Top 19 Smoked Bluefish Recipes to Try at Home

Looking for the best ways to enjoy smoked bluefish? Here are 19 easy and delicious smoked bluefish recipes you can try at home.

There’s something special about catching a fresh bluefish fresh from the water. I remember the thrill of my first bluefish catch, and how it inspired me to try smoking it at home. The smoky aroma filled my kitchen and turned a simple fish into a delicious feast.

Learning to prepare smoked bluefish can seem intimidating, but I guarantee it’s easier than you think. With a few simple steps, you can create succulent, flavorful dishes that impress every time. The best part is, you don’t need fancy equipment—just a bit of patience and a love for good food.

Throughout this journey, I’ve tested many recipes, each one revealing new ways to enjoy bluefish. From quick spreads to elegant pâtés, I want to share these tried-and-true methods so you can craft your perfect smoky seafood experience. Ready to explore the flavors of bluefish? Let’s dive in.

1. My First Experience Smoking Bluefish (and Our Smoked Bluefish Pâté Recipe)

Smoking bluefish for the first time turned out to be a flavorful success, beginning with a local catch and ending with delicious, smoky fillets. The homemade smoked bluefish pâté stole the show—creamy, tangy, and perfect on crackers for a savory coastal snack!

Read the Recipe: My First Experience Smoking Bluefish (and Our Smoked Bluefish Pâté Recipe)

2. Smoked Bluefish Pate

Smoked bluefish pâté is a simple, delicious spread made with smoked fish, cream cheese, lemon, dill, and capers—perfectly tangy and rich on crackers. It’s the tastiest way to enjoy bluefish, especially when it’s fresh, smoky, and straight from a good day’s catch!

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Pate

3. Smoked Bluefish with Black Mustard Seeds – Suwannee Rose

Smoky, sweet, and brimming with bold flavor, this bluefish recipe turns a once-overlooked catch into a mouthwatering holiday treat. A brine of sweet soy sauce and black mustard seeds infuses the fillets before they’re smoked to perfection—no fancy smoker required!

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish with Black Mustard Seeds – Suwannee Rose

4. Smoked Bluefish Pâté

This Smoked Bluefish Pâté is a delicious way to enjoy a less common but flavorful fish, made by smoking bluefish fillets with hickory chips and then blending them with cream cheese, butter, lemon, and a splash of Cognac for a rich, smooth spread. It’s perfect for serving with crackers or sliced baguette, offering a tasty and elegant appetizer in just about 25 minutes!

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Pâté

5. Smoked Bluefish Pâté [craftandprocess.com]

Smoked Bluefish Pâté is a quick and tasty spread made by blending chopped smoked bluefish, scallions, and cream cheese, then seasoning with lemon juice, smoked paprika, and pepper. Serve it with crackers or toasted baguette slices for an irresistible appetizer that disappears fast!

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Pâté [craftandprocess.com]

6. Smoked Bluefish Pâté [www.foodandwine.com]

Whip up this creamy, smoky pâté by mixing softened cream cheese, zesty lemon juice, and savory Worcestershire sauce with flaked smoked bluefish and a kick of hot sauce. Top it off with fresh chives and serve it with crunchy crackers or toasts for a seafood snack that’s ready in just 15 minutes!

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Pâté [www.foodandwine.com]

7. Smoked Bluefish Pâté [www.afamilyfeast.com]

This creamy smoked bluefish pâté blends bold flavors like horseradish, onion, and cayenne with smooth cream cheese for a rich, spreadable treat. It takes just 5 minutes in a food processor and is perfect on crackers for a quick snack or a fancy appetizer!

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Pâté [www.afamilyfeast.com]

8. Smoked Bluefish Recipe

Clean and fillet your fresh bluefish, then give it a flavor boost by brining or rubbing with a zesty marinade. After a slow smoke in a hot smoker, serve it up warm with lemon wedges or tartar sauce for a deliciously bold seafood treat!

