Easy Smoked Pork Chops (with Brine)
The Best Smoked Pork Chops Recipe – A simple yet flavorful brine is the key to smoking pork chops (bone-in or boneless) to tender perfection, every single time.
Easy Smoked Pork Chops
Smoky, juicy, and tender chops are just about the most satisfying main dish there is. A thick cut of pork is super meaty and savory, but with a slightly sweeter taste than beef or other types of meat.
It’s a great protein to infuse with seasonings because it takes on the flavors and aromatic ingredients. We soak our pork chops in a simple apple cider brine for several hours to get the meat perfectly tenderized, then season and cook on a Traeger smoker. In only about 30 minutes they are ready to serve. Delicious smoked pork chops served with your favorite hearty comfort food sides.
Use this easy brine and smoking method to create the most amazing bone-in or boneless pork chops ever!
Ingredients You Need
For the Brine:
- Water – hot from the tap
- Salt – kosher or sea salt
- Apple cider – or juice
To Make the Smoked Pork Chops:
- Pork chops – bone in or boneless
- Spices – Lemon pepper, dried thyme, ground sage, garlic powder, onion powder
How to Brine Pork Chops
To make the brine, first place the salt and hot tap water in a large zip bag. Shake the bag around to dissolve the salt.
Then add the apple cider and pork chops. Zip the bag closed and place it in a bowl in case of leakage. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and brine for at least two hours, but overnight is better.
How to Cook Smoked Pork Chops
When ready to cook, preheat the smoker to 350°F. Use your favorite wood chips or wood pellets… I used a hickory and cherry wood blend. But you can go with mesquite or pecan wood if you like.
Remove the pork chops from the brine and pat them dry. In a small bowl combine the lemon pepper, thyme, sage, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Pro Tip: There’s no need to add salt if the pork chops are brined. If you did not brine them add 1 teaspoon of salt.
Mix the rub seasoning and sprinkle over both sides of the pork chops. Pat lightly to coat.
Get the Complete (Printable) Smoked Pork Chops Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Once the smoker reaches 350°F, place the pork chops on the smoker. Close the lid and smoke for 15 minutes.
Flip the pork chops over and insert a cooking thermometer probe into the thickest part of the pork chop. Continue to smoke for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the pork chops reach 142-145°F in the middle.
Remove from the smoker and allow the pork chops to rest for five minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
A generous-sized pork chop is practically a meal all on its own! But yes, they are also great as a main with side dishes.
Smoked pork is a classic barbecue food that is delicious to pair with other comfort staples like creamy mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing muffins (with apple and pancetta), and homemade macaroni and cheese.
And who doesn’t love pork chops with cinnamon spiced apples? No one, that’s who.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bone-in or boneless pork chops that are 1-1.5 inches thick will take approximately 20-30 minutes to smoke. Slightly thicker chops will take a few minutes longer.
The internal temperature of cooked pork should be 142-145°F in the thickest part of the chop. The temperature will continue to rise a few degrees after you take them off the heat.
Leftovers will keep well for up to 3 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Looking For More Delicious Pork Dishes? Be Sure To Also Try These Recipes:
- Apple Baked Stuffed Pork Chops
- Baked Ham Recipe with Honey Mustard & Apples
- Smoked Pork Loin + Tenderloin
- Perfect Sous Vide Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Smoked Pulled Pork
Easy Smoked Pork Chops
Ingredients
For the Pork Chop Brine –
- 1 cup hot tap water
- ¼ cup kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 cup apple cider or juice
For the Smoked Pork Chops –
- 4 – 1 to 1.5 inch pork chops boneless or bone-in
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- For the Brine: Place the salt and hot tap water in a large zip bag. Shake the bag around to dissolve the salt. Then add the apple cider and pork chops. Zip the bag closed and place in a bowl in case of leakage. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and brine the chops for at least two hours, but overnight is better.
- When ready to cook, preheat the smoker to 350°F. (Use your favorite wood chips or wood pellets… I used a hickory and cherry wood blend.)
- Remove the pork chops from the brine and pat dry. In a small bowl combine the lemon pepper, thyme, sage, garlic powder, and onion powder. (There’s no need to add salt if the pork chops are brined. If you did not brine add 1 teaspoon of salt.) Mix the rub seasoning and sprinkle over both sides of the pork chops.
- Once the smoker reaches 350°F, place the pork chops on the smoker. Close the lid and smoke for 15 minutes. Flip the pork chops over and insert a cooking thermometer probe into the thickest part of the pork chop. Continue to smoke for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the pork chops reach 142-145°F in the middle.
- Remove from the smoker and allow the pork chops to rest for five minutes before serving.
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this pork recipe is super easy and delicious! thank you so much for sharing this recipe
I made these for dinner last night and everyone loved them! So tasty + easy!
Super easy brine! Love the seasoning mix! So simple and yet so good! The pork chops turned out absolutely perfect. Full of incredible flavor! And so moist!!!
I’m always looking for good pork chop recipes, have tried so many, some work and some I’ve not been happy with, regardless have never tried smoking them, a nice change for me, thank you!
These have great flavor and are always a hit with the family. Works with so many sides too!