How to Cook Smoked Pork Chops

Co-authored by Sasha Reyes and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: January 26, 2023

Smoked pork chops are pork chops that have been cooked in a smoker to enhance their flavor. Even though smoked pork chops come partially cooked, you still need to cook them some more so they’re safe to eat. Fortunately, you can easily cook smoked pork chops on the stovetop, on a grill, or in the oven.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cooking Smoked Pork Chops on the Stovetop

1
Heat 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of cooking oil in a large pan. Turn the burner under the pan to medium-high heat. Wait for the oil to start smoking so you know it's hot enough.^{[1]
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2
Cook the smoked pork chops in the pan for 2 minutes on each side. After 4 minutes, both sides of the pork chops should be browned.^{[2]
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3
Lower the heat and cook the pork chops for 1 minute. After 1 minute, check the temperature of the pork chops with a meat thermometer. The pork chops need to be at least 145 °F (63 °C) for them to be safe to eat. If they’re not, cook them for 1-2 more minutes on the stovetop.^{[3]
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4
Transfer the pork chops to a plate and serve. Be careful of the hot oil in the pan when you’re moving the pork chops. Let the pork chops cool for a few minutes before serving.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Grilling Smoked Pork Chops

1
Turn on your grill and set it to medium-high heat. Make sure the grill grates are clean before you put the smoked pork chops on them.^{[5]
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2
Brush the grill grates with vegetable oil. This will keep the pork chops from sticking to the grates. Brush the oil on using a basting brush.^{[6]
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- If you don't have vegetable oil, use a different cooking oil, like olive oil, instead.
3
Cook the smoked pork chops on the grill for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, the bottom sides of the pork chops should be browned.^{[7]
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4
Rotate the pork chops 90-degrees and cook them for 2 more minutes. Rotating the pork chops will give them diamond grill marks.^{[8]
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- If you don’t want the pork chops to have diamond grill marks, you can leave them as they are and let them cook for 2 more minutes.
5
Flip the pork chops and cook them for 2 more minutes. After the 2 minutes, check the temperature of the pork chops with a meat thermometer. If the pork chops aren’t at least 145 °F (63 °C), they’re not safe to eat. Leave them on the grill for 1-2 more minutes until they reach a safe temperature.^{[9]
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6
Transfer the pork chops to a plate for serving. Let the pork chops cool for a few minutes before serving.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Roasting Smoked Pork Chops

1
Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Move the oven rack to the middle if it’s not already there.^{[11]
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2
Brown one side of the smoked pork chops in a pan over medium-high heat. It should take about 3-4 minutes for the pork chops to fully brown on one side. If the pork chops start to smoke, turn down the heat on the burner.^{[12]
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- Searing the pork chop before cooking it in the oven helps give it a crispy exterior.
3
Transfer the pork chops to a baking pan so the browned side is face up. Don't worry about lining or greasing the baking pan.^{[13]
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4
Roast the pork chops in the oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the pork chops. You want the pork chops to be at least 145 °F (63 °C) or they won’t be safe to eat.^{[14]
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- You may need to leave the pork chops in the oven for a few more minutes if they’re not at least 145 °F (63 °C).
5
Transfer the pork chops from the pan to a plate and serve. Top the pork chops with a glaze or your favorite seasonings.^{[15]
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6
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

Could I use Shake and Bake on smoked pork chops?

Community Answer

You could, but they're already smoked, and it probably wouldn't taste good.
Question

What gravy goes good with grilled smoke chops?

Galasy4969

Top Answerer

It depends on your personal preference. Choose just about any meat gravy and you will be satisfied with the results.
Question

How long do I smoke 1" thick chops on a gas grill?

Community Answer

The most reliable method to ensure pork - or any protein - is grilled to a safe and adequate temperature is to use a meat thermometer. They are relatively inexpensive, and most have a chart showing proper temperatures for meats right on the thermometer. There are so many variables to consider - grill temperature, amount of fat in the meats, and thickness. A thermometer will give you results you can rely on - I couldn't grill or cook meats without one!