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    Home » Pit Boss Recipes

    Published: Oct 16, 2023 · Modified: Mar 2, 2024 by Mads Martigan · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Smoked Pork Chops on a Pellet Grill

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Learn how to cook perfectly smoked pork chops on a pellet grill!

    Whether you are using a Traeger, Camp Chef, Pit Boss, or any other brand of pellet grill, we've got you covered.

    Get ready for the juiciest, most delicious BBQ smoked pork chops you've ever cooked before, and they are super easy to cook as well!

    pork chop on the grates of a pit boss pellet grill being sauced with a silicone basting brush

    Similar to pork tenderloin, smoked pork chops are an easy, relatively fast meat to cook on your pellet grill, especially compared to much larger cuts of meat like a pork shoulder or a full size pork loin.

    When prepared properly, pork chops can be juicy and flavorful. Cook them the wrong way and you are left with dry, tough meat.

    We will show you exactly how to get great smoke flavor in your pork chops using a pellet grill, then how to finish them at a higher temperature to get a nice exterior. This process involves an initial low heat smoke step, followed by a higher heat finish to caramelize the sauce and finish the cook.

    Jump to:
    • Bone-in vs. Boneless Pork Chops
    • Video
    • Our Favorite BBQ Rub for Pork Chops
    • Our Favorite Wood Pellets and Smoking Wood Chunks
    • SetUp and Start Your Pellet Grill
    • Smoke the Pork Chops
    • Add the Sauce and Finish Cooking
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe

    Bone-in vs. Boneless Pork Chops

    As long as you cook your pork chops to the right internal temperature, AND NO FURTHER, they should come out great, no matter if they are bone-in or boneless.

    Now, some people enjoy the flavor that bone-in pork chops impart on the meat, and also claim they are less likely to "dry out" as quickly and harder to overcook.

    Actually, we think this is because bone-in pork chops tend to be a little thicker than boneless ones, as they hold up better to the smoking process and retain more moisture.

    But trust us, you can overcook any of them, no matter the thickness or whether they are bone-in.

    All else being equal, thicker bone-in pork chops will take a little longer to cook on a pellet grill and likely retain a little more moisture.

    So if you can, look for some thick cut bone-in chops.

    4 raw thick cut bone in pork chops in an aluminum foil pan

    Video

    Rather Watch than Read?

    Check out this video from our Youtube Channel on How to Smoke Pork Chops on a Pellet Grill!

    YouTube player

    Our Favorite BBQ Rub for Pork Chops

    We love a good straightforward BBQ rub on our pork chops. One of our favorites is Blues Hog, especially their Sweet and savory rub.

    It has just the right amount of sugar and salt ratio but without much heat to bother anyone who is sensitive to spice.

    They make some great BBQ sauces too.

    If you want a great BBQ rub with a little more HEAT, check out Three Little Pigs Kansas City Rub instead.

    This is another great BBQ seasoning you can't go wrong with on pork.

    Meat Church brand rubs are very popular, and we have also tried The Gospel on thick cut pork chops.

    Meat Church The Gospel seasoning held up over a pan of raw pork chops

    Sprinkle a fair amount of one of these rubs, or your own favorite BBQ rub.

    sprinkling Meat Church The Gospel on thick cut pork chops
    Meat Church The Gospel All-Purpose 14 oz. BBQ Rub
    Meat Church The Gospel All-Purpose 14 oz. BBQ Rub
    Check Price on Amazon

    Let the pork chops sit for about 30 minutes before putting them on pellet grill to smoke. This will let some of the salt penetrate the meat and also pull some moisture out to create a nice glaze on the exterior that the smoke LOVES to adhere to.

    pork chops seasoned with rub in a pan that have moisture drawn out

    For an even deeper flavor into your smoked pork chops, put the rub on the night before, wrap them in plastic wrap and keep them in the refrigerator overnight.

