One of my favorite ways to enjoy beef is by cooking steak on a pellet grill. The smoky flavor is outstanding, and you can vary the profile by trying different hardwoods in your grill.
Steak on a Pellet Grill
Cooking steak on a pellet grill is one of the most flavorful and effortless ways to prepare a great backyard steak. After years of grilling on many cookers, I still appreciate the balance of smoke and sear a pellet grill delivers. I like to finish the steaks with a pat of butter while they rest to deepen the richness.
Ingredients for Pellet Grill Steak
This recipe keeps things simple—good steak needs very little. The pellet grill’s smoke adds plenty of character, so we use just a few ingredients:
- 2 boneless ribeye steaks (12–16 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon beef rub (or equal parts salt, cracked black pepper, and garlic powder)
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
How to Cook Steak on a Pellet Grill
With your steaks, seasoning, and butter ready, follow these steps to cook a delicious steak on a pellet grill.
- Preheat and season. Set the pellet grill to 225°F. A mix of oak and cherry works well for beef, but use the wood you prefer. While the grill comes up to temperature, season the steaks with your rub or a simple salt-and-pepper seasoning, pressing it into the meat.
- Smoke. Place the steaks on the grill and smoke them until their internal temperature is about 10°F below your target doneness. Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy. For example, plan to pull them at roughly 115°F for rare or 125°F for medium-rare.
- Sear. Remove the steaks, raise the grill to high (around 400–450°F), and return the steaks to the hottest area. Sear 2–3 minutes per side until they reach your final target temperature.
- Rest and serve. Transfer steaks to a platter, top each with a tablespoon of butter, and rest 5–10 minutes before slicing and serving.
How Long to Cook Steak on a Pellet Grill
Cooking time varies by thickness and desired doneness. For 1.5-inch steaks cooked to medium-rare, expect roughly an hour on the low smoke stage plus 4–6 minutes for the final sear. Rely on an instant-read thermometer rather than time alone for consistent results.
Tips for Cooking Steak on a Pellet Grill
These practical tips will help you get better results on a pellet grill.
- Start with cold steaks. Cold meat absorbs smoke better during the low-and-slow stage. Cooking from chilled helps avoid overcooking the exterior while bringing the interior up gently.
- Maximize searing heat. Pellet grills aren’t known for extreme searing temperatures, so prepare accordingly:
- Allow the grill ample time to reach high heat after the smoking stage.
- Identify hot spots on your grill—often around the edges of deflector plates—and sear there.
- If you want an even hotter sear, consider using high-heat grates or accessories designed to increase surface heat.
More BBQ Steak Recipes
Once you’ve mastered steak on a pellet grill, try other methods to expand your skills on different heat sources.
- Steak on a Gas Grill
- Steak on a Charcoal Grill
- Steak Temperature and Doneness Guide
Steak on Pellet Grill Recipe
Follow the recipe to make an outstanding steak. If you enjoy it, leave a review and share your experience.
For quick access to more recipes and tutorials, consider using the Hey Grill Hey app or the site’s recipe library to browse additional techniques and ideas.
Steak on Pellet Grill
Ingredients
- 2 boneless ribeye steaks (12-16 ounces each)
- 1 Tablespoon beef rub (or kosher salt + cracked black pepper)
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat your pellet grill to 225°F and choose your hardwood—oak and cherry are a great combination for beef.
- Season. Rub the steaks with beef seasoning or a mix of kosher salt and cracked black pepper, pressing the seasoning into the meat.
- Grill. Smoke the steaks at 225°F until their internal temperature is about 10°F below your final target (for medium-rare, pull at ~125°F target 130°F finished). For 1.5-inch steaks, the smoky stage takes about an hour to reach that intermediate temperature.
- Sear. Remove the steaks, raise the grill to high, then sear each side 2–3 minutes over the hottest area until they reach your final desired temperature (120°F rare, 130°F medium-rare, 140°F medium, 150°F medium-well, 160°F well done).
- Rest and serve. Place steaks on a platter, top each with a tablespoon of butter, and rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.