How to Make Smoked Trout in Your Oven

Looking for a mouthwatering smoked trout recipe made in your oven? Discover the perfect balance of smoky, tender, and flavorful fish with our easy-to-follow recipe. Impress your guests or treat yourself to a delectable meal with this delightful dish.

It’s no secret that smoked trout is delicious, but it can also be a bit tricky to cook properly. We are sharing how to make the perfect smoked trout dish every time in this simple smoked trout recipe.

Learn how to smoke trout without a smoker!

Whether you’re a seasoned fisherman or just looking for a new way to prepare trout, read on for some smoking tips and a recipe for preparing it right in the oven! Smoked fish is a great option and one of our favorite ways to enjoy this mild fish thanks to the smokey flavor.

While trout can be eaten whole, they are also great smoked, fried or added to salads. 

 How to Make Smoked Trout in Your Oven

What Kind of Trout Can You Catch During Trout Season? 

Trout are a type of fresh water fish that are prized for their delicate flavor and texture, and can be prepared in a variety of ways.

There are many different types of fresh trout that you can catch during trout season. Some of the most common types include lake trout, steelhead trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. Each type of trout has its own unique flavor and texture.

 How to Make Smoked Trout in Your Oven

How to Smoke Trout in the Oven

Ingredients 

  • Trout fillets
  • 1/2 gallon of water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice

Directions

The first step is to make the smoke trout brine in a large bowl.

In a large baking dish or baking sheet, pour in brine, place whole trout into brine. 

Brine the fish for about 8 hours in the refrigerator covered in plastic wrap.

Remove from brine, rinse off fish in cold water. Pat dry with paper towels,

Lay fish onto the racks of your oven. 

Preheat the oven to 180-200 degrees. Smoke fish until done, about an hour and half to 2 hours. The fish is finished when the meat of the fish is flaky or until the fish reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.

Once the trout is perfectly smoked, remove it from the smoker and allow it to rest for a few minutes. This allows the flavors to settle and the flesh of the fish to become more tender. Gently separate the flesh from the skin, which should easily peel away. 

Store in the refrigerator or freezer.  

Relevant Recipes:

 How to Make Smoked Trout in Your Oven

How to Eat Smoked Trout

There are all sorts of ways to enjoy smoked trout, but my personal favorite is to simply mix it with some fresh herbs like fresh dill and a squeeze of lemon juice and slices of lemon.

To eat smoked trout, first remove the skin and any bones. Then, cut the fish into thin slices and enjoy! Serve the smoked trout as a main dish alongside your favorite side dishes, such as roasted vegetables, herbed potatoes, or a fresh salad. 

It’s also great in salads or on sandwiches, as well as a delicious trout dip. Smoked trout goes well with tartar sauce, horseradish sauce, or simply lemon juice. It can also be used in salads or sandwiches.

What is the Best Way to Eat Smoked Trout?

There are endless possibilities when it comes to what to eat with smoked trout. This versatile fish can be eaten on its own or used as a key ingredient in all sorts of dishes. Here are just a few ideas of what to eat with smoked trout: 

  • Flake the smoked trout and toss it with fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a tangy vinaigrette for a refreshing and protein-packed salad.
  • Incorporate smoked trout into a pasta dish by adding it to a creamy Alfredo sauce or tossing it with linguine, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and fresh herbs for a flavorful and light meal.
  • Combine flaked smoked trout with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, dill, and a touch of horseradish for a delicious and creamy dip. Serve it with crackers, bread, or fresh vegetables for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
  • Add flaked smoked trout to a fluffy omelette along with some fresh herbs, diced onions, and grated cheese for a protein-rich and satisfying breakfast or brunch option.
  • If you’re feeling creative, you could even make a Trout Tartine – an open-faced sandwich topped with smoked trout, avocado, and other toppings of your choice.

​Smoked Trout FAQ

How long does smoked trout last?

Smoked trout usually lasts for about 2-3 days in the fridge. However, if you keep it properly sealed in an airtight container, it can last up to a week.

Can I smoke trout without brining it?

Yes, you can smoke trout without brining it, but brining can enhance the flavor, texture, and moisture of the fish. 

