To cook pork steak on a pellet grill, set the temperature to 225°F and add hickory pellets for the smoke. Smoke your pork steak for 1½ hours and then coat it with BBQ sauce. Crank up the heat to 250°F and smoke for 2 hours to finish cooking, ensuring the steak reaches 145°F before resting it for 15 minutes.

What is the Best Way to Smoke Pork Steak on a Pellet Grill?

Follow these simple steps to smoke pork steak on a pellet grill:

First, preheat the pellet grill to 225°F.
Brush all sides of the pork steaks with yellow mustard or olive oil.
Season the pork steaks generously with your favorite dry rub.
Smoke your pork steaks for 1½ hours at 225°F.
Coat the pork steaks with BBQ sauce, then crank up the temperature to 250°F and continue to smoke for an additional 2 hours.
Baste with more BBQ sauce during the last 10-15 mins of smoking. The internal temperature of the pork steaks should reach 145°F.
Remove the pork steaks from the pellet grill and let them rest for 10-15 minutes.

Tools Needed to Smoke Pork Steak on Pellet Grills

Pellet grill

This tool is a no-brainer if you’re looking to smoke your steaks low and slow.

Keep in mind that low and slow requires a consistent temperature, and that’s where a pellet grill comes in handy.

Meat thermometer

In addition to a pellet grill, you will need a meat thermometer to know when your pork steaks are done. An instant-read meat thermometer is critical because just a few degrees can make a massive difference with pork.

Wood pellets

The most commonly used wood pellets in BBQ grilling and smoking are hickory pellets which produce a rich, smoky flavor when smoking meats. Hickory works well with smoked pork chops, pork butt, beef brisket, chicken, veggies, and more.

Some people find hickory wood pellets a bit strong and prefer combining them with milder pellets like apple wood or pecan pellets.

How to Season Pork Steak for Smoking

Simply follow these steps to smoke pork shoulder steaks to perfection:

Cover your pork steaks with a thin layer of a wet binder. You can use yellow mustard, avocado oil, Worcestershire sauce, or barbecue sauce. Place them in an airtight container and allow them to sit for up to 6 hours.

Then, apply a dry rub like Cajun dry rub or your favorite BBQ rub by sprinkling the rub on all sides of the pork steak. For slow cooking methods such as smoking, use dry rubs with a little brown sugar.

How to Smoke Pork Steak

Preheat your pellet grill to 225°F and put your seasoned pork shoulder steaks on the grill grates.

Close the lid and smoke for 2½ hours over indirect heat, replenishing the wood pellets as needed.

Pull the meat off the grill and brush it with barbecue sauce. Continue to smoke until the internal temperature of your pork steaks hits 195°F.

If you want additional color on your pork steak, increase the smoker temperature and sear the pork steak for a few minutes on each side, basting with pan drippings until the meat caramelizes. This reverse-searing step is optional but can produce excellent flavor.

Hickory Smoked Pork Steaks Recipe

Author: Patrick
Total Time: 8 hours, 35 minutes

Print Recipe

Description

Juicy, tender, and delicious, these hickory-smoked pork steaks are first brined, then seasoned with a dry rub before being smoked with rich hickory on a pellet grill.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Equipment

Aluminum foil
Cutting board
Digital meat thermometer
Paper towels
Pellet smoker/Pellet grill (Traeger or Pit Boss)
Hickory wood pellets

Recipe Ingredients

4 bone-in pork shoulder steaks, 1-inch thick
2 tablespoons pork dry rub
1/2 cup basting liquid made from equal parts apple cider vinegar & apple juice
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup kosher salt
4 cups of water
1/2 cup barbecue sauce (optional)

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, kosher salt, and water. Bring to a boil and stir continuously to dissolve the brown sugar and salt.
Put the mixture in a larger bowl with three cups of ice and one cup of water. Let the mixture cool before adding the pork steaks. Cover with plastic or place in an airtight container, and keep in the fridge. Brine for 6 hours.
When ready to smoke, allow the pork steaks to come to room temperature. Pat the pork steaks dry and season with dry rub.
Preheat the pellet grill to 225°F and add hickory wood pellets.
Create a solution with half apple cider vinegar and half apple juice. This mopping liquid will be used to baste the meat as it smokes.
Oil the grill grates and place your pork steaks on the grill. Close the lid and smoke for 2½ hours.
Brush the pork steaks regularly with the mopping liquid (every 30 minutes or so) and flip the pork steaks when basting.
At the end of the 2½ hour point, the internal temperature of the pork steaks should be about 145°F. You may use BBQ sauce to brush the meat within the last 10 to 15 minutes (if desired) before removing the steaks from the grill.
Once the steaks have been removed from the grill, let them rest for 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute and make the pork steaks more tender and juicy.
Serve with your favorite barbecue sauce, coleslaw, pickles, or veggies, and be ready to receive a lot of compliments!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Brine Time: 6 hours
Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6 ounces
Calories: 438
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 117mg
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Carbohydrates: 2g
Protein: 43g
Cholesterol: 161mg

How Long Do Pork Steaks Take on a Pellet Grill?

Smoking pork steaks on a pellet grill at a temperature range of 225°F-250°F range takes around 2½ hours.

Keep in mind this is just a rough estimate because several factors can influence the cooking time including:

The thickness of the pork steaks you’re smoking
How cold the pork steaks were before you placed them on the grill
Your ability to maintain a consistent smoker temperature

It’s imperative to use a digital meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of your smoked pork steaks reaches a minimum of 145 degrees F.

How Do You Know When Pork Steaks are Done?

There are two primary ways to tell when pork steaks are done: temperature and touch.

To check the temperature, you can use a digital meat thermometer by inserting the probe into the thickest section of the steak.

You can also check for tenderness by using the probe to press on the steak gently; if it feels like softened butter, it is likely cooked to perfection. Even if they feel perfect to the touch, it is important to measure the internal temperature to confirm your findings.

After you have cooked the pork steaks, it is important to allow them to rest for 10-15 minutes to allow for any carryover cooking to finish. This will help to ensure that the pork steaks are extra juicy.

What is the Best Temperature to Cook Pork Steaks?

The best temperature for cooking pork steaks on a pellet grill is in the 225°F – 250°F range. This temperature range allows for the pork steaks to cook through to the recommended internal temperature of 145°F, while also allowing for some smoke flavor to be infused into the smoked pork steaks.

Is It Better to Use a Dry Rub or a Wet Rub for Smoked Pork Steak?

Both dry rubs and wet rubs can be used to add flavor to smoked pork steaks. The choice between a dry rub and a wet rub will depend on your personal preference and the flavor profile you are trying to achieve.

Dry rubs are made up of a mixture of dried spices and herbs that are applied to the surface of the meat before cooking and are the most popular type of rub for smoked pork steak. They are typically used to add flavor and to create a flavorful crust on the surface of the meat. Dry rubs are easy to apply and do not require any additional ingredients, making them a convenient option for adding flavor to smoked pork steaks.

Wet rubs, on the other hand, are made by combining a mixture of spices and herbs with a liquid, such as oil or a marinade. Wet rubs can be more flavorful than dry rubs, as the liquid helps to dissolve the spices and herbs and allows them to penetrate the meat more deeply. Wet rubs are usually applied to the meat several hours or even a day before cooking, which gives the flavors time to penetrate the meat and develop.

Ultimately, both dry rubs and wet rubs can add flavor to smoked pork steaks, so it is worth experimenting with both to see which one you prefer.

Pellet Grill Pork Steak Side Dish Ideas

Here are a few ideas for side dishes that pair well with grilled pork steaks:

How to Smoke Pork Steak On Pellet Grills