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Smoked Pork Steaks Recipe: Tips for Smoking Pork Steaks

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jun 23, 2024 • 2 min read

Upgrade your steak night with these tender smoked pork steaks, which offer all the flavor of smoky barbecued pork shoulder in a convenient-to-eat, steak-sized portion. Enjoy this protein with various condiments and sides, including BBQ sauce and mashed potatoes.

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What Are Smoked Pork Steaks?

Smoked pork steaks are a BBQ-friendly preparation of bone-in pork shoulder that involves cooking the meat for an extended period over indirect heat on a pellet grill. Shoulder meat from this hardworking region of the pig is dark in color due to oxygen-storing myoglobin and tough due to lots of connective tissue. It is also full of fat, making for a flavorful dish when appropriately prepared—low and slow, to break the collagen down into gelatin and melt the fat. Smoking pork steaks yields moist, fall-apart meat infused with a smoky flavor for the ultimate barbecued main dish.

3 Tips for Smoking Pork Steaks

Whether you’re a grilling master or smoking novice, this simple smoker recipe is suitable for home cooks of all experience levels. Follow these tips to cook pork steaks in the smoker properly.

  1. 1. Experiment with seasonings. Customize your smoked pork steaks with the seasonings of your choice. For a subtle tang, brush the pork shoulder steaks with mustard before adding the BBQ rub. Alter the barbecue rub with your favorite spices and herbs like cayenne pepper, chili powder, mustard powder, and cumin. Spritz the steaks with apple juice or apple cider vinegar during the smoking process. Top the pork steaks with your favorite barbecue sauce toward the end of the smoking process for extra flavor.
  2. 2. Switch up the wood chips. Experiment with different varieties of wood chips in your pellet smoker to achieve variations in smoke flavor. Fruitier woods (like applewood and cherrywood) will infuse the meat with a mild smoke flavor. Conversely, more intense options (like hickory, pecan, and mesquite) will result in a more distinct smoky taste. Learn more about smoking woods.
  3. 3. Keep the temperature consistent. Monitor the smoker’s temperature throughout the cooking process. Significant dips in temperature could result in unevenly cooked meat with a dry surface or an undercooked center.

Best Smoked Pork Steak Recipe

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13 Ratings | Rate Now

makes

prep time

15 min

total time

2 hr 15 min

cook time

2 hr

Ingredients

Note: The total time does not include 10 minutes of inactive time.

  1. 1

    Preheat a smoker grill to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. 2

    Pat the pork steaks down with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.

  3. 3

    Using a brush or your fingers, coat the steaks with a thin layer of olive oil.

  4. 4

    In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the dry rub ingredients. Combine the salt, brown sugar, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.

  5. 5

    Sprinkle the dry rub over the pork steaks. Use your fingers to massage the seasonings into the meat.

  6. 6

    Place the seasoned pork steaks onto the smoker grates over indirect heat. Cook until they are fork-tender and a thermometer inserted into the center of a steak indicates an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, about 2 hours.

  7. 7

    When the pork steaks are almost done smoking, melt the butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.

  8. 8

    Sear the smoked steaks on the hot skillet until they develop browned crusts, about 2 minutes per side.

  9. 9

    Transfer the steaks to a cutting board. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

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