This juicy Pellet Grill Smoked Pork Loin is easy to make, only takes 15 minutes to prep, and less than 3 hours to cook!
Easy Pellet Smoked Pork Loin
Friends don't let friends serve dry Pork loin. This is one of my favors cuts of pork to smoke but its also the one I see ruined the most often.
I have been smoking Pork loins in my restaurants and back yard for over twenty years and the number one mistake I see is that people treat it like a pork butt.Because pork loin is so lean you only need to smoke it to 145 degrees F instead of the 200 degrees that is required for a pork butt.
Good news is you found this recipe and Im gonna make sure your smoked pork loin is dripping with juice and knocking your socks off with perfect balanced flavor.
What is the Difference Between Pork Loin and Pork Tenderloin?
Did you know that Pork Loin and Pork Tenderloin are terms that are often used interchangeably?
However, they are actually 2 very different cuts of meat!
The Loin: The pork loin comes from the back of the hog. This cut of meat is also wider and flatter and can be found bone-in or boneless.
The Tenderloin: The tenderloin comes from the muscle that runs along the backbone of the hog. Pork tenderloin is a smaller cut of meat and can be cut into even smaller pieces to get pork chops.
Smoked Pork Loin Recipe Ingredients
Meat: To make this recipe and follow it exactly as I do it, you will need about 3-4 lbs of center-cut pork loin.
Flavor and Seasoning: To get the best bite full of incredible and irresistible flavor every time, you are going to need ¼ cup of Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 tbsp of mustard, 3 tbsp of BBQ Dry Rub, ¼ cup of Kosher Salt, and ¼ cup of BBQ Sauce.
How to Make Pork Loin on Pellet Grill
- Remove the pork loin from the packaging and pat dry with a paper towel.
You do not need to remove all the fat, but you do want to trim off any silver skin that won't render during the cooking process.
2. Next, Rub down the pork loin with mustard. You can also use olive oil. this is to help the rub stick to the meat while it's smoking. Make sure to coat all sides including the ends.
3. Season liberally with your favorite rub. You want to make sure to have an even seasoning coating over the entire pork loin. it may seem like a lot of seasoning, but it's a thick cut of meat, and the only flavor is on the outside surface.
4. Place the pork loin back in the fridge for 30 minutes to let the rub set up. the colder the pork loin, the better the smoke ring, and it also has a little more time to pick up the smoke flavor during the short cook.
5. Place the pork loin on the pellet grill set at 275 degrees F. Shut the lid and set a timer for about 90 minutes. You are looking for an internal temperature of around 145 degrees F.
6. Somewhere between 90 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the size and thickness, your pork loin will hit 145 degrees F. Now it's time to baste with your favorite bbq sauce. You can also use a glaze or any other sauce you prefer.
7. Continue to cook for another 15 to 20 minutes until you reach an internal temperature of 150 degrees F. Remove the pork loin from the pellet grill and wrap it loosely in aluminum foil. Rest for 15-30 minutes. (this is important. Otherwise, the pork juices will run out, and the meat will be dry)
8. Remove the pork from the aluminum foil, Slice the pork loin, and serve
Pork loin is fantastic for sandwiches, wraps, or sliced and served with veggies and starch.
The 2 most important things when cooking a pro loin are not overcooking it and letting it be great. This will ensure tender, juicy pork every time...Enjoy!!!
Pork Loin Smoked Recipe Tools
Pellet Grill: If you are looking to smoke something, it is usually best to have a smoker! If you are new to smoking, I recommend shopping around and finding the best pellet grill for you and your budget.
Wood Pellets: Pork loves fruit woods like cherry, apple and peach wood, I always like a blend that includes hickory and a fruit wood combined but play around with it until you find your favorite combination.
Meat Thermometer: Don't have a thermometer? I recommend reading Grilling Thermometer Review – Thermapen Alternatives and Thermoworks Thermapen Reviews – BBQ Thermometers.
