Smoked Potatoes
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Smoked potatoes make a delicious side dish that's one of the easiest smoker recipes you can cook on a wood pellet grill. It's perfect for cookouts and loaded with smoky flavor!
Fried, mashed, or tossed in a salad, potatoes are a southern favorite. The next time you smoke some ribs or chicken, throw some taters on your Traeger pellet grill and get ready for a tasty treat!
Jump To
What Are Smoked Potatoes?
Smoked potatoes are exactly what they sound like: an easy spud recipe that adds smoky flavor to every bite. They're perfectly seasoned and ready to be the hit of your outdoor gathering!
Making this recipe using a pellet smoker is a great way to upgrade potatoes to the perfect side dish. But, if you don’t have an electric smoker, a charcoal grill (or even an oven) will do in a pinch.
If you're a potato lover like me, try my Loaded Hash Brown Casserole or Twice Baked Potatoes that can also be smoked on a pellet grill!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Recipe: Since there's very simple prep work, you’re free to work on other parts of your meal...or take a cocktail break.
- Pairs Well with Others: This dish is the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of popular foods. It uses the smoking process to create an unforgettable combo with meats or veggie main dishes.
- Fun Method: Smoked and barbecued dishes are always a favorite, so why not try this cooking process just for fun?
- Great Taste: From crispy potato skins to creamy, buttery middles, you're guaranteed to get a perfect bite!
These smoked spuds come together so easily, you'll be wondering why you haven't tried them before! This recipe uses baby potatoes, but russets and larger Yukon gold varieties work just as well. There are only 4 ingredients which come together in a jiffy!
Enjoy smoked potatoes as a side to other grilled main dishes like chicken thighs or chuck roast. Seasoned taters also pair well with dutch oven meals like roasted whole chicken, turkey breast and pork tenderloin.
Equipment You'll Need
The following list contains affiliate links:
Ingredients
See recipe card below for quantities and instructions.
- baby yellow potatoes
- olive oil
- burger seasoning
- steak seasoning
How to Make Smoked Potatoes
- Scrub baby potatoes with a vegetable brush under cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Place potatoes on a large half-size sheet pan. Slice some in half if you wish. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Sprinkle spuds with burger and steak seasoning that has salt, pepper and garlic in the ingredients. Use hands to mix potatoes with olive oil and seasonings.
- Preheat smoker to 225 degrees. Place sheet pan in smoker. Do not cover.
- Smoke spuds for 2 hours, or until they are fork tender and golden brown on the edges.
- Stir frequently to prevent scorching, at least every 15 minutes.
- Serve straight from the sheet pan, or transfer potatoes to a cast iron skillet if desired. The skillet keeps the potatoes warm while waiting on other food to finish cooking.
Variations
This is a hard-to-beat side dish, but if you want to branch out a little, try these recipe variations:
- Smoked Baked Potatoes: Craving the ultimate fluffy and soft baked tater? Smoking baked potatoes takes them to the next level. Top these bad boys with sour cream, a generous sprinkle of cheddar cheese, and some green onions on top. This works best with russet potatoes, but any large potato will work — just make sure to adjust the cooking time!
- Add Cheese: Want something with a bit more pizazz? Add sharp cheddar cheese after potatoes have finished smoking.
- Substitute Sweet Potatoes: Here's a great way to mix things up – use sweet potatoes for a healthier alternative. Make sure to cook them low and slow, as their higher sugar content can cause them to burn a little easier than russet or Yukon gold potatoes. Add toppings like cream cheese and chives, or add a drizzle of Carolina Gold barbecue sauce to kick it up a notch.
- Use Fresh Herbs and Spices: This potatoes recipe uses a blend of burger and steak seasoning. But to make the flavor really pop, why not coat the spuds with fresh herbs and spices? Simply mix together oregano and fresh chives with garlic and onion powder. Drizzle with olive oil and brush this mixture onto the potatoes before smoking.
- Smoked Hasselback Potatoes: Try a different recipe like Hasselback potatoes which has the perfect amount of crispy skin and plenty of sections to stuff with favorite toppings.
- Turn this dish into Smoked Potato Salad: mash the spuds and mix with mayo and sour cream. Add chopped onions and mustard with seasonings. Delicious!
Top Tips
- If you don’t own a pellet smoker, you can easily make this dish with another type of grill, (or even an oven). All you need to do is add some liquid smoke or moistened wood chips to your sheet pan to create the smoke flavor. Make sure to monitor closely and keep the heat low to prevent scorching.
