60 Delicious Recipes That Use Liquid Smoke

If you're looking for delicious smoky BBQ flavor but don't have the time, let liquid smoke come to your rescue.

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Pressure Cooker Coffee Beef Roast

Coffee is the key to this flavorful beef roast that simmers until it’s fall-apart tender. Try it once, and I’m sure you’ll cook it again. —Charles Trahan, San Dimas, California

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What is liquid smoke, anyway?

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Smoky Vegan Bacon

This vegan bacon recipe is a must for any meatless eater! You won't believe how similar it is to the real thing. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Kansas City Barbecue Sauce

This tangy Kansas City BBQ sauce is lip-smacking good. It's thick, and a little sweet with a touch of heat. If you like it spicy, add a little more hot sauce or chili powder. —Sherry Pitzer, Troy, Missouri
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Smoked Mac and Cheese

I found this smoked mac and cheese recipe, and I kept working with the ingredients until I discovered the perfect combination. You can bake it in the oven, too. —Stacey Dull, Gettysburg, Ohio
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Slow-Cooker Vegan Baked Beans

This version of vegan baked beans doesn't need an oven. The slow cooker makes it the ultimate hands-off party dish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Pressure Cooker Carne Guisada

While living away from Texas for a while, my boyfriend and I grew homesick for the spicy flavors of home. We've made this recipe a few times now, and it goes really well with homemade flour tortillas. We love this pressure cooker carne guisada over rice, too. —Kelly Evans, Denton, Texas
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Pressure-Cooker Beef Brisket in Beer

One bite of this super tender brisket and your family will be hooked! The rich gravy is perfect for spooning over a side of creamy mashed potatoes. —Eunice Stoen, Decorah, Iowa
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Smoked Brisket

This smoked brisket recipe is always a crowd favorite—it really melts in your mouth! —Jodi Abel, La Jolla, California
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Nashville BBQ Sauce

This Nashville BBQ sauce is vinegar-forward with smoky undertones. Use it on your favorite grilled or smoked meats. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes

My grandma absolutely loves Italian food, so I decided to make a twist on classic sloppy joe sandwiches just for her. The mozzarella and tomato sauce are classic, and red peppers make it fun. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
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Grilled Cheese Bun Burgers

My husband loves both my grilled cheese and my iron-skillet burgers, so I decided to combine them in this grilled cheese bun burger. He said it was the best meal he ever ate. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama
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Sweet Horseradish Glazed Ribs

If you like to prep ahead of camping, roast these ribs, wrap them and finish with a sweet, savory sauce at your campfire or grill. —Ralph Jones, San Diego, California
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Papa Burger

When whipping up something for Father’s Day or the Fourth of July, I go big and tall with this fully loaded, juicy yumburger. —Chase Bailey, Costa Mesa, California
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Oven-Baked Brisket

Texans like brisket cooked on the smoker, but this recipe offers convenient prep in the oven. Sometimes I make extra sauce to serve on the side. Round out the meal with potato salad and slaw. —Katie Ferrier, Houston, TX
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Andouille Sausage Soup

I make a soup every football Sunday. I came up with this recipe because I wanted to use lots of vegetables to keep it healthy, but wanted it to be interesting. My wife suggested adding the andouille and now it's one of my favorite andouille sausage recipes. —Steven Thurner, Janesville, Wisconsin
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Super Easy Country-Style Ribs

I'm a die-hard rib fan. When we were growing up, our mom made these for us all the time, and we still can’t get enough of them. —Stephanie Loaiza, Layton, Utah
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Teriyaki Beef Jerky

Jerky is a fun and portable snack. The meat has a savory flavor and just a bit of heat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Easy Texas BBQ Brisket

Mom came to visit and told me my brisket was even better than the version we used to eat back in Texas. Use the leftovers for sandwiches and tacos. —Audra Rorick, Blanca, Colorado
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Kalua Pork

Planning a luau-themed party? This Kalua pork is the perfect main dish for your get-together. It will feed a crowd, it's easy to prepare, and everyone loves it. Cleanup is a breeze, too! A Hawaiian friend shared this recipe with me while I was stationed in Pearl Harbor several years ago. —Becky Friedman, Hammond, Louisiana
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Slow-Cooker BBQ Ham Sandwiches

