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–+ servings
smoked red snapper fillets on a pellet grill
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Smoked Red Snapper

We rub our red snapper fillets with oil and a delicious seafood blackening rub before smoking hot and fast with indirect heat until they are cooked to perfection.
These simple Smoked Red Snapper fillets can be prepared on ANY grill or smoker!
Whether you are using a pellet grill like a Traeger or Pit Boss, an electric smoker like a Masterbuilt, or just a conventional propane grill like a Weber, you can still follow the same basic principles below. 
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 350kcal
Author Mads Martigan
Cost $30

Equipment

  • Grill, Pellet Grill, or Smoker
  • Wood chunks or a pellet tube smoker with pellets or a smoker box with wood chips
  • Grill Basket or Grilling Mat (optional)
  • Grill Tongs or Spatula
  • Instant Read Thermometer and/or Leave in Temperature Probe
  • Ziploc Bag
  • Filet Knife
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Red Snapper Fillets rinsed, patted dry, cut into (4) 8 oz portions
  • 6 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • ½ Lemon to squeeze over when finished (optional)

Cajun Blackening Rub

  • 2 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder (optional for heat)
  • ½ teaspoon Dried Basil
  • ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme

Instructions

Prepare and Season the Red Snapper

  • Divide the red snapper fillets into 8 oz portions. Rinse well and pat dry.
    three raw red snapper fillets on a tray
  • Place the red snapper fillets on a cutting board and drizzle the olive oil over both sides of each fillet and rub to cover the surfaces.
    pouring olive oil on raw red snapper fillets on a tray
  • Combine the Cajun Blackening Rub ingredients in a small mixing bowl and then sprinkle over each side of the red snapper fillets.
  • Place the fillets in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator while you prepare and preheat your grill or smoker.

Set up the Grill, Pellet Grill, or Smoker

  • Light or turn on your smoker or pellet grill and set up the temperature to 350°F. If using a grill, set up the burners or charcoal on only one side for indirect cooking.
    setting temperature on a smoker to 350 degrees F
  • Brush the grill grates with oil to keep the smoked red snapper from sticking or use an oiled grill basket to hold the fillets.
  • Add your wood chunk(s) directly to the firebox or on top of the charcoal of a smoker, or use chips in a smoker box, or pellets in a tube smoker on a gas grill.
    smoking wood on lit charcoal

Smoke the Red Snapper

  • Once smoke is being produced, put your red snapper filets in the smoker, or on the grill AWAY from the direct heat.
    a tray of red snapper fillets going on the smoker
  • Cook the red snapper fillets continuously at 350°F, flipping and rotating as needed, until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F. This should take about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of your fillets.
    smoked red snapper fillets on a pellet grill
  • Remove the smoked red snapper from the grill or smoker, optionally squeeze some lemon juice over the fillets, and serve immediately while hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal