How to smoke meat without a smoker

Craving the savoury flavour of smoked meat but hesitant to devote numerous hours tending to the smoker instead of enjoying quality time with loved ones? 

That's alright, because you don't need a smoker, although you can achieve superior results with one.

How to use your charcoal BBQ to smoke meat 

If you already have a charcoal grill, converting it into a smoker is a simple process. Here's how:

  1. Start by stacking your coals on one side of the grill.
  2. Place a drip pan on the opposite side.
  3. Light the coals and bring them to cooking temperature.
  4. Add a layer of wood chips on top of the coals.
  5. For enhanced smoking, pour a liquid into the drip pan. (Hint: try apple juice for a touch of sweetness in your meat, or simply use water!)
  6. Once the coals are lit and the wood is smoking, position your meat over the drip pan.
  7. Close the lid, leaving it slightly ajar for ventilation to allow the smoke to escape slowly.

How to use your gas BBQ to smoke meat 

Regardless of whether you possess a compact 2-burner configuration or an extensive 6-burner gas grill, your smoke arrangement on a gas grill will diverge from the charcoal method outlined previously.

  1. Since wood chips cannot be directly placed over coals, you'll need to place them in a metal pan or smoker box (picture below), which should be positioned directly over the flames. Once again, ensure that only one side of the grill is covered with wood chips. For optimal results on a gas grill, it's recommended to preheat everything by keeping all burners on high for approximately 20 minutes. This ensures that everything is adequately warmed up and facilitates a smoother cooking process.
  2. After preheating, deactivate the burners that are not located below your wood chips.
  3. Position your meat on the opposite side of the grill.
  4. Close the lid, leaving it slightly ajar for ventilation purposes.