Smoked Pork Chops

Name: Smoked Pork Chops
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 95 min
Ingredients: 4 bone in pork chops (1 1/2-2 inches thick); 2 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper; 1 Tbsp paprika; 1 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1 Tbsp garlic powder; 1 Tbsp olive oil; 2 Tbsp unsalted butter (optional)

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These Smoked Pork Chops are the perfect summer meal. Smoky and deliciously juicy, these seasoned bone-in chops are so easy to make, you’ll love serving them.

If you love smoked pork, then you should try this Traeger Smoked Bacon and these Smoked Ribs.

Table Of Contents

Recipe Details
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
Add-ins and Substitutions
How to Make Smoked Pork Chops
Recipe Tips
FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Make This Recipe in Advance
More Smoked Meats!
Full Recipe Instructions

Recipe Details

Summertime is great for outdoor barbecues and delicious smoked meats, like these Smoked Pork Chops. I love serving these chops because they’re satisfying, simple, and great with other dishes.

TASTE: These pork chops have a delicious, smoky apple flavor from the pellets. They’re salted and seasoned with garlic and onion to enhance the savory flavor of the meat.
TEXTURE: These Smoked Pork Chops are so juicy and tender. The outside has a scrumptious crust thanks to the cast iron pan they’re cooked in.
TIME: It will take 90 minutes to make these chops.
EASE: This recipe is very easy to make and uses only a few ingredients. Just follow these step-by-step instructions and images to get the best smoked pork chops every time.

What You’ll Need

Smoked Pork Chops: bone-in pork chops, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and olive oil.

Ingredient Notes

Pork chops- Bone-in chops are best because they will remain moist throughout the smoking process.
Apple wood pellets- These add great complementary flavor to the pork while it smokes.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Substitute another smoker pellet- Applewood is great with pork, but you can also use hickory, cherry, maple, or pecan wood pellets.
Add brown sugar- For some extra sweetness, rub brown sugar in with the seasonings. It will caramelize nicely as the pork cooks.
Substitute another cut of meat- You can use boneless pork chops, but reduce the cook time to avoid drying it out. This recipe also works for chicken thighs, legs, and breasts.
Use different seasonings- Try these Smoked Pork Chops with fennel seeds, BBQ rub, red pepper flakes, ground mustard, or cayenne pepper.

How to Make Smoked Pork Chops

Preheat the smoker. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure that there are enough pellets inside.
Mix the seasonings. In a small prep bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Then set it aside.

Steps to make Smoked Pork Chops: mix the garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder together in a bowl with a whisk.

Rub the chops with oil and spices. Drizzle the olive oil on all sides of the pork chops. Then evenly season the pork chops on all sides with the spice rub.
Smoke the pork. Place the pork chops on the smoker, close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature of the chops reads 145 degrees F, about 60-90 minutes.

Steps to make Smoked Pork Chops: oil the pork chops, then rub in the seasonings, and smoke them.

Crust the pork in cast iron. Remove the chops from the smoker. Add butter to a cast iron pan and bring it to medium-high heat. Then sear each side for about 30 seconds to create a golden brown crust. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes on a plate covered with foil before serving.

Pro Tip: Create a tent of foil over the cooked pork chops as they rest to keep them warm so they can be served once the resting time is complete.

Steps to make Smoked Pork Chops: melt butter in a cast iron pan and then sear the pork chops.

Recipe Tips

Preheat the smoker- Get the smoker up to 225 degrees F before adding the seasoned pork chops so they get a nice crust, rather than slowly heating up and steaming.
Check doneness with a meat thermometer- Make sure the meat has reached at least 145 degrees in its thickest part before taking it out of the smoker.
Finish them in the cast iron pan- Cooking the pork chops in butter in the cast iron pan adds flavor and a tasty crust that makes these chops irresistible.
Let it rest before slicing- Don’t cut into the meat right away. Allow it to rest at least 5-10 minutes so the juices can reabsorb into the pork. Otherwise, they will run out when sliced.

FAQs

How long should you cook smoked pork chops?

Bone-in pork chops should be smoked for 60-90 minutes at 225 degrees Fahrenheit to reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Depending on the thickness of the chops, they may need a little more or less cook time.

Do you need to flip pork chops when smoking?

Yes, you should flip your pork chops halfway through smoking so they are evenly cooked and get a good crust on both sides.

Serving Suggestions

These Smoked Pork Chops are great with barbecue and picnic foods. Serve them with salads, sides, delicious sauces, and finish the meal with dessert.

Sauces: Serve these chops with some homemade bbq sauce, 3-ingredient Chick-Fil-A sauce, yum yum sauce, or chimichurri sauce.
Salad: Pair these Smoked Pork Chops with a tri color pasta salad, cucumber tomato feta salad, chicken salad with grapes, or potato salad with baked salmon.
Sides: Enjoy these chops with some bacon wrapped asparagus, air fryer corn on the cob, buttermilk cornbread, or pork belly burnt ends.
Desserts: Finish the meal with cherry cobbler, lemon cupcakes with raspberry buttercream, chocolate caramel pretzel bars, or chewy chocolate chip cookies.

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: You can prepare the spice rub in advance and then oil and rub the meat. Place them on a plate in the fridge covered with plastic wrap until you’re ready to smoke them.

Storing: Store these Smoked Pork Chops once they have cooled in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Freeze these cooled chops wrapped in foil and plastic wrap and in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

More Smoked Meats!

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Dina

Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!