- Transfer these spuds to a cast iron skillet to keep them warm if you can’t serve the dish immediately.
- Try experimenting with different seasonings and toppings. Herbs, black pepper, salt, and even parmesan cheese are amazing additions.
- Make sure to add olive oil or another healthy fat to bind the toppings and flavors to the taters.
- We recommend cooking this recipe uncovered for crispy skin. If you prefer spuds with softer skin, try covering them with aluminum foil.
- For best results, stir the potatoes frequently – every 15 minutes or so – to prevent scorching.
Recipe FAQs
Smoked potatoes take 2 hours to cook at 225 degrees F. This might sound like a long time, but all you need to do is to stir the spuds once in a while. Plus, they can be cooked alongside other smoked meats and veggies if desired.
There’s no need to cover these spuds. In fact, you should leave them uncovered for maximum smoke flavor!
While any type of wood pellets will work, hickory, cherry or mesquite provide the strongest smoke flavor.
Storage and Freezing
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days. Just make sure to reheat them thoroughly in a microwave or a 350 degrees F oven until warmed throughout.
You can also freeze this recipe. Spread potatoes on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a plastic bag or wrap them in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and roast in an oven or smoker at 350 degrees F until warm and crispy.
What to Serve with Smoked Potatoes?
Smoked potatoes are one of the best side dishes out there because they're so versatile. The next time you cook this dish, try it with one of the following recipes:
- Pellet Grill Smoked Meatloaf: Already fired up your Traeger smoker and want to make the most of it? Serve smoked spuds alongside this tender, moist, and comforting meatloaf.
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Legs: These chicken legs are another pellet grill masterpiece. Handheld drumsticks are the perfect companion to tailgates, backyard barbecues, and — of course — smoked potatoes!
- The Carolina Burger: Sure, potatoes are the perfect side dish for most burgers (and to mostly everything, really), but have you tried a Carolina burger yet? This sloppy joe burger hybrid is the messiest, most delicious, and most satisfying food you can find.
- Southern Tomato Pie: If you’re looking for a vegetarian main to serve with your smoked potatoes while staying true to Southern style, you have to try this tomato pie! Best served in summer with vine-ripe tomatoes, this dish blends in buttery, cheesy goodness with the bright freshness of garden tomatoes.
- Fire and Ice Pickles: You’ve got to try Fire & Ice pickles! This easy recipe uses dill pickles you can get from your local grocery store — no long wait required. In just a few simple steps, you’ll have a sweet, crisp crunch with a bite of heat that’s sure to be a hit!
Recipe Card
Smoked Potatoes
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
- cast iron skillet (optional serving dish)
Ingredients
- 4.5 pounds baby yellow potatoes (slice half of baby potatoes, leave other half whole)
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon burger seasoning
- 1 teaspoon steak seasoning
Instructions
- Scrub baby potatoes with a vegetable brush under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.4.5 pounds baby yellow potatoes
- Place potatoes on a large half-size sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil.2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Sprinkle potatoes with burger and steak seasoning. Use hands to mix potatoes with oil and seasonings.1 teaspoon burger seasoning, 1 teaspoon steak seasoning
- Preheat smoker to 225 degrees. Place sheet pan filled with potatoes in smoker. Do not cover.
- Smoke spuds for 2 hours, or until they are fork tender and golden brown on the edges. If potatoes are not crispy on the edges after 2 hours, crank up the heat to 350 degrees and cook until crispy (about 15 minutes or so).
- Stir frequently to prevent scorching, at least every 15 minutes.
- Serve straight from the sheet pan, or transfer potatoes to a cast iron skillet if desired. The skillet will also keep the potatoes warm if waiting on other food to finish cooking.
Notes
- All smokers cook differently, so adjust the temp and time on your machine if needed.
- If you don't have burger or steak seasoning, you can use good old salt and pepper! You can also add flavor with other seasonings like dried oregano, rosemary, onion powder and garlic powder.
- If you don't have a smoker, these potatoes can be baked in the oven at the same time and temperature without the smoky flavor. Or, you can cook them on a grill with moistened wood chips.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
Sharing is Caring! Love my RECIPES? Please SHARE with friends!
This is a great recipe for beginners with a Traeger pellet grill. Thanks for the tips and instructions.