Smoked Tuna on a Pit Boss

Sharing is caring!

Are you tired of the same old grilled chicken and burgers? Why not change things up and try this Pit Boss smoked tuna recipe – it’s not only a tasty and healthy alternative, but it’s also perfect for weeknight dinners, cookouts, or when you want to serve something impressive at dinner parties.

While there are quite a few steps to smoking tuna properly, I’ll walk you through my simple process below so you get perfect results every time. 

Easy Pit Boss Smoked Tuna

While this tuna recipe is fairly simple, it delivers complex flavors that’ll surprise you. I love how juicy and tender the tuna stays while still getting that deep smoky flavor throughout.

Another thing I really appreciate is how tuna has that meaty texture similar to steak, so it’s a fantastic alternative when you don’t feel like red meat but still want something substantial and satisfying on your plate.

What You’ll Need to Cook Smoked Tuna

• Tuna fillets 
• Kosher salt
• Brown sugar
• Orange
• Lemon
• Basting sauce
• Sesame oil
• Hot sauce (use your favorite one, mine is Byron Bay Mango Chili)
• Ziploc bag
• Wire rack
• Baking tray 
• Wood Chips

How to Make This Smoked Tuna Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Cure and Cure The Tuna

Mix the cure ingredients in a Ziploc bag. Add the tuna fillets and massage the cure in to the tuna. Then place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or up to 24 hours. Remove the tuna fillets from the bag and thoroughly rinse them under cool water. Pat dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: Place The Tuna Fillets Back in The Fridge and Preheat The Smoker

Place the fillets on a greased wire rack over a baking sheet, and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes. Once your tuna has been in the fridge for 25 minutes, heat the Pit Boss grill to 180°F for 15 minutes and close the lid.

Step 3: Smoke the Tuna, Then Baste

Place the tuna fillets directly on the grill grates. Cook with the lid closed for 3 hours. Baste every 30 minutes.

Step 4: Increase The Temperature

Increase the cooking temperature to 225°F and cook for about 30-60 more minutes or until the tuna reaches 125°F. The fish should be light brown and easily flake when nudged with a fork. Remove the fish from the grill and serve.

What Temperature to Smoke Tuna on a Pit Boss

For this recipe, we will cook the tuna at 180°F, and toward the end of cooking, we will increase the pellet grill temperature to 225°F.

How Long to Smoke Tuna

You need to smoke tuna for around 3.5-4 hours; however, the smoking time is determined by the thickness of the fish, the consistency of the smoker’s temperature, and how quickly the tuna reaches an internal temperature of 125°F.

The hotter the cooking temp, the quicker the smoking time. Lower temps result in longer cook times. The important thing is that the tuna reaches an internal temperature of 125°F before you remove it from the smoker.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Cool the tuna and place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate it for up to a week. If you place the tuna in a freezer-proof bag, you can store it in the freezer for about a month.

Reheat leftover tuna in the microwave, air fryer, or oven; you can even shred the tuna and make a cold tuna salad. This delicious tuna recipe is perfect for beginners!

My Favorite Wood Chips for Tuna

Since tuna has such a delicate flavor, we recommend mild wood chips such as apple wood chips or cherry wood chips. If you prefer a strong flavor, you could try oak or hickory. However, I find that more subtle flavors are better with tuna.

Tips for Delicious Smoked Tuna

• Fresh ingredients are best. You’ll want to use fresh fish and fresh lemon juice if possible.
• If you have tuna steaks, you can still follow this recipe. While tuna steaks are a different cut, they still have the same flavor! Even the perfect tuna steak may not be as flaky as tuna fillets, but the result will still be delectable.
• When smoking fish, it is good practice to avoid using direct heat. Indirect heat is the best method of cooking in a smoker.

📌 Did you try this recipe?

Have you made this delicious recipe and loved it?

I would love it if you took a minute to leave a star rating and review. It is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that; thank you!

📌 Please also pin the image below, then you can find the recipe for the next time you want to cook.

What to Serve With Smoked Tuna

Smoke On!

Charlie

Hungry For More?

Smoke On!

Charlie

Hungry For More?