Friends love these barbecue sandwiches and often ask me to make them. We double the crowd-pleasing recipe and serve them at potlucks. —Dana Knox, Butler, Pennsylvania
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Beef Brisket Tacos

Birthday parties back home were big gatherings of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and anyone else we considered family. As soon as guests arrived, hot pans of shredded brisket, or carne deshebrada, appeared, along with frijoles, tostadas, salsas and huge bowls of salad. We always counted brisket tacos because the brisket could be made in the oven or a slow cooker. —Yvette Marquez, Muy Bueno Recipes + Stories, Littleton, Colorado
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Carne Guisada

While living away from Texas for a while, my boyfriend and I grew homesick for the spicy flavors of home. We've made this recipe a few times now, and it goes really well with homemade flour tortillas. We love it over rice, too. —Kelly Evans, Denton, Texas
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Cranberry BBQ Pulled Pork

Cranberry sauce adds a yummy twist to pulled pork, and my family can't get enough of it! The pork cooks to tender perfection in the slow cooker, which also makes this dish conveniently portable. —Carrie Wiegand, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
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Brown Sugar-Glazed Meatballs

I modeled these sweet-spicy pork-and-shrimp meatballs after the filling in Asian wontons. They're a family favorite, whether I serve them alone as an appetizer or over hot cooked rice as a main dish. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
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Tangy Baked Seven Beans

Everyone needs a go-to side dish for school events, picnics and potlucks. Here's mine. Freeze leftovers for future outings. —Rod Lundwall, Tooele, Utah
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Sizzling Tex-Mex Fajitas

My family likes garlic, so I dreamed up this delicious marinade for our summer fajita dinners. The marinade needs eight hours to work its magic, but it’s even better if the steak marinates overnight. Try it on chicken breasts, too.—Karyn "Kiki" Power, Arlington, Texas
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Whiskey Barbecue Pork

The ingredient list may seem long for this saucy pork, but most of these items are common things you’ll already have in your kitchen. Plus, once the sauce is mixed, the slow cooker does the rest. —Rebecca Horvath, Johnson City, Tennessee
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Spiced Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This pulled pork is tender and has a fabulous spice rub on it. It is my sweetie's favorite meal, and I love that it is so easy. What a fantastic way to warm up a chilly afternoon. Add more or less salt to taste if you'd like. —Katie Citrowske, Bozeman, Montana
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BBQ Chicken Sliders

Brining the meat overnight helps make these BBQ chicken sliders taste exceptionally good. Plus, they're so tender, they melt in your mouth. —Rachel Kunkel, Schell City, Missouri
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BBQ Chicken Baked Potatoes

These baked potatoes are meals in themselves, with a smoky barbecue flavor that will make your mouth water. You can top them with your favorite cheese and garnishes. —Amber Massey, Coppell, Texas
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Slow-Cooker Barbecued Beef Sandwiches

Chuck roast makes delicious slow-cooker barbecue beef sandwiches after simmering in a rich, homemade sauce all day. The meat is tender and juicy and takes minutes to prepare for a weeknight dinner or potluck. —Tatina Smith, San Angelo, Texas
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Country Rib Sandwiches

Perfect for a weekday dinner or cozy weekend meal, this recipe makes fall-off-the-bone tender meat with delicious flavor. —Margaret Luchsinger, Jupiter, Florida
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Texas-Style Beef Brisket

A friend had success with this recipe, so I tried it. When my husband told me how much he loved it, I knew I'd be making it often.—Vivian Warner, Elkhart, Kansas
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Sweet 'n' Tangy Chicken Wings

I love the convenience of slow-cooker recipes for get-togethers. Start these wings a few hours ahead of time and you'll have fantastic appetizers ready when your guests arrive. —Ida Tuey, South Lyon, Michigan
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Lazy Man's Ribs

I've made these tender ribs for a lot of my buddies—including my preacher. Some have even suggested that I try bottling my sauce and selling it to the public! —Allan Stackhouse Jr., Jennings, Louisiana
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Cherry Barbecue Sauce

