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–+ servings
a smoked and seared ribeye steak on a wooden cutting board
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Smoked Ribeye Steaks - Reverse Seared

These ribeye steaks are simply seasoned and then slow smoked on a grill or smoker to add maximum flavor. We then finish them with a blazing hot reverse sear in a cast iron pan to get a perfect, sizzling, crispy crust before serving.
These delicious smoked ribeye steaks can be on ANY grill or smoker, whether its a Traeger or Pit Boss pellet grill, a Masterbuilt electric smoker, or just a simple Weber kettle!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Reverse Searing 3 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 18 minutes
Servings 4 People
Calories 700kcal
Author Mads Martigan
Cost $60

Equipment

  • Propane, Charcoal, or Pellet Smoker -OR-
  • a Gas or charcoal grill with a smoker box or pellet tube smoker.
  • Hickory or Mesquite Wood chips, chunks, or pellets
  • Large Cast Iron Skillet
  • Instant Read Thermometer

Ingredients

  • 4 thick cut ribeye steaks preferably prime grade and well marbled
  • 2 tablespoon cooking oil preferably avocado or grapeseed
  • kosher salt
  • fresh black pepper
  • 8 tablespoon Butter
  • 4 tablespoon cooking oil for reverse searing preferably avocado or grapeseed

Instructions

Prepare the Ribeye Steaks

  • Coat your steaks in oil and a generous amount of kosher salt and pepper on all sides.
    ribeye steaks being coated in salt and pepper
  • Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Setup your smoker or grill

  • Set up your smoker (or grill with indirect heating) to 225°F
  • Remove your steaks from the refrigerator and unwrap them.
  • When the smoker or grill is up to 225°F, add your wood chunks to the coals, or wood chips the tray or smoker box. Alternatively, you can add wood pellets to a pellet tube smoker. Place the smoker box or pellet tube smoker over the hot coals or burners.
  • When smoke begins to come out, place your steaks on the grates, away from the direct heat if using a grill.
    ribeye steaks on a smoker

Prepare Cast Iron Skillet for Reverse Sear

  • While the steaks are smoking heat a cast iron skillet on medium heat and warm up 1 tablespoon cooking oil and 2 tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Leave the rest of the oil and butter ready to go for when you pull steaks from smoker.

Smoking the Steaks

  • Monitor your steak internal temperature. After about 45-60 minutes your steak should reach an internal temperature of 100-110°F.

Reverse Searing the Steaks

  • Once the steaks reach 100-110°F internally, remove the smoked ribeye steaks from the smoker onto a platter and bring them over to the preheated cast iron skillet.
  • Turn the heat on the skillet up to HIGH and when the oil begins to smoke put one of the steaks in the skillet.
  • Let the steak sear for about 60-90 seconds on one side and then flip to the other side.
    smoked ribeye steak reverse searing in a pan with butter and oil
  • Check the internal temperature of the steak, continue to flip in the skillet to cook evenly and when it is about 5°F shy of your desired doneness (see notes below), remove it from the skillet.
    smoked ribeye steak searing in a pan
  • Add another 2 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon oil to the hot skillet and repeat with the remaining steaks.
  • Let all the steaks rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Do not cover them in foil or stack them as they will overcook.

Video

Notes

Use the following internal temperature guide to determine when to pull your steaks from the grill.
Rare: 125℉ (very red center)
Medium Rare: 130 – 135℉ (red center)
Medium – 140 – 145℉ (pink center)
Medium Well Done – 150℉ (slight pink center)
Well Done – 160℉ (no pink, cooked throughout)

Nutrition

Calories: 700kcal