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How to Smoke a Steak

How to smoke a steak so it’s medium or well done on the inside with an amazing dry rub on the outside. Great ready for the ultimate beef dinner tonight. 

How to Smoke a Steak

Looking for some killer smoker recipes? We smoked steaks last weekend and using this homemade dry rub they came out amazing! We’re here to share how to smoke a steak with you so you can enjoy the yum too! (originally published 5/19, affiliate links present)

Smoked Steak

With any cuts of meat you’ll love the bold flavors. Choose a T-bone, Filet Mignon or other type of smoked steak at grocery stores or your local butcher. We usually have a lot on hand since we buy half a cow at the beginning of every year.

Of course I love a filet over any other but financially that isn’t always what I can afford. You can make an otherwise okay steak into something amazing when you put it into your Traeger though. You must give this a try.

To get your meats absolutely perfect we have this printable meat smoking chart to refer to so each and every time it will be fork tender.

traeger

Can you smoke a steak in a smoker?

You can use whatever type you like, yes. I do enjoy using pieces that have some fat in them so it gets a great flavor to it and stays really nice and moist. Another personal preference is no bone, it is just easier to eat when done, I’m hangry and I want to just dig in.

We started our smoking meats journey with our electric smoker, and now own a pellet smoker / grill too.

Choose good cuts of meat is tip number one. The next is to print out our what temperature to cook steak chart so you can remove it once it’s perfect for you!

Traeger Steak

smoked t bone

We got our filets from ButcherBox (you can get free bacon + $15 off your order here). It’s a great way to have quality meats delivered right to your door and they’re great! 

The other steaks came from a cow we bought actually. 😉 So, it’s organic and grass fed right here in Idaho. The best kind. We have smoked New York strip and rib eyes and they’re wonderful too.

What kind of beef can you smoke?

The best types are those with a higher fat content like brisket, otherwise they can get dried out.

  • Done for a shorter amount of time though + a great rub all steaks can come out delicious. Even smoked pork steaks!
smoked filet mignon

What spices go well with steak?

We will share 2 different steak dry rub recipes with you so you can choose.

  • When we made smoked filet mignon I had my husband put a very basic salt and pepper rub on them.

How to smoke a steak with dry rub

First add wood chips or pellets into your smoker. We used mesquite, it creates delicious flavors. Now, preheat your smoker to 250 and rub seasonings on your steaks on both sides. Then, place them inside and let them soak up the smoky flavor.

But stay close! It won’t take an hour of smoking unless your cuts are REALLY thick. Typically 45 minutes is plenty of time.

smoked steak

For the T bone pieces I wanted a bit of sweetness and less pepper. We share that recipe below in the printable recipe card. You can use either depending on your preference.

How long do you leave dry rub on a steak?

  • How much rub you put on a steak depends on your tastebuds. We put a generous helping on both sides prior to laying them on the grill grates.
  • I like BOLD flavors so this and the smoke creates a steak you’ll be raving about for a long time.

How long does it take to cook a steak at 250 degrees?

It depends on how well done or rare you want it.

  • We found that with the thickness of ours 30 minutes was perfect for medium.
  • 45 minutes was just right for medium well. You can see the inside of both cuts above in photos.
  • Medium rare would be less than 30 min but we haven’t done that. Use instant read thermometer at the end.

You could set it at a lower temp for slow smoking for longer if you wanted.

how to smoke steak

What is the best way to reheat steak?

For best results let it reach room temperature. Place on a cooling rack on top a baking sheet. Bake in oven at 300 F for 30 minutes flipping after 15 min. Brush with olive oil a bit to keep it moist. Enjoy once warmed.

Smoked Steaks

We of course have a lot of other easy smoker recipes you will love but a few of our favorites are below. What is something you MUST make on your Traeger or electric smoker during the summertime?

Throw some smoked corn on the cob on the grill while you’re at it too! Make sure you use a food thermometer to ensure internal temperature is at least 125 degrees, that would be rare.

I typically use my meat smoking chart for reference. That is where I got the optimal temperature, everyone likes their protein a particular “doneness” so check often. Remember meat will increase in temp 2-3 degrees when resting too.

smoked corn on the cob recipe

Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!

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smoked steak
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How to Smoke a Steak

How to smoke a steak so it's medium or well done on the inside with an amazing dry rub on the outside. Great ready for the ultimate beef dinner tonight. #steak
Course Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword dry rub, filet mignon, smoked, smoker, steak, t bone
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 480kcal
Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees.
  • In a small bowl mix together ingredients for dry rub. Rub on all sides of steaks. Put steaks into smoker directly on the rack. Close lid.
  • For medium steaks cook total of 30 min, flip half way through. For medium well done steaks cook total of 45 min, flip after 30 minutes.
  • * Thickness of steaks will vary time necessary, check temperature before removing for best results. 120-130 F = rare, 135-145 = medium, 155 F = well done. Keep in mind when resting meat will increase temp 2-3 degrees F.
  • Remove from heat and allow to rest at least 5 minutes to maintain juiciness.

Video

Nutrition Facts
How to Smoke a Steak
Amount Per Serving
Calories 480 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 32g49%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 138mg46%
Sodium 2444mg106%
Potassium 612mg17%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 46g92%
Vitamin A 35IU1%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 3.9mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Recipe Rating




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mary cocans

Tuesday 20th of July 2021

Thank you so much for such a well written article. It is filled with detailed information. Your point is the best among many blogs without fail.

The Typical Mom

Monday 26th of July 2021

Thanks

Patricia L Hrusa

Tuesday 4th of May 2021

I love your recipes and look forward to receiving them by email. But I do not seem to be receiving them any longer. Do you still post your recipes or do I have to hunt on Pinterest for them?

justine

Tuesday 4th of May 2021

Yes there’s a new one each day. Check your spam and see if they’re trapped there. I send 3x a week.

Peter Colson

Saturday 9th of January 2021

The best rib eye I have ever cooked. Went by the recipe that was provided and it came out great!!!

The Typical Mom

Saturday 9th of January 2021

Oh yay!!

Marge

Monday 19th of October 2020

Used this recipe twice now and the steaks turned out perfect each time. Once with N Y strips and once with T-bones. My husband doesn’t care much for steak but he loves them this way! Thanks for sharing!

The Typical Mom

Tuesday 20th of October 2020

Awesome!

S Taylor

Friday 7th of August 2020

You might enjoy the Pit Boss smoker page on FB... Lots of recipes and lots of wonderful people... I would recommend the reverse sear on steaks...

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