Brined, perfectly seasoned, and smoked to perfection. My Traeger Pro 780 smoked these Smoked Traeger Pork Chops, which were juicy, meaty, and full of flavor! Let’s light up your smoker and make the best pork chops you’ve ever had!
I cooked a few different kinds of pork chops and used two different kinds of seasoning to make this recipe. All chops were brined before seasoning for 8 hours.
The #1 thing I love about pork is how inexpensive it is to purchase. You can buy pork at your local grocery store or butcher. Choose your favorite thick-cut pork chops to use for this pork recipe.
I prefer bone-in pork chops over boneless pork chops. I think the bone gives it extra flavor. But choose what you like best!.
I bought a variety pack of pork which had boneless, loin, and rib chops. It’s easy to save money and get a lot of pork chops when you shop at big box stores like Costco or Sam’s Club.
Another great inexpensive pork recipe is my smoked pork butt recipe. Its great for feeding a lot of people for a small amount of $.
Traeger grills are the perfect way to make incredibly delicious and juicy pork chops with smoky, barbecue flavors. With the right techniques, you can easily grill thin or thick pork chops to tender, mouthwatering perfection on your Traeger.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to cook pork chops to perfection on your Traeger grill every time.
Choosing the Right Pork Chops
The first important step is selecting high-quality pork chops at the store Here’s what to look for
- Thickness – Go for chops between 1⁄2 to 1 inch thick. Thinner can overcook quickly.
- Bone-in or boneless – Bone-in have more flavor but boneless cook faster.
- Marbling – Good marbling means more moistness and flavor. Avoid lean, dry chops.
- Size – For Traegers, smaller 6-8 oz chops cook best. Larger may need two-zone cooking.
For easy Traeger cooking, pick evenly sized, well-marbled chops around 1⁄2 to 1 inch thick.
Prepping and Seasoning the Chops
Proper seasoning and prep ensures delicious, flavorful pork chops:
- Pat dry – Remove excess moisture with paper towels before seasoning.
- Use a rub – For flavor, coat both sides with a pork, barbecue, or savory rub.
- Brown sugar – Adds sweetness and helps create caramelization.
- Get creative – Use spices like smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic, or cumin.
- Oil – Lightly drizzle chops with oil so the seasoning sticks.
- Let sit – After seasoning, let chops rest 15-30 minutes before grilling.
Setting Up the Traeger Grill
Before cooking, prepare your Traeger grill:
- Assemble – Make sure grill is fully setup and secured per manual.
- Initial burn-in – Perform burn-in as instructed to prime the grill.
- Pellets – Ensure hopper is full of preferred smoking wood pellets.
- Preheat – Turn on grill, set temperature to 450°F and preheat 15 minutes.
- Clean grates – Brush grates while heating to prevent sticking.
Grilling Pork Chops on the Traeger
Grilling chops on your preheated Traeger takes just a few easy steps:
- High heat – Use a grill temp of 450°F for quick, even cooking.
- Direct heat – Place chops directly over the hot fire for best sear.
- Don’t move – Let chops sear 4-5 minutes undisturbed to get a nice crust.
- Flip once – Flip and cook second side another 4-5 minutes.
- Check temp – Use a meat thermometer to test doneness. Remove at 145°F.
- Rest – Let chops rest 5 minutes before serving for juicier meat.
The direct high heat quickly cooks while adding delicious smoky flavor
Traeger Pork Chop Tips and Tricks
- If chops are lean, spritz with apple juice during grilling to prevent drying.
- For more flavor, use fruit wood pellets like apple, pecan, or cherry.
- For thick chops, use two-zone cooking with higher heat on one side.
- Check internal temp in thickest part to ensure doneness.
- Let chops rest 5+ minutes after grilling to seal in juices.
- For caramelized chops, baste with barbecue sauce near the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I use to cook pork chops on a Traeger?
For thin chops, use a high temp of around 450°F. They’ll take 15-30 minutes to reach 145°F internal temperature.
Do you need to flip pork chops while grilling on the Traeger?
Yes, flip the chops once halfway through grilling to ensure even cooking on both sides.
How long do 1-inch thick pork chops take on a Traeger?
1-inch pork chops take 18-25 minutes at 450°F, flipping once halfway through. Cook until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Should you wrap pork chops in foil on the Traeger?
Wrapping is optional – it can help retain moisture but may soften the crust.
How long should you let pork chops rest after grilling on a Traeger?
Let pork chops rest at least 5 minutes after grilling to allow juices to redistribute through the meat.
Grilled Pork Chop Perfection
Grilling juicy, flavorful pork chops on a Traeger grill is fast and easy when you follow these tips:
- Pick 1⁄2 to 1 inch chops with good marbling.
- Season chops at least 30 minutes before grilling.
- Cook at 450°F for 15-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Cook until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Rest 5 minutes then serve and enjoy the delicious smoky flavors!
With the right techniques, you’ll get mouthwatering grilled pork chops off your Traeger grill every time.
Smoking the pork chops
Now comes the fun part! Pre-heat your smoker to 225°F to get that heat and smoke rolling. Use your favorite wood. I like to use hickory pellets when smoking pork chops.
Place the pork chops directly on the Traegers grill grates and smoke until an internal temperature of 135°F. This should take about 1:15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temp.
When an instant-read thermometer reads 135° IT, the pork chops are done. Take them out of the smoker and set them aside. Tent loosely with aluminum foil and turn the heat up on the smoker to 450°F.
I like to put my searing grates on the smoker at this time. These are great for getting nice sear marks on your Traeger Smoked Pork Chops. These will work with any smoker by simply laying directly on top of the grill racks.
Put the pork chops back on the smoker’s rack or searing grates when the grill reaches 450°F. Cook for three to four more minutes on each side until a meat probe inserted into the chops shows that the internal temperature has reached 145°F.
The lowest finished internal temperature when cooking pork should be 145°F. This ensures a safe pork chop preventing any potential foodborne illness.
Resting the meat & serving
As soon as they reach 145° on the inside, take them out of the smoker and let them rest on the kitchen counter for 5 to 10 minutes. This will allow the juicy to redistribute throughout the meat.
Now its time to eat your new favorite pork chops! Serve an entire pork chop to each guest. This looks a lot better than slicing it up and serving pieces. Everyone likes having their own pork chop!.
These Traeger Pork Chops turned out extremely tender and juicy. The sweetness from the seasonings were perfectly balanced by the savory flavor of the pork.
When these pork chops were done, they had a nice slightly pink center, and the fat had rendered down, giving them a great smoky flavor. The brine helped make these super tender, just like you find on a smoked pork tenderloin.
Everyone will LOVE these!
Im smoking these pork chops on my Traeger 780 pellet smoker. A Traeger wood pellet grill is an easy and great way to impart fantastic smoke flavor on the pork, and other meats for that matter, without having to babysit a firebox all day.
Dont have a Traeger grill? Thats fine, you can use what you have. But I would definitely recommend getting one. They are easy to use and I love the flavor they impart on the meat.