You can use fresh or frozen cherries to make this flavorful barbecue sauce. It tastes phenomenal on ribs and chicken! —Ilene Harrington, Nipomo, California
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Weeknight Chicken Fajitas for Two

My family loves fajitas and asks for them at least once a week. This quick and easy version gets as close to the version our local taqueria serves.—Tanya Cook, West Salem, Wisconsin
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Beef Brisket in Beer

One bite of this super tender brisket and your family will be hooked! The rich gravy is perfect for spooning over a side of creamy mashed potatoes. —Eunice Stoen, Decorah, Iowa
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Barbecued Burgers

I can't take all the credit for these winning burgers. My husband's uncle passed down the special barbecue sauce recipe. We love it on everything...it was only natural to try it on, and in, burgers. Add cheese and bacon to take them over the top. —Rhoda Troyer, Glenford, Ohio
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Chicken Fajitas for Two

This is the best fajita recipe I've ever tried. It sounds complicated, but it really isn't. The servings are hearty, but this dish is so good that my husband and I never have a problem finishing it! —Kathleen Smith, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Corn Chowder with Potatoes

I developed this soup out of two others to create my own low-calorie recipe. It turned out so well that I entered it in my county fair and won a blue ribbon. —Alyce Wyman, Pembina, North Dakota
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Easy Smoked Salmon

A magazine featured this recipe years ago, and it's still my favorite smoked salmon. Just add crackers for a super simple yet elegant appetizer. —Norma Fell, Boyne City, Michigan
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BBQ Country Ribs

I created this country ribs recipe many years ago when I adapted a sauce I saw in a magazine. The original called for much more oil. I usually triple the sauce and keep some in my freezer to use on chicken, beef or pork. —Barbara Gerriets, Topeka, Kansas
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Tangy Barbecue Wings

I took these slow-cooked wings to work, and they vanished before I even got a bite! The tangy sauce is lip-smacking good. —Sherry Pitzer, Troy, Missouri
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Beef Brisket on Buns

With its slightly smoky flavor, this beef turns out tender and delicious every time! Plus, it slices well so it looks great on a buffet. —Deb Waggoner, Grand Island, Nebraska
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Raspberry Barbecue Wings

I came up with this recipe when I got tired of the same old wings. These are baked with onion and garlic, then broiled and basted with a mixture of raspberry jam, barbecue sauce and jalapeno peppers. The sauce is also excellent on pork and is great for dipping. —Sandra Fisher, Missoula, Montana
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Slow-Cooked Coffee Beef Roast

Coffee is the key to a flavorful beef roast that simmers in the slow cooker until it's fall-apart tender. Try it once and I'm sure you'll cook it again. —Charles Trahan, San Dimas, California
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Slow-Cooked Pork Roast

This tasty meal is wonderful for summer because it doesn't heat up the kitchen! —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon
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Meatballs in Barbecue Sauce

This recipe came from my home ec teacher in high school. I enjoy making it because you can throw it in the oven and still have time to do other things.—Yvonne Nave, Lyons, Kansas
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Hawaiian Pork Roast

Bananas, liquid smoke and soy sauce flavor this fall-apart-tender pork roast. It's just like the kind I enjoyedat the luaus I went to in Hawaii. —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
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Salmon Party Spread

We're proud to serve our delicious Alaskan salmon to guests. Set out some crackers, and this slightly smoky spread will be gone in no time! —Kathy Crow, Cordova, Alaska
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Contest-Winning Barbecued Chicken

When our neighborhood has a cookout, I always take along this chicken and watch it quickly disappear! My family loves this recipe because of the zesty seasoning blend and no-fuss barbecue sauce. —Linda Scott, Hahira, Georgia

James Schend
Formerly Taste of Home’s Deputy Editor, Culinary, James oversaw the Food Editor team, recipe contests and Bakeable, and managed all food content for Trusted Media Brands. He has also worked in the kitchen of Williams-Sonoma and at Southern Living. An honor graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, James has traveled the world searching for great food in all corners of life.