    The next day, remove the plastic wrap, sprinkle a little extra seasoning to replace any that came off stuck to the plastic wrap and then put them on the pellet grill.

    Our Favorite Wood Pellets and Smoking Wood Chunks

    Pork chops pair well with any fruitwood such as apple or cherry, as well as hickory and maple if you want to use those distinctive flavors in your pellet hopper.

    Mesquite can be a little strong for pork chops, save those pellets for your steaks and beef roasts, unless you want to just mix a little in with some other pellet varieties.

    For our smoked pork chops, we are big fans of Bear Mountain Cherry Wood Pellets.  Feel free to mix them in with some hickory or any other smoking wood pellet you want to try out.

    Bear Mountain Premium BBQ Woods 100% All-Natural Hardwood Pellets - Cherry Flavor (20 lb. Bag) Perfect for Pellet Smokers, Fruity Wood-Fired Flavor
    Bear Mountain Premium BBQ Woods 100% All-Natural Hardwood Pellets - Cherry Wood (20 lb. Bag)
    • MILD CHERRY FLAVOR: Cherry BBQ pellets add a fruity, smoky flavor to your favorite red meat, fish, lamb, or pork dish
    • ALL-NATURAL HARDWOODS: Made from 100% all-natural hardwoods with no flavorings, fillers, or additives
    • USE WITH MULTIPLE GRILL TYPES: Ideal for all outdoor pellet grills, smokers, gas, charcoal, and electric grills
    Check Price on Amazon

    We like to add a smoker firebox to our pellet grills to get extra smoke flavor. Check out our video on How to Light a Firebox for complete details. We like using hickory wood chunks with the charcoal for some great smoke flavor on these pork chops.

    SetUp and Start Your Pellet Grill

    If you are brand new to using a pellet grill, hop on over to our Complete Guide to Understanding How a Pellet Grill Works. Depending on your brand of pellet grill, you may also want to review How to Start a Pit Boss, How to Start a Traeger, How to Start a Z Grill, or How to Start a Camp Chef.

    Add your chosen hardwood pellets to the hopper, plug in and start the pellet grill.

    Let the pellet grill go through its start up process and once it has come up to temperature and stopped producing the thick white "start- up" smoke.

    Set the temperature to 180°F or the "Smoke" setting, and let the grill come up to temperature.

    If you are using a pellet tube or a firebox for added smoke, place it toward the back of the pellet grill, not too close to where the meat will be and not near the temperature probe of the pellet grill.

    Smoke the Pork Chops

    The first step of this cook is to add smoke to the pork chops. To do this, we are cooking at a very low temperature.

    Before beginning, oil the pellet grill grates. This is particularly important when using rubs containing sugar, as you do not want your meat sticking to the grates.

    Place the pork chops directly on the grates. We like using disposable nitrile gloves with cloth liners when positioning most types of meat. The cloth liners protect from the heat and allow you to change your nitrile gloves multiple times while keeping on the same liners.

    If you are using bone in pork chops, try to position the bone facing the hotter side of your grill.

    For example, on a Pit Boss 1150 Pro, we notice the left side is hotter, so we place the pork chops with the bones on the left to block some of that heat from overcooking the left side of each pork chop.

    pork chops positioned on the right side of a pellet grill away from the hottest portion of the grill

    At 180°F, your pork chops will take about 1 hour to reach 110°F internally, depending on how thick they are, whether they are bone-in or boneless.

    Plan to flip the pork chops and rotate them about halfway through the smoking step.

    In order to know when they are ready to be sauced, always use a good instant read meat thermometer like this one from Thermopro. It is affordable and convenient.

    ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer for Cooking with Ambidextrous Backlit, Waterproof Kitchen Food BBQ Grill Smoker Oil Fry Candy Instant Read
    ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer
    Check Price on Amazon

    Another option is to use a leave in probe thermometer to monitor the internal temperature without having to open the lid repeatedly.

