkey Breast
- Ingredients:
- 🦃 Turkey breast
- 🍎 Apple cider brine
- 🧂 Seasoning rub
- Instructions:
- Brine the turkey overnight in apple cider for extra moisture and flavor.
- Preheat the Traeger to 250°F.
- Rub the turkey breast with your seasoning of choice.
- Smoke the turkey for 3–4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the turkey rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing.
For a twist on traditional poultry dishes, try a recipe like honey bourbon barbecue chicken to bring a sweet and savory element to your next BBQ.
🥕 Vegetable Recipes for Traeger Grills
Grilling vegetables on a Traeger not only adds a smoky flavor but also enhances their natural sweetness and texture. Perfect as sides or main dishes, vegetables grilled on a Traeger can be just as satisfying as meats.
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled asparagus is a simple yet flavorful side dish that pairs well with just about any meat or seafood.
- Ingredients:
- 🥦 Asparagus spears
- 🧄 Garlic powder
- 🧂 Olive oil
- Instructions:
- Preheat your Traeger to 400°F using cherry wood pellets.
- Toss the asparagus with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt.
- Grill for 5–7 minutes, turning occasionally for even charring.
Smoked Vegetable Medley
A mix of bell peppers, zucchini, onions, and eggplant, this vegetable medley is a perfect side dish for any BBQ meal.
- Ingredients:
- 🍆 Bell peppers
- 🥕 Zucchini
- 🧅 Onions
- 🍅 Eggplant
- Instructions:
- Toss the vegetables in olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat the Traeger to 225°F.
- Smoke the vegetables for 30–40 minutes, or until tender, stirring halfway through.
Want to try more creative veggie dishes? Check out recipes like use mayo for breading vegetables for a unique approach to veggie grilling.
🍰 Dessert Recipes for Traeger Grills
Yes, you can even make desserts on a Traeger! The grill’s ability to maintain consistent low temperatures makes it perfect for baking, and the added hint of smokiness creates a whole new flavor experience for your favorite sweets.
Smoked Apple Pie
- Ingredients:
- 🍏 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
- 🥧 Pre-made pie crust
- 🧈 Butter for topping
- 🧂 Cinnamon and sugar
- Instructions:
- Preheat the Traeger to 350°F using applewood pellets.
- Fill the pie crust with sliced apples, butter, and a mix of cinnamon and sugar.
- Place the pie on the grill and bake for 1 hour, or until the crust is golden and the apples are tender.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream for a delicious, smoky dessert.
For more sweet treats, you can also try recipes like cottage cheese desserts for a lighter alternative to traditional desserts.
FAQs About Traeger Recipes
What Makes Traeger Grills Different from Traditional Grills?
Traeger grills use wood pellets as fuel, giving your food a unique smoky flavor that gas or charcoal grills cannot replicate. Additionally, their digital temperature control allows for consistent, even cooking, making it easier to maintain the perfect temperature for grilling, smoking, or baking.
How Do You Cook Ribs on a Traeger Grill?
The 321 method is a foolproof way to cook ribs on a Traeger. You smoke the ribs for 3 hours, wrap them in foil for 2 hours with a liquid (like apple cider vinegar), and finish them with BBQ sauce for 1 hour. This method ensures fall-off-the-bone tender ribs every time.
Can You Cook Desserts on a Traeger?
Yes! The consistent, low temperature of a Traeger grill makes it perfect for baking. Try making smoked apple pie or grilled peach cobbler for a smoky twist on classic desserts.
What Temperature Should I Use for Smoking Meat on a Traeger?
For most meats, a temperature of 225°F to 250°F is ideal for smoking. This low-and-slow method allows the meat to absorb plenty of smoke while staying tender and juicy.
Conclusion
Traeger grills offer unmatched versatility for cooking everything from smoked meats to grilled vegetables and even baked desserts. With the wood pellet technology, you can easily elevate the flavor of your dishes, infusing them with a rich, smoky aroma that transforms your meals. Whether you’re mastering the art of reverse-seared steaks or creating a classic smoked pulled pork, these Traeger recipes provide all the inspiration you need to take your outdoor cooking to the next level.
Ready to explore more delicious possibilities? Don’t forget to try recipes like swordfish nuggets or finish your meal with a sweet treat like honey bourbon barbecue chicken.
Fire up your Traeger and let the smoky flavor elevate every dish you create!