However, if you prefer to skip the brining step, you can still smoke trout directly without compromising the end result. Simply season the trout with your desired spices, herbs, or marinade, and then proceed with the smoking process. 

Can I use other types of fish for smoking?

Absolutely! While trout is a popular choice for smoking, you can use other types of fish as well. Salmon, mackerel, haddock, and whitefish are commonly smoked and offer their unique flavors. The smoking process may vary slightly depending on the fish variety, but the general principles remain the same.

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Oven Baked Smoked Trout Recipe

Oven Baked Smoked Trout Recipe

Yield: 5-7 trout
Prep Time: 8 hours
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 10 hours
Learn how simple it is to make your own smoked trout recipe at home. Check out our step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients

  • * 1/2 gallon water
  • * 1/2 cup sugar
  • * 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • * 1/2 cup salt
  • * 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • * 3 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

The first step is to make a simple brine in a large bowl.

In a large baking dish or baking sheet, pour in brine, place whole trout into brine. 

Brine the fish for about 8 hours in the refrigerator covered in plastic wrap.

Remove from brine, rinse off fish in cold water. Pat dry with paper towels,

Lay fish onto the racks of your oven. 

Preheat the oven to 180-200 degrees. Smoke fish until done, about an hour and half to 2 hours. The fish is finished when the meat of the fish is flaky.

Store in the refrigerator or freezer.  

Did you make this recipe?

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44 Comments

  1. My dad is a big seafood eater, so I am sure he would much prefer to make it in his own oven! I am going to tell him all about this.

  2. 5 stars
    I need to get a Food Saver. I think it would help me cut down on a lot of food waste by keeping it fresher a lot longer.

  3. 5 stars
    Girl, you are speaking my language. We’ve been fishing twice this month and we LOVE smoked fish. My hubby usually grills it, but this is another way to eat trout that I know he will love.

  4. I have never tried trout before but I bet it tastes awesome! I really want to get a FoodSaver for my bulk meat orders.

  5. 5 stars
    Few things in life are more delicious than freshly caught trout. How awesome that the GameSaver allows you to enjoy your catch for a longer period of time.

  6. Foodsaver is amazing. I had one many years ago, and need to get one again. It’s for sure a game changer in our house hold.. Also I’ve never ever made trout before. Would love to try it!

  7. I love my foodsaver. I’m so glad I got one because I use it a lot and it’s been so helpful for meats. It really does work well.

  8. I love seeing how people are using this tool to preserve fish! Cool to see you using trout since we don’t eat that much down here in Florida.

  9. I actually do have a food saver. I need to use it more often. Thanks for the reminder. I will go dust it off before I head out to the store.

  10. 5 stars
    I wish my kids would enjoy fishing too! Love your photos! Would love to try this smoked trout too!

  11. 5 stars
    My husband has been asking for a food saver and his loves to hunt and fish. Would be a perfect gift.

  12. 5 stars
    I have not tried to smoke fish. I did not know it was this simple. I will have to try this too sometime. It would also be a good way to preserve food. Smoked fish always guarantees a good meal.

  13. I think it’s awesome to have a gadget like this with you. It’s definitely easy to use and it can keep your food fresh until you’re ready to cook it! Love it!

  14. I have to admit while I love sea food I don’t play around with how I cook it much. I really do love smoked trout though so I am going to have to try it for myself.

  15. I love fishing when I get the chance. At one point, my boyfriend and I could have used a FoodSaver for the fish we caught! Now, we don’t get to fish with our hectic lives.

  16. 5 stars
    this is so awesome, being able to smoke fish in the oven. how cool is that? and how cool that your husband takes the kids fishing, they will cherish those memories always, as I am sure he will too.

  17. Such a great experience to fish with your kids and cook them afterward. Smoking trout is one of my fav. ways to eat this fish.

  18. 5 stars
    I love fresh fish. Trout is probably one of my favorite game fish so good! This was an interesting post as I have never ‘smoked’ one. I steam mine or fry it. I like the idea of the game saver bags, those would come in handy if you had t catch several to make a meal up.

    1. While technically you are right, this recipe does taste and looks just like smoked trout and is perfect for people (like my family) who do not have a smoker.

      1. you know that was originally in my recipe, but I recently edited it out. No real reason, just thought the recipe would be more with ingredients most people had.

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