    We really like this wireless thermometer from MEATER. It has a 165 ft Bluetooth range and connects to a free app on your smart phone.

    MEATER thermometer in pork chops with a smart phone showing the MEATER app data

    You can choose the particular meat you are cooking, and the app will tell you the safe target temperature and give an estimate of a time it will reach that temperature.

    MEATER Plus: Premium Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth | for BBQ, Oven, Grill, Kitchen, Smoker, Rotisserie | iOS & Android App | Apple Watch, Alexa Compatible | Dishwasher Safe
    MEATER Plus: Premium Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth
    • Dual temperature sensors enable you to monitor both the internal meat temperature (up to 212°F) and the ambient/external temperature (up to 527°F) at the same time.
    • Dishwasher safe
    Check Price on Amazon

    After this low heat smoking step, it's time to turn up the temperature and finish cooking the pork chops.

    Add the Sauce and Finish Cooking

    Once the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 110°F, it's time to turn up the heat and add sauce, if desired.

    Turn the heat up on the pellet grill to 300°F.

    You can brush some of your favorite BBQ sauce like Blues Hog on the pork chops as they are smoking on the pellet grill. This Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce is very good on pork.

    Blues Hog Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce (Pack of 2)
    Blues Hog Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce (Pack of 2)
    Check Price on Amazon

    Brush some on one side with a silicone basting brush, wait about 5-10 minutes, the brush some on the other side.

    brushing pork chops with barbecue sauce using a silicone basting brush

    This will give the sauce time to caramelize and adhere to the meat, which is much better than slopping it on right out of the refrigerator once the pork chops are cooked. (Don't do this.)

    You can add more rounds of sauce if you want.

    You will want to cook your pork chops until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F, as measured with an instant read thermometer.

    For thick cut bone in pork chops this may take around 25 minutes.

    finished pork chops on the grates of a pellet grill

    Pork chops will overcook very quickly above and beyond 145°F, so watch them carefully. You can pull them off a few degrees shy of 145°, as they will rise a few degrees while they rest.

    Pro Tip: Don't stack them or cover them in aluminum foil once you remove the smoked pork chops or they will continue to overcook from their own residual heat.

    Place them spaced apart on a plate and give them about 5-10 minutes to rest before serving.

    Serving Suggestions

    A good meat slicing knife will help cut through your pork chops if you want to serve them in slices.

    thin slices of pork chops on a cutting board
    MAIRICO Brisket Slicing Knife - Ultra Sharp Premium 11-inch Stainless Steel Carving Knife for Slicing Roasts, Meats, Fruits and Vegetables
    MAIRICO Brisket Slicing Knife - Ultra Sharp Premium 11-inch Stainless Steel
    Check Price on Amazon

    Smoked pork chops go great with some Smoked Baked Beans or Smoked Baked Potatoes and even some Smoked Cornbread. Applesauce is super popular to serve with pork chops, as the apple complements the pork.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What Temperature do you Cook Smoked Pork Chops on a Pellet Grill?

    For maximum smoke flavor, we prefer a two temperature cook. Start the chops cooking at 180°F (or the "Smoke" setting on some grills) until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 110°F. Then turn up the heat to 300°F and continue cooking the pork chops until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F.

    How Long does it Take to Cook Pork Chops on a Pellet Grill?

    The time it takes for a pork chop to finish cooking will depend on many factors, including whether the pork chops have a bone, are thick cut or thin cut, and other variables like how often you open the lid and whether your grill runs a little hotter or cooler. In general, bone in thick cut pork chops will take 30-60 minutes. Due to this wide range, we urge you to go by internal temperature rather than time.

    How do you Know When Pork Chops are Done on a Pellet Grill?

    Pork chops are safe to eat when they reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Using an instant read or leave in probe thermometer is critical to knowing whether your pork chops are safe to consume.

    How Can I Cook with MORE Direct Heat on a Pellet Grill?

