Smoked Pork Chops

# Smoked Pork Chops

These **Smoked Pork Chops** are a fantastic meal option for the summer. They are flavorful and juicy, seasoned with a smoky touch that makes them a delightful dish to prepare and serve.

If you enjoy smoked pork, you might also want to try making Traeger Smoked Bacon and Smoked Ribs.

## Recipe Details

Summertime offers excellent opportunities for outdoor barbecues and indulging in delicious smoked meats like these flavorful Smoked Pork Chops. These chops are a favorite due to their simplicity, satisfying taste, and how well they pair with other dishes.

– **Taste**: These pork chops are infused with a delightful smoky apple flavor from the pellets. Seasoned with garlic and onion, they have a savory taste that is enhanced by a hint of salt.
– **Texture**: Prepared to be juicy and tender, these Smoked Pork Chops have a delicious crust on the outside, thanks to the cast iron pan used in cooking.
– **Time**: It takes 90 minutes to prepare these chops.
– **Ease**: This recipe is straightforward and requires minimal ingredients. By following the step-by-step instructions and visual guides provided, you can create perfect smoked pork chops every time.

## What You’ll Need

– **Pork chops**: Bone-in chops are best for retaining moisture during the smoking process.
– **Apple wood pellets**: These pellets add a wonderful complementary flavor to the pork during smoking.

## Add-ins and Substitutions

– **Substitute another smoker pellet**: While applewood works well with pork, you can also try hickory, cherry, maple, or pecan wood pellets.
– **Add brown sugar**: For a touch of sweetness, incorporate brown sugar into the seasoning mix. It will caramelize nicely while the pork cooks.
– **Substitute another cut of meat**: Although boneless pork chops can be used, be cautious to reduce the cooking time to prevent dryness. This recipe is also suitable for chicken thighs, legs, and breasts.
– **Use different seasonings**: Experiment with fennel seeds, BBQ rub, red pepper flakes, ground mustard, or cayenne pepper for varied flavors.

## How to Make Smoked Pork Chops

1. **Preheat the smoker**: Ensure your smoker is preheated to 225 degrees Fahrenheit with an adequate amount of pellets inside.
2. **Mix the seasonings**: Combine salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in a bowl.
3. **Rub the chops with oil and spices**: Coat the pork chops with olive oil and the spice rub evenly on all sides.
4. **Smoke the pork**: Place the seasoned pork chops in the smoker and cook until their internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F, approximately 60-90 minutes.
5. **Crust the pork in a cast iron pan**: Sear the pork chops in a cast iron pan with butter to create a golden crust. Allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes covered before serving.

*Pro Tip: To keep the cooked pork chops warm, create a foil tent over them as they rest.*

## Recipe Tips

– **Preheat the smoker**: Ensure the smoker is at 225 degrees F to achieve a nice crust on the pork chops.
– **Check doneness with a meat thermometer**: Verify that the pork has reached at least 145 degrees internally before removing it from the smoker.
– **Finish in the cast iron pan**: Cooking the chops with butter in a cast iron pan adds flavor and a delicious crust.
– **Let it rest before slicing**: Allow the pork to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing to retain its juiciness.

## FAQs

**How long should you cook smoked pork chops?**
Bone-in pork chops should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, usually taking approximately 60-90 minutes.Smoking pork chops requires cooking them for 60-90 minutes at 225 degrees Fahrenheit until they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chops. It is recommended to flip the pork chops halfway through smoking to ensure even cooking and to achieve a good crust on both sides.

When serving Smoked Pork Chops, they pair well with barbecue and picnic foods. Consider serving them with salads, various sides, delicious sauces, and ending the meal with a delightful dessert.

For sauces, you can accompany the smoked chops with homemade BBQ sauce, Chick-Fil-A sauce, yum yum sauce, or chimichurri sauce. As for salads, options include tri-color pasta salad, cucumber tomato feta salad, chicken salad with grapes, or potato salad with baked salmon. Sides that go well with the chops are bacon-wrapped asparagus, air fryer corn on the cob, buttermilk cornbread, or pork belly burnt ends. For dessert, consider cherry cobbler, lemon cupcakes with raspberry buttercream, chocolate caramel pretzel bars, or chewy chocolate chip cookies.

To prepare in advance, you can make the spice rub ahead of time and apply it to the meat when ready to smoke. After smoking, store the Smoked Pork Chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you want to freeze them, wrap the cooled chops in foil and plastic wrap, then store them in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw the chops overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Other smoked meat recipes you might enjoy include Smoked Tri Tip, Smoked Chicken Thighs, Smoked Beef Brisket, and Smoked Ribs.

For the full recipe instructions, check the details provided in the recipe container below.

Cuisine: AmericanDiet: Gluten Free Prep Time:

5 minutes
Cook Time:

1 hour
30 minutes
Total Time:

1 hour
35 minutes
Servings:
4 Calories:

385
kcal
Author:
Dina

Equipment

• 
  ▢
  1 Pellet smoker
• 
  ▢
  1 Instant read thermometer
• 
  ▢
  1 Cast iron skillet

Ingredients

• 
  ▢
  4 bone in pork chops 1 1/2-2 inches thick
• 
  ▢
  2 tsp salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon paprika
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter optional

Instructions

• Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F. Ensure there are enough pellets inside. Consider using apple wood for smoking pork, but other fruit woods can also be used.
• In a small prep bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Set aside.
• Drizzle olive oil on all sides of the pork chops. Evenly season the pork chops on all sides with the spice rub.
• Place the pork chops on the smoker, close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature of the chops reaches 145 degrees F. Use an instant-read thermometer for this step. This can take 60-90 minutes depending on the thickness of the pork chops.
• Remove the chops from the smoker. Add butter to a cast iron pan and heat it to medium-high. Sear each side for about 30 seconds to create a golden brown crust. Transfer to a plate, cover with foil, and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Preheat the smoker- Get the smoker up to 225°F before adding the seasoned pork chops to ensure they develop a nice crust instead of steaming slowly.
• Check doneness with a meat thermometer- Ensure the meat reaches at least 145°F at its thickest part before removing from the smoker.
• Finish in the cast iron pan- Cooking the pork chops in butter in the cast iron pan adds flavor and a tasty crust that enhances the chops.
• Allow resting before slicing- Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute and prevent them from running out when sliced.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal |- Carbohydrates: 3g
– Protein: 36g
– Fat: 25g
– Saturated Fat: 9g
– Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g
– Monounsaturated Fat: 10g
– Trans Fat: 0.4g
– Cholesterol: 132mg
– Sodium: 1260mg
– Potassium: 661mg
– Fiber: 1g
– Sugar: 0.3g
– Vitamin A: 1050 IU
– Vitamin C: 0.2mg
– Calcium: 45mg
– Iron: 2mg
– **Note:** The information provided here is based on the nutrition content of the mentioned product.