BBQ pork steaks are a tender and delicious meal. These are slow cooked on the pellet grill until juicy and smoked to perfection. The bits of caramelized sauce and yummy pork come together to make each bite wonderful.
Pork steaks are a midwestern classic for good reason. They’re a mix of the best parts of a pork chop and pulled pork, making them their own wonderful thing.
Have you ever had a pork steak? It is a common cut of meat around St. Louis, but not necessarily as popular in other parts of the country.
I am here to tell you that should change. It is such a tasty cut of meat and is perfect for cooking on a pellet grill.
Pork steaks are a classic summertime BBQ staple especially in the Midwest. Their rich, meaty flavor makes them a favorite for backyard cookouts. But getting the cook time right can be tricky. Undercook pork steaks and they’ll be tough and chewy. Let them go too long and you’ll end up with dry flavorless meat. So how long should you smoke pork steaks on a Pit Boss pellet grill to get perfect results every time?
What are Pork Steaks?
For those not familiar, pork steaks are cut from the shoulder of the pig, also known as the butt or Boston butt They are usually 1 to 2 inches thick and weigh around 1 pound each Pork steaks contain plenty of marbling and connective tissue since they come from a well-exercised area of the animal.
This high amount of collagen is what gives pork steaks their signature succulence when cooked properly. The tough connective tissues break down into unctuous gelatin, leaving the meat ridiculously moist and tender. Think of pork steaks like miniature pork shoulder roasts. They take on smoke beautifully and absorb flavors from rubs, marinades and barbecue sauce.
Key Factors That Affect Pork Steak Cook Times
There are a few variables that impact how long pork steaks need to cook:
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Thickness – Thinner steaks around 1 inch thick will obviously cook faster than 2 inch thick cuts. Go too thin though and they’ll dry out. 1 1/2 inches is ideal.
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Bone-in vs. Boneless – Bone-in pork steaks will take a little longer since the bones act as insulation. But the end result will be very tender and flavorful meat.
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Grill Temperature – Lower heat around 225°F means a longer cook time. But that extended low and slow smoking is necessary to break down connective tissues. Higher heat, like 300°F, will get a crust faster.
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Doneness Preference – Cook pork steaks to 195-205°F for pull-apart shreddable meat. Lower temps around 145°F for a pink center.
Step-By-Step Guide to Smoking Pork Steaks on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill
Follow these simple steps for foolproof, juicy pork steaks:
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Prep the Meat – Choose 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick steaks for the best results. Trim excess fat and rub them down with your favorite BBQ seasoning. Let sit while the grill heats up.
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Preheat the Grill – With the lid open, set your Pit Boss to 225°F with 100% smoke using a hearty wood like hickory or oak. Give it 10-15 minutes to come up to temp.
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Smoke Low and Slow – Place the steaks directly on the grill grates, close the lid with the exhaust wide open. Smoke for around 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the internal temp hits 170°F.
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Glaze and Finish – Brush the steaks with your favorite barbecue sauce and increase heat to 300°F. Cook for an additional 15-30 minutes until they reach 195-205°F internally.
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Rest and Slice – Let the steaks rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute. Cut against the grain for maximum tenderness.
Estimated Grill Times for Smoking Pork Steaks on a Pit Boss
Here are some estimated cook times for pork steaks using the step-by-step method above:
- 1 inch thick boneless steaks:
- 225°F – 1.5 to 2 hours
- 300°F – 45 mins to 1 hour
- 2 inch thick boneless steaks:
- 225°F – 2 to 2.5 hours
- 300°F – 1 to 1.5 hours
- 1 inch thick bone-in steaks:
- 225°F – 2 to 2.5 hours
- 300°F – 1 to 1.25 hours
- 2 inch thick bone-in steaks:
- 225°F – 2.5 to 3 hours
- 300°F – 1.25 to 1.5 hours
Always use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness instead of relying solely on times. Every grill behaves a little differently.
Tips for Maximizing Flavor
Here are some extra pointers for making your Pit Boss pork steaks unforgettable:
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Season Aggressively – Rub pork steaks all over with a flavorful dry rub. Let them sit at least an hour, or up to overnight.
