Simple & Delicious Smoked Baked Potatoes

Slow-baked potatoes with crispy skin and a fluffy interior are a perfect side dish to serve with a grilled BBQ main course. Smoked Baked Potatoes are not just easy to make but are loaded with nutrients and flavor. 

Even a beginner can happily make perfectly baked potatoes on the pellet grill. The only thing you need to keep in mind is how long it takes. These potatoes are smoked for around 3 hours total. So be sure to plan ahead.

Why You’ll Love Them

• Rich Smoky Flavor: Smoking gives the potatoes a unique, intense smoky taste, elevating them beyond regular baked potatoes.
• Versatility in Pairings: These potatoes complement various dishes, especially grilled meats, and can be topped with a variety of ingredients for added flavor.
• Healthy Choice: Smoked baked potatoes retain more nutrients than boiled ones and are low in fat, making them a healthier yet flavorful side dish option.

Ingredients You Need

Here is what you will need to make Baked Potatoes in the Traeger

• Baking potatoes: The main ingredient for this dish are potatoes. I have used russet potatoes as they work well for baking. Make sure the potatoes are firm and fresh.
• Olive oil: Olive oil aids in cooking the potatoes and gives you crispy skin. It is loaded with healthy fats, so it is a great ingredient. You can use avocado oil for this purpose as well.
• Salt: A little bit of salt enhances the flavor and ensures the potatoes don’t stay bland.
• Black pepper: Add black pepper as per your liking to get some flavor into the baked potatoes.
• Garlic powder: It adds an intense savory flavor to any dish.

What Pellets to Use for the Smoker?

Hickory: Known for its strong, smoky flavor, hickory is a classic choice that pairs well with the natural taste of potatoes. It’s great for adding a robust flavor to your smoked baked potatoes.

Apple: Apple wood pellets offer a milder, sweeter smoke flavor. They’re perfect if you’re looking for a subtly sweet and fruity undertone to complement the earthiness of the potatoes.

Oak: Oak provides a medium smoke flavor that is less intense than hickory but stronger than fruit woods like apple or cherry. It’s a good middle-ground choice that works well with a variety of dishes.

Cherry: Cherry wood gives a slightly sweet and fruity smoke, similar to apple, but with a bit more depth. It can add a beautiful color to your potatoes as well.

How to Make Smoked Baked Potatoes

When you are ready to cook, start the grill on smoke with the lid open for 5 minutes for the fire to get established. Set the Traeger temperature to 225° F(107°C). Preheat with the lid closed for 10-15 minutes.

While the grill is heating, mix together the seasonings. Wash and dry the potatoes and poke them each 2-3 times with a fork or skewer. Rub the potatoes with olive oil and season with the seasoning blend.

Cook on 225°F(107°C) for about 2 hours.

Turn the heat up to 400°F(204°C) and grill for another 30 minutes to an hour, until completely tender inside.

It takes a long time, but it’s so worth it in the end!

Faster Cooking Method

In this case, I think good things come to those who wait and it’s very much worth it to put in the 3 hours of time it takes to cook, but if you’re in a hurry, you can cook these potatoes the faster way.

Heat the grill to 450° F(232°C). Close the lid and bake for 40 minutes, or until the potato is soft in the center when poked with a skewer. Be sure not to open the lid as it’s cooking, which will help it cook faster.

Helpful Tips

When making baked potatoes in the Traeger, keep a few points in mind:

• Make sure you wash and scrub the potatoes to get rid of dirt and debris.
• Don’t forget to pierce the potatoes. You can do that by using a fork or a sharp point knife. The piercing will allow air to pass through the potato, and it won’t crack while baking.
• Increasing the grill temperature is crucial to ensure the skin is crispy and the potatoes don’t turn out to be soggy or mushy.
• You can use spices like cayenne pepper, paprika powder, onion powder, or cumin to add more flavor to the baked potatoes. 
• Don’t open the lid of the Traeger while cooking. This allows heat to escape and will slow down the cooking process.

What Type of Potato to Use

Baking potatoes, which are Russet potatoes, are the best potato to use for smoked baked potatoes.

High Starch Content: Russet potatoes have a high starch content, which helps them to bake up light and fluffy on the inside.

Thick Skin: They have a thick, sturdy skin that crisps up nicely when baked, making it flavorful and enjoyable to eat.

Large and Oblong Shape: These potatoes are typically large and oblong, which provides a substantial amount of flesh for a variety of recipes, including baked potatoes.

What Toppings To Use

There are no wrong toppings to use when on pellet smoker potatoes. Here are a few that we suggest:

• Bacon crumbles
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Sour Cream
• Chives
• Ranch dressing
• Smoked mozzarella

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