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Recipe

9. Smoked Bluefish Spread

Enjoy a burst of flavor with this Smoked Bluefish Spread, a quick and easy 15-minute recipe perfect for snacking or pairing with your favorite crackers. Simply blend smoked bluefish, cream cheese, red onion, dill, lemon juice, sour cream, capers, horseradish, and lemon zest, then refrigerate until ready to serve for a deliciously smoky, tangy delight.

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Spread

10. Hot-Smoked Bluefish

Hot-Smoked Bluefish is a delicious preparation where bluefish fillets are seasoned with salt, brown sugar, paprika, and pepper, then gently smoked at low temperatures for about four hours. The result is a flavorful, tender fish that’s best served chilled with a squeeze of lemon or a side of creamy horseradish sauce, making it perfect for an impressive yet simple dish.

Read the Recipe: Hot-Smoked Bluefish

11. Special Occasion Smoked Bluefish Pâté

This creamy smoked bluefish pâté blends fish, cream cheese, mustard, and horseradish into a rich, tangy spread that’s perfect for special occasions. Chill for a few hours and serve with crackers to wow your guests with minimal effort.

Read the Recipe: Special Occasion Smoked Bluefish Pâté

12. Smoked-Bluefish Pâté

This bright and creamy smoked-bluefish pâté blends soft cream cheese, zesty lemon, and savory shallots for a beachy, mouthwatering spread. Mix it up in just 15 minutes, chill if needed, then serve with toasts or crackers for an easy and flavorful bite.

Read the Recipe: Smoked-Bluefish Pâté

13. Smoked Bluefish Spread [www.foodandwine.com]

This smoky and creamy spread blends flaked smoked bluefish with whipped cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and a kick of horseradish and hot sauce. Chill it for an hour to let the flavors shine, then serve with crackers for a tasty bite that’s perfect for any gathering.

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish Spread [www.foodandwine.com]

14. Smoked Bluefish

Soak bluefish fillets in a flavorful brine of soy sauce, salt, sugar, and spices for at least 4 hours, then dry them on racks until the surface feels tacky. Smoke the fish at 200°F for an hour, then 150°F until firm and flaky, using bold wood like hickory or cherry for maximum flavor.

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish

15. FOOD ON THE FOOD

Brine a fillet of bluefish in a mix of salt, sugar, lemon, and spices, then smoke it over soaked wood chips on a charcoal grill—no fancy equipment needed. The result is a tender, richly flavored fish that tastes like a summer adventure by the pond.

Read the Recipe: FOOD ON THE FOOD

16. From The Galley: Beer Brine Smoked Bluefish

This Beer Brine Smoked Bluefish is a mouthwatering dish that transforms a fish often known for its strong flavor into a tender, smoky delight. Simply brine the fillets in a flavorful beer mixture, let them dry to develop a tacky coating, then smoke at a low temperature until perfectly juicy and infused with a rich, malty aroma!

Read the Recipe: From The Galley: Beer Brine Smoked Bluefish

17. Smoked Bluefish [www.instructables.com]

Smoked Bluefish is a flavorful summer treat where freshly caught bluefish are brined in a mixture of water, sugar, salt, soy sauce, bay leaves, and peppercorns, then dried until they develop a pellicle. The fillets are smoked slowly at 200°F then at 150°F using hickory or apple wood chips, resulting in tender, smoky fish that can be enjoyed immediately or stored for later feasts.

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish [www.instructables.com]

18. Quick-Smoked Bluefish Recipe

This Quick-Smoked Bluefish recipe is perfect for whipping up a flavorful smoked fish in under an hour using just your stovetop or grill—no fancy smoker needed. Simply salt, rinse, season with pepper, then smoke at 175°F for about 20 minutes until the fish is juicy and tender, ready to be enjoyed hot or cold with bread, butter, or mayo.

Read the Recipe: Quick-Smoked Bluefish Recipe

19. Smoked Bluefish

Imagine spending a beautiful September afternoon fishing for bluefish and returning with 30 pounds of fresh, flavorful fish. To savor it at its best, you can smoke the bluefish by brining it in a mixture of water, salt, sugar, soy sauce, lemon zest, and dill, then slow-cooking it to a delicious honey-brown perfection—perfect served with simple crackers and a zesty sour cream sauce.

Read the Recipe: Smoked Bluefish