    Some models of pellet grills like Pit Boss have a direct heat option. You simply open the flame broiler for direct heat from the firepot. If your grill does not have a direct heat option but you want to sear your pork chops at the end, we recommend a set of Grill Grates. We use these to get a good sear on hamburgers and steak. Make sure to measure your grill to order the correct size.

    📖 Recipe

    pork chop on the grates of a pit boss pellet grill being sauced with a silicone basting brush

    Smoked Pellet Grill Pork Chops

    Mads Martigan
    Pork Chops seasoned in a BBQ rub and smoked to perfection on a pellet grill. Finish them with sauce over higher heat to caramelize the outside.
    5 from 2 votes
    PRINT PIN SHARE SAVE Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 35 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Rest Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Australian, barbecue, BBQ, Smoked
    Servings 4 Servings
    Calories 550 kcal

    Equipment

    • Pellet Grill
    • Wood Pellets - Hickory, Cherry or Maple recommended
    • Instant Read Meat Thermometer
    • Grill Tongs or Spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 Thick Cut Bone-in Pork Chops
    • Your Favorite BBQ rub
    • Your Favorite BBQ sauce (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Apply the BBQ rub to your pork chops on both sides and let the rub "soak in" for about 30 minutes while you start up your pellet grill.
      sprinkling Meat Church The Gospel on thick cut pork chops
    • Fill the hopper with pellets, turn on and run the pellet grill through the start up process, clearing out the white "start-up" smoke.
    • Set the smoker to 180°F or keep on the "Smoke" setting for the first phase of cooking.
    • If using a pellet tube or smoker box to add more smoke, set that up and place toward the back of the grill.

    Smoke the Pork Chops

    • Place the pork chops on the grates on the cooler side of the grill with the bone face toward the hotter side of the grill.
      pork chops positioned on the right side of a pellet grill away from the hottest portion of the grill
    • Allow the pork chops to smoke until they reach a target internal temperature of 110°F, about 1 hour, flipping and rotating half way through.

    Add Sauce and Finish Cooking

    • Turn the heat on the pellet grill up to 300°F.
    • Brush on BBQ sauce, if using. Close the lid and allow the sauce to set about 5-10 minutes before flipping the pork chops and saucing the other side.
      brushing pork chops with barbecue sauce using a silicone basting brush
    • Repeat saucing as desired.
    • Continue cooking the pork chops until they reach about 143°F, then remove them to a cutting board to rest and rise to 145°F final internal temperature.
    • Let the pork chops rest for about 10 minutes before serving to let the juices distribute.

    Video

    YouTube player

    Nutrition

    Calories: 550kcal
    Keyword barbecued pork chops, BBQ pork chops, Camp Chef, grilled pork chops, pellet grill, pellet grill pork chops, Pit Boss, pork chops, smoked pork, smoked pork chops, traeger, Wood pellets, wood smoke
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Mads Martigan

    Mads is the founder of Madbackyard.com and has been a BBQ and Grilling enthusiast for the past 15 years. He loves to write about and make videos on smoking and barbecuing all kinds of great food.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carl says

      June 02, 2021 at 7:27 am

      5 stars
      These are always a favorite. One word of advice, get the thickest pork chops you can find when smoking them on the pellet grill so they stay nice and moist. Watch that internal temperature like a hawk too!

    2. P says

      January 23, 2024 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent way to do thick pork chops. My first time doing them on a pellet grill. With this recipe, it won't be the last time!

    3. Mads Martigan says

      February 02, 2024 at 5:26 pm

      Great to hear! Thanks for commenting!

    5 from 2 votes

    Leave a Reply

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    Robert "Mads" Martigan, the founder of Mad Backyard

    Hi, I'm Mads, the founder of Mad Backyard and an avid outdoorsman, barbecue/smoker buff, and pellet grilling enthusiast who loves to share my passion for outdoor living and outdoor cooking with the world.

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