How to Smoke on Your Weber Gas Grill: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated at: 04/02/2025

Weber gas grills are renowned for their versatility and ease of use, but did you know they can also produce incredible smoky flavors? Forget the misconception that smoking is solely the domain of charcoal grills; with a few simple techniques and the right accessories, your Weber gas grill can become your new go-to for perfectly smoked meats, fish, and vegetables. The intense heat and precise temperature control of a gas grill offer advantages over charcoal, allowing for more consistent smoking and easier temperature management. Imagine tender, succulent ribs, infused with the rich aroma of hickory or mesquite, all cooked on the familiar surface of your Weber.

This guide will take you through a simple, step-by-step process for achieving delicious smoky results on your Weber gas grill. We'll cover everything from choosing the right wood chips to maintaining optimal temperature, ensuring that even a beginner can master the art of smoking on gas. Let's get started and unlock the full potential of your Weber!

Safety Guidelines

  • Never leave your grill unattended while smoking. Fires can start unexpectedly, especially with smoking wood.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation. Smoke inhalation can be dangerous, and proper airflow prevents buildup of dangerous gases.
  • Use appropriate gloves and tools when handling hot wood chips, ash, and grill components.

Methods: Smoking with Weber Smoker Box

Tools Needed

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Wood Chips

    • Soak wood chips for at least 30 minutes.

  2. Start and Preheat the Grill

    • Start your gas grill and follow safety instructions. Open the lid to avoid gas fumes.
    • Preheat grill to 500°F (10-15 minutes). Clean the cooking grates.
    Preheat grill to 500°F (10-15 minutes). Clean the cooking grates.
    Start and Preheat the Grill

  3. Set up for Indirect Heat and Smoking

    • Turn off middle burners; turn down outside burners to the suggested temperature. Keep the burner under the smoker box on high.
    Turn off middle burners; turn down outside burners to the suggested temperature. Keep the burner under the smoker box on high.
    Set up for Indirect Heat and Smoking

  4. Add Wood Chips to Smoker Box

    • Open the smoker box and add soaked wood chips, spreading them out.
    • Close the smoker box and grill lid; wait for smoke to appear.
    Close the smoker box and grill lid; wait for smoke to appear.
    Add Wood Chips to Smoker Box

  5. Adjust Burner Heat and Maintain Smoke

    • Lower the heat under the smoker box to medium or low to maintain a slow smolder.
    Lower the heat under the smoker box to medium or low to maintain a slow smolder.
    Adjust Burner Heat and Maintain Smoke

  6. Cook the Food

    • Arrange food over unlit burners, close the lid immediately.
    • Adjust main burners during cooking as needed; for very low temperatures (<250°F), use only the dedicated smoker burner.
    Adjust main burners during cooking as needed; for very low temperatures (<250°F), use only the dedicated smoker burner.Adjust main burners during cooking as needed; for very low temperatures (<250°F), use only the dedicated smoker burner.
    Cook the Food

Tips

  • Don't throw dry wood chips into the smoker box; they will flash and not produce much smoke.
  • The closer your food is to the smoker box, the more smoke flavor it will absorb.
  • Add more wood chips as needed when they burn out.

Methods: DIY Smoking Method with Foil Pan

Tools Needed

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Foil Pan Smoker

    • Place drained wood chips in a foil pan.
    • Cover with aluminum foil; poke holes for smoke to escape.
    Cover with aluminum foil; poke holes for smoke to escape.Cover with aluminum foil; poke holes for smoke to escape.
    Prepare the Foil Pan Smoker

  2. Set up the Grill

    • Place pan on flavorizer bars over an unlit burner (preferably in the back corner).
    • Put cooking grates in place; turn on all burners high and close lid.
    Put cooking grates in place; turn on all burners high and close lid.Put cooking grates in place; turn on all burners high and close lid.
    Set up the Grill

  3. Cook the Food

    • Begin cooking when smoke appears; adjust grill temperature as needed.
    Begin cooking when smoke appears; adjust grill temperature as needed.
    Cook the Food

Tips

  • You can't add more chips to the pan, but it is a good starting point.

Read more: Gas Grill vs. Pizza Oven: Achieving Pizza Perfection

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Too Much Wood or Wood Chips

Reason: Overloading the smoker box with wood chips can lead to excessive smoke, overpowering the flavor of your food and potentially causing flare-ups.
Solution: Use a smaller amount of wood chips and replenish as needed throughout the smoking process.

2. Not Maintaining Consistent Temperature

Reason: Fluctuations in temperature can result in uneven cooking and a less-than-desirable smoky flavor profile.
Solution: Monitor the grill temperature closely and adjust the burners as necessary to maintain a consistent heat.

FAQs

What type of wood chips are best for smoking on a Weber gas grill?
Fruitwood chips (apple, cherry, pecan) are generally preferred for their milder flavors and are a good starting point for beginners. Hickory and mesquite produce stronger, smokier flavors and are better suited for heartier meats.