How to Smoke a Brisket on a Pellet Grill

March 22, 2022

Most families make their holiday meals in their oven—and while that’s a great way to do it, using your pellet grill smoker to cook classics like holiday hams is an even better idea.

Whether you need a twice smoked ham for Christmas, Easter, or another festive celebration, this double smoked ham is the juicy, flavorful, and delicious recipe you’re looking for. With a brown sugar glaze on the outside, your ham’s exterior develops a sweet and crispy caramelization.

But the best part of all? It’s simple and easy to make because your twice smoked ham needs little attention while it smokes on your pellet grill.

Twice smoked ham that is bought pre-cooked and then smoked again on your grill to give it added flavor and texture.

When you purchase a ham in the store, you have the option to purchase a pre-cooked ham or a raw ham.

Pre-cooked hams are also referred to as City Hams, smoked hams, cured hams, or baked hams, and they’re the most popular option. All hams are cured, and the most popular way of curing ham is a “wet cure.” That just means the hams are soaked or injected with brine, a solution of salt, sugar, and spices.

These cooked hams are safe to eat cold right out of the package (but that’s not how you’re going to serve it on Christmas or Easter day). To find pre-cooked hams in the store, you can also look for these labels:

• fully cooked
• ready to serve
• ready to eat

Raw hams may also be labeled as fresh ham—and that’s not the kind we want for this twice smoked ham recipe.

For this recipe, you’ll only be smoking your ham once. That’s because when you buy it, it will have already been smoked once, ideally. If you can find a “smoked” ham in your grocery store, buy that one. If you can’t, any pre-cooked ham will work for this recipe.

Since pre-cooked hams are usually wet cured, it’s common for water to be added to the hams. But more water means less flavor.

If you want the highest quality twice smoked ham, here’s what you should buy in order from best to worst:

1. Ham (with no water added)
2. Ham with natural juices
3. Ham with water added (with a high protein rating between 17% to 18.5%)
4. Ham with water added (with a low protein rating below 17%)

Now, hams are also sold bone-in and bone-out. You can use either for this recipe, but I recommend going for a bone-in ham because you’ll get more flavor.

Boneless hams are easier to cut, but you need to decide if that convenience is worth sacrificing flavor.

When buying a ham, you need to consider how many people you’re feeding and how big their appetites are.

While there are different-sized hams, you’ll also need to decide if you want a whole ham or a half ham. Whole hams (also labeled “leg of ham”) consist of the butt and shank and usually weigh between 15 to 20 pounds. A half ham generally weighs 7 to 12 pounds.

If you’re getting a bone-in ham, you’ll want to portion a ½ pound to ¾ pound of ham per person. Consider if you’re feeding a lot of hungry adults with big appetites, if you’ll have a lot of other food, and if some of your guests are unlikely to eat much of the ham (like small children or vegetarians).

Here’s a quick guide for you:

• 10 people could finish a 5-to-7-pound ham
• 15 people could finish an 8-to-11-pound ham
• 20 people could finish a 10-15-pound ham

The time your ham takes to cook is determined by how much it weighs. Generally, your ham will take 60 minutes to cook per pound of meat when smoked on a pellet grill at 225°F.

So, a 10-pound ham will take about 600 minutes to cook, which is 10 hours.

The Z Grills wood pellets come in different flavors, including applewood, hickory, cherry, and oak, allowing you to choose the perfect flavor profile for your ham. These pellets are also compatible with a wide range of grills and smokers, making them versatile and convenient to use. These pellets are made from 100% natural hardwoods, without any additives or fillers. This ensures that the pellets provide a clean and consistent burn, without any harmful chemicals or residues.

Applewood Pellets

Applewood pellets are a popular choice for smoking ham, as they add a sweet and fruity flavor to the meat. The pellets burn clean and consistently, providing an even smoke that imparts a mild and subtle taste. Applewood pellets are perfect for those who prefer a milder smoke flavor and want to highlight the natural sweetness of the ham.

Hickory Wood Pellets

Hickory pellets are another popular option for smoking ham, as they provide a smoky and bold flavor to the meat. Hickory pellets have a strong aroma that can sometimes overpower the natural flavors of the ham, so it’s important to use them in moderation. They are ideal for those who enjoy a more robust smoke flavor and want to add a touch of smokiness to their ham.

Cherry Wood Pellets

Cherry pellets are a great option for smoking ham, as they provide a sweet and fruity flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the meat. Cherry pellets burn clean and consistently, providing a mild and balanced smoke that enhances the ham’s flavor without overpowering it. They are perfect for those who want to add a touch of sweetness to their ham without making it too overpowering.

To smoke a ham on a pellet grill, ensure you have the right equipment—a Z Grills pellet smoker, designed for precise temperature control and rich, smoky flavor, is all you need to create a mouthwatering dish.

With your Z Grills pellet grill, you’ll love how effortless this ham recipe is.

Start by preparing the ham: pat it dry and score the surface. Then, place it in your Z Grills pellet grill to smoke for 1-2 hours.

While the ham smokes, prepare a simple yet sweet brown sugar glaze to brush on during the final hour or less of cooking. Once finished, let your twice-smoked ham rest for 10-30 minutes.

Yes, it’s that simple!

For all the finer details on smoking a ham with a Z Grills pellet grill, check out our full recipe below.

Recommended reading: Smoking Ham Basics

Written by Z Grills