Brined, perfectly seasoned, and smoked to perfection. My Traeger Pro 780 smoked these Smoked Traeger Pork Chops, which were juicy, meaty, and full of flavor! Let’s light up your smoker and make the best pork chops you’ve ever had!
I cooked a few different kinds of pork chops and used two different kinds of seasoning to make this recipe. All chops were brined before seasoning for 8 hours.
The #1 thing I love about pork is how inexpensive it is to purchase. You can buy pork at your local grocery store or butcher. Choose your favorite thick-cut pork chops to use for this pork recipe.
I prefer bone-in pork chops over boneless pork chops. I think the bone gives it extra flavor. But choose what you like best!.
I bought a variety pack of pork which had boneless, loin, and rib chops. It’s easy to save money and get a lot of pork chops when you shop at big box stores like Costco or Sam’s Club.
Another great inexpensive pork recipe is my smoked pork butt recipe. Its great for feeding a lot of people for a small amount of $.
Cooking pork chops on a Traeger grill is a foolproof way to achieve tender, juicy chops with delicious smoky flavor But nailing the cook time is key to pork chop perfection. Learn how long to cook pork chops on a Traeger grill for the best results.
As a passionate home cook and Traeger grill owner, I love cooking flavorful pork chops on my grill. Over time, I’ve dialed in the ideal cook times to ensure my pork chops turn out juicy and delicious every time.
In this article, I’ll share my tips on how long to cook bone-in and boneless pork chops on a Traeger wood pellet grill. Follow these Traeger pork chop cook times and temperatures, and you’ll be serving up perfect pork chops to rave reviews.
Choosing Your Pork Chops
The first step is selecting high-quality pork chops at the store. Here are some tips:
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Go thick – Choose chops at least 1 inch thick. Thinner chops will dry out on the grill. Thickness promotes juiciness.
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Bone-in or boneless – Bone-in chops hold more flavor and moisture. But boneless chops cook faster. Both work well.
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Choose your cut – Rib chops or center-cut loin chops have the best flavor and marbling
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Get the right size – Shoot for 8 ounces per chop for a hearty serving size.
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Pick a marinade or rub – A marinade or dry rub adds lots of flavor. Try garlic, rosemary, brown sugar or Asian flavors.
Starting with great chops sets you up for success. Now let’s look at Traeger grill settings and cook times.
Traeger Grill Setup For Pork Chops
Cooking pork chops on a Traeger is easy. Just follow these simple steps:
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Preheat – Turn on your Traeger grill and preheat to 400°F with the lid closed. This takes 10-15 minutes.
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Add smoke – Turn on the “smoke” setting for extra smoky flavor. After 10 minutes, switch back to 400°F.
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Clean grates – Give the grill grates a quick brush down so chops don’t stick.
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Don’t peek – Resist lifting the lid during cooking. This lets heat and smoke work their magic.
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Use a meat thermometer – Investing in a good digital meat thermometer is a must for perfect results.
That covers the basics for setting up your Traeger grill. Now let’s talk cook times.
How Long to Cook Bone-In Pork Chops
For 1-inch thick, bone-in pork chops, cook for 8-10 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
The bone conducts heat slower than meat, so bone-in chops need a little more time on the grill. Resist the urge to flip the chops too soon. Let them develop a nice sear.
Here are more tips for nailing bone-in pork chop cook times:
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Cook 8-10 minutes per side for 1-inch chops
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Cook 10-12 minutes per side for 1 1⁄2-inch chops
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Use a meat thermometer for 145°F (medium doneness)
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Let chops rest 5 minutes before serving
Following these guidelines results in tender, juicy bone-in pork chops every time. The bone adds amazing flavor too.
How Long to Cook Boneless Pork Chops
Cook boneless pork chops for 6-8 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature is 145°F.
Since there is no bone, boneless chops cook faster. But don’t rush it. You still want a nice brown exterior for maximum flavor.
Here are some additional tips:
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Cook 6-8 minutes per side for 1-inch boneless chops
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Cook 8-10 minutes per side for 1 1⁄2-inch boneless chops
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Meat thermometer to 145°F for medium doneness
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Let rest 5 minutes before serving
With these cook times, your boneless pork chops will turn out perfect.
Common Pork Chop Mistakes to Avoid
Learning from mistakes is part of the fun with cooking. Here are some common pork chop pitfalls to avoid:
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Cooking chops directly over the flames. This can cause burnt spots.
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Constant peeking and flipping. Let chops cook undisturbed.
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Rushing the preheat. Give your Traeger time to fully heat up.
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Overcooking past 145°F internal temperature. This leads to dry, tough chops.
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Forgetting to let chops rest before cutting. Resting allows juices to redistribute.
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Using a dull knife to cut chops. A sharp knife glides through cleanly.
Master your Traeger cook times and temperatures, and you’ll churn out amazing pork chops every time.
Tips For Maximizing Pork Chop Flavor
Beyond getting your cook times dialed in, here are some extra tips for maximizing pork chop flavor:
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Brine your chops – A salt and sugar brine makes chops extra juicy and seasoned.
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Use a spice rub – Coat chops with a flavorful spice rub before grilling. Sweet and smoky rubs are my go-to.