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Choose a Bold Wood – Opt for a heavier smoke like hickory or oak rather than a mild fruit wood. You want plenty of smoky flavor.
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Spritz while Smoking – Mist the steaks every 45-60 minutes with apple juice, vinegar, or beer to prevent drying out.
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Glaze Near the End – Brush on your favorite barbecue sauce during the last 15-30 minutes once a crust has formed.
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Rest before Slicing – Letting the steaks rest allows juices to reabsorb for a juicier eating experience.
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Slice against the Grain – Cutting perpendicular to the muscle fibers makes pork steaks incredibly tender.
Takeaways for Smoking Pork Steaks on a Pit Boss Pellet Smoker
The keys for mouthwatering pork steaks are all about low and slow smoking followed by a fast, hot finish. For 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick boneless steaks, aim for 1.5-2 hours at 225°F and 30-60 minutes at 300°F. Check for doneness between 195-205°F. Rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing to let juices redistribute. Add bold rubs, heavy smoke, and glazes near the end for maximum flavor.
With this complete guide, you’ll be able to achieve competion-worthy pork steaks with beautiful smoke rings and succulent meat that falls apart with the gentlest touch. Juicy, smoky pork steaks hot off the Pit Boss pellet grill are tough to beat!
What is a pork steak?
Pork steaks are actually sliced off the pork shoulder. That means you get all the fat and connective tissue that makes pulled pork juicy, but in a much smaller amount.
Usually, the pork steaks are cut about an inch thick and weigh a pound or under. So they cook much more quickly than the 10-12 pound pork butt.
And while they look like a pork chop, they are quite different. The way you want to cook it is very different too.
Cooking it low and slow gives a chance for the connective tissue to break down. Finishing it at a higher temperature gives the edges a chance to caramelize a bit.
It results in a tender and flavorful piece of meat. And it is economical too!
If you can’t find pork steaks at the grocery store, your butcher should be able to cut them. We like them about an inch thick because they are easier to cook.
You can put your favorite BBQ rub directly on the meat if you would like. However, spreading mustard over the meat gives the rub something to stick to.
If your meat is moist, you may want to pat it with a paper towel first. Then, smear a generous amount of mustard over the surface.
Sprinkle the mustard with a dry rub and repeat on the other side. Don’t worry, it doesn’t make the meat taste like mustard.
Put the meat back into the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. If you want, you can prepare it a few hours ahead of time, which actually lets the seasoning add more flavor to the meat.
We like to cook the pork steaks in a multistep process. It takes some time to get them tender, but really not a ton of work.
First, cook them directly on the grates of a pellet grill that has been preheated to 200F. Cook them for two hours without touching them.
Then, move them into a pan and coat them in a thinned out BBQ sauce. We like thinning the sauce with some apple juice.
Beer is also a delicious way to thin the sauce. Or you could even use water if you really wanted to.
Cooking the meat in the sauce like this keeps it from drying out as it continues to smoke. It can dry out if it cooks for too long on dry heat since it doesn’t have a fat cap.
After the pork steaks have enjoyed their warm BBQ sauce bath, raise the temperature of the smoker. Then, put them back on the grates.
Brush them with some of that delicious sauce and let them caramelize a bit. This helps to bring them up to their final temperature and adds great flavor.
Flip them once and add more sauce to make sure everything is coated in sweet, sticky goodness. Then get ready, you are about to have a delicious treat.
You want the meat to reach 195°F to break down the connective tissue. You don’t want to go too far over that, though, because the cut is thin and could dry it out.
What to serve with pork steaks
Anything you like with BBQ goes well with these pork steaks. We had some zucchini and Instant Pot macaroni and cheese on this particular night.
Or make a cowboy salad if you want a green salad to go with it. For a little sweet heat, you could serve some cowboy candy alongside the rest of the meal.
If you tried this recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments. Hungry for more? Be sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Pit boss pro series | smoke bbq pork steaks on pellet grill
FAQ
How long to smoke pork steak at 225 degrees?