How To Smoke A Steak - The Typical Mom

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How to Smoke a Steak

By Justine

5 from 5 votes

Updated Jun 02, 2025

Published Nov 02, 2023

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How to smoke a steak with dry rub at 250 degrees so it’s medium or well done on the inside is here. Get ready for the ultimate beef recipe on a Traeger or Green Mountain pellet smoker tonight.

A plate featuring several slices of smoked steak at 250 degrees, showcasing a perfect sear on the outside with a tender, pink interior. The seasoned steak is artfully arranged on a pristine white plate.

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

You can use our Meat Smoking Chart for all the different cuts but under an hour of smoking is typical (depending on thickness). However, on the whole 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. 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. Everyone likes their protein a particular “doneness” so check often. Remember meat will increase in temp 2-3 degrees when resting too so take off of the heat when it is a bit under the internal temperature you are aiming for.

Ingredient Notes

For the most delicious flavors I would choose a T-bone, Filet Mignon or round steak at grocery stores or your local butcher. Of course I love a filet over any other but financially that isn’t always what I can afford.

For the Steak Dry Rub you want plenty to coat steaks on both sides. Yes you will get a smoky flavor with the wood chips but this intensifies it even more and is a must. For it you want; brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.

How long do you leave dry rub on a 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 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.

Tips

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

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. It’s one of the easiest and best meats to smoke ever.

Throw some smoked baked potatoes on the grill beforehand is great for serving together! They need a longer time with high heat to get the center tender, so start with those. And, make sure you use a food thermometer handy to ensure the internal temperature of your meat is at least 125 degrees, rare, before serving.

5 from 5 votes

Smoked Steak Recipe

By Justine How to smoke a steak at 250 degrees 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 in a Traeger. Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 30 minutes Servings: 6 Save RecipeSaved Recipe Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe

Equipment

1 smoker

Ingredients 1x2x3x

▢ 6 steaks
▢ steak rub
▢ 1 tbsp brown sugar
▢ 1 tsp garlic powder
▢ 1 tsp pepper
▢ 2 tbsp sea salt

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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

Calories: 480kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 138mg, Sodium: 2444mg, Potassium: 612mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 35IU, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 3.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree, Main CourseCuisine: American Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

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.

Other smoked meats we love

What is something you MUST make on your Traeger or electric smoker during the summertime? Smoked hamburgers and this best grilled steak recipe are great for the summertime.

Try smoked bacon in the morning for an out of this world taste, we used this inside our smoked meatloaf recipe with cheese and OH MY. For Easter, smoking a cooked ham is great with hickory pellets. Smoke pulled beef sometime and serve it on little buns as fun sliders!

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!

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About Justine

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

14 Comments

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.
Reply
1. Thanks
  Reply
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?
Reply
1. Yes there’s a new one each day. Check your spam and see if they’re trapped there. I send 3x a week.
  Reply
The best rib eye I have ever cooked. Went by the recipe that was provided and it came out great!!!
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1. Oh yay!!
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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!
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1. Awesome!
  Reply
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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This came out perfect. Will be making them all summer long!

P.S. I tried to leave a rating, but I can’t click any of the star buttons??
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1. Strange, I have others on this recipe. Thanks though
  Reply
THANK YOU FOR THIS! Our steak came out INCREDIBLE!
Reply
1. OH yay!!
  Reply
2. Your blog has attracted a lot of real interest. I can see why because you did a great job making it interesting. I appreciate your efforts very much.
  Reply

Hi, I'm Justine!

Welcome to The Typical Mom blog where we share easy Instant Pot recipes, use our Ninja Foodi, Crockpot and air fryer daily, and share fun family travel destinations!

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