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Try a marinade – Soaking chops in a marinade adds tons of flavor. Go with a bold Asian marinade or chimichurri.
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Use flavorful wood pellets – Opt for hickory, apple, cherry or mesquite pellets in your Traeger for extra smoky flavor.
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Make a pan sauce – Deglaze the pan with wine or broth to make an easy sauce for serving.
With the right prep, seasonings and wood smoke, your pork chops will rock some serious flavor.
Serving Suggestions For Grilled Pork Chops
A good rule of thumb is serving one bone-in or two boneless pork chops per person. Round out the meal with these tasty sides:
- Loaded baked potatoes
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Garlic green beans
- Roasted asparagus
- Summer salad
- Skillet cornbread
- Rice pilaf or baked beans
For an easy weeknight dinner, pair Traeger grilled pork chops with a veggie and starch. Or go all out with multiple sides for a festive barbecue feast.
Grilled Pork Chop Recipes To Try
If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some must-try Traeger pork chop recipes:
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Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops – An easy glaze adds big flavor.
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Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Salsa – Sweet, fresh and delicious.
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Jerk Spice Pork Chops – A Caribbean flavor twist.
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Honey Garlic Pork Chops – Kids and adults love this combo.
The possibilities are endless with Traeger pork chop recipes! Play around with global flavors and sauces to complement the smoky chops.
Get Grilling Juicy Pork Chops
Cooking tender, juicy pork chops on a Traeger grill couldn’t be easier. Follow my tips on cook times, temperatures and preparation to achieve pork chop perfection.
The next time you fire up your Traeger, throw on some nicely marbled chops and invite the neighbors over. Just be prepared for lots of requests for your secret recipe! Once you master the process, grilled pork chops can become a go-to meal in your dinner rotation.
Smoking the pork chops
Now comes the fun part! Pre-heat your smoker to 225°F to get that heat and smoke rolling. Use your favorite wood. I like to use hickory pellets when smoking pork chops.
Place the pork chops directly on the Traegers grill grates and smoke until an internal temperature of 135°F. This should take about 1:15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temp.
When an instant-read thermometer reads 135° IT, the pork chops are done. Take them out of the smoker and set them aside. Tent loosely with aluminum foil and turn the heat up on the smoker to 450°F.
I like to put my searing grates on the smoker at this time. These are great for getting nice sear marks on your Traeger Smoked Pork Chops. These will work with any smoker by simply laying directly on top of the grill racks.
Put the pork chops back on the smoker’s rack or searing grates when the grill reaches 450°F. Cook for three to four more minutes on each side until a meat probe inserted into the chops shows that the internal temperature has reached 145°F.
The lowest finished internal temperature when cooking pork should be 145°F. This ensures a safe pork chop preventing any potential foodborne illness.
Resting the meat & serving
As soon as they reach 145° on the inside, take them out of the smoker and let them rest on the kitchen counter for 5 to 10 minutes. This will allow the juicy to redistribute throughout the meat.
Now its time to eat your new favorite pork chops! Serve an entire pork chop to each guest. This looks a lot better than slicing it up and serving pieces. Everyone likes having their own pork chop!.
These Traeger Pork Chops turned out extremely tender and juicy. The sweetness from the seasonings were perfectly balanced by the savory flavor of the pork.
When these pork chops were done, they had a nice slightly pink center, and the fat had rendered down, giving them a great smoky flavor. The brine helped make these super tender, just like you find on a smoked pork tenderloin.
Everyone will LOVE these!
Im smoking these pork chops on my Traeger 780 pellet smoker. A Traeger wood pellet grill is an easy and great way to impart fantastic smoke flavor on the pork, and other meats for that matter, without having to babysit a firebox all day.
Dont have a Traeger grill? Thats fine, you can use what you have. But I would definitely recommend getting one. They are easy to use and I love the flavor they impart on the meat.
Smoke pork chops on Traeger grill – Traeger pork chops – meat church rub’s
FAQ
How long does it take to cook 1 inch pork chops on a pellet grill?
What temperature do you cook pork on a Traeger?
How long to smoke pork chops at 350?
How long does it take to cook a 1 inch thick pork chop on the grill?
How do you cook pork chops on a Traeger Grill?
Rub the salt and Traeger Blackened Saskatchewan Rub all over the pork chops. When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 450℉ and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. Place the pork chops directly on grill grates, close the lid, and cook for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
How do you cook pork chops on a grill?
Holding a meat thermometer parallel to your work surface, insert it into the center of the thickest pork chop avoiding bone. Place the chops directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook, flipping once until the internal temperature reaches 140°F, about 15 minutes total.
Can You Grill pork chops with Traeger rub?
Traeger Pork & Poultry rub is always a good choice as its honey and apple flavor complements then mild flavored meat. After massaging in your spices you should let your pork chops rest for around 15 minutes before grilling. High heat, around 450°F, is best for grilling pork chops.
How do you cook pork chops on a pellet grill?
Preheat your pellet grill according to factory instructions to 175-180 degrees. Brush the chops with oil and sprinkle liberally with the seasoning. Place on the grill grates and close the lid and smoke the chops for 45 minutes. Remove the chops from the grill, crank the heat up to high (it should get to 400°F-500°F ideally), and let preheat fully.