Sharp Knife: This pork loin will be juicy, tender, and easy to cut, but make your life easier with a sharp knife. Plus, every good cook, chef, and grill master needs a quality set of knives. If you want a recommendation, check out the Cooking Guild Knives.
Meat Fork: A meat fork also makes cutting or carving meat easier. This one is solid and won't break the bank.
What to Serve with Pellet Grill Pork Loin
The perfect side dish really takes cooking to the next level. Serving up your smoked pork loin takes the compliments from, "This is amazing pork loin" to "Wow, this is an incredible meal, and the pork loin is amazing."
So, what are you waiting for? Don't slack! Complete your meal with side dishes like:
- Pellet Grill Smoked Baked Potatoes
- Best Steakhouse Wedge Salad
- Chilled Tortellini Pasta Salad With Italian Meats
- Grilled Acorn Squash w/ Spicy Agave Glaze
- Pellet Grill Corn On The Cob
- Corn and Avocado Summer Salad
- Pellet Grill Smoked Baked Beans
- Sheet Pan Green Beans Almondine with Bacon
How to Store & Use this Smoked Pork Loin Recipe
Depending on how many people you are feeding, 3 pounds of pork loin can be a lot!
This recipe is perfect for BBQs with friends and family, parties, or game day celebrations.
However, this recipe is also great to make and have leftovers to enjoy or use to refresh and make new recipes with!
With my leftovers, I like to:
- Shred the meat, sauce it up, and pair it with a lightly toasted bun.
- Cuban Casserole
- Burrito Bowl
- BBQ Pork Pizza
- Southwest Smoked Pork Dip
When stored correctly in an airtight container, your leftovers will last in the fridge for 4-5 days. Want your leftovers to really last? Store them in the freezer for a max of 4 months.
Pork Loin Pellet Grill FAQs
The thickness of the pork loin will play a major roll in the total cook time but as a general guideline It should take between 2.5-3.5 hours to smoke a pork loin to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Wrapping the pork loin in foil as soon as it's smoked and pulled off the grill can help it rest while retaining its natural moisture. The number one key is to make sure you don't over cook the pork loin because of how lean this cut it.
Yes, it's very easy to overcook a pork loin because of its low ft content and relatively fast cooking time. That is why I always recommend having a probe thermometer with an alarm set so you an monitor the temp while cooking
Resting a pork loin for 15-20 minutes is the ideal amount of time before slicing.
Smoked pork loin needs to reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Anything over 155 degrees F will start to become dry.
More like this Pork Loin Pellet Grill Recipe
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Cooking Pork Loin on Pellet Grill
Equipment
- Pellet Grill
- Aluminum foil
- Basting Brush
- Meat Thermometer
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 4 lbs Pork Loin Center cut
- 2 tbsp Mustard
- 3 tbsp BBQ Dry Rub
- ¼ cup BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Remove the pork loin from the packaging and pat dry with a paper towel.
- You do not need to remove all the fat, but you do want to trim off any silver skin that won't render during the cooking process.
- Next, Rub down the pork loin with mustard. You can also use olive oil. this is just to help the rub stick to the meat while it's smoking. Make sure to coat all sides including the ends.
- Season liberally with your favorite rub. You want to make sure to have an even coating of seasoning over the entire pork loin. it may seem like a lot of seasoning, but its a thick cut of meat, and the only flavor is on the outside surface.
- Place the pork loin back in the fridge for 30 minutes to let the rub set up. the colder the pork loin the better the smoke ring and it also has a little more time to pick up the smoke flavor during the short cook.
- Place the pork loin on the pellet grill set at 275 degrees F. Shut the lid and set a timer for about 90 minutes. You are looking for an internal temperature of around 145 degrees F.
- Somewhere between 90 minutes and 2 hours depending on the size and thickness, your pork loin will hit 145 degrees F. Now it's time to baste with your favorite bbq sauce. You can also use a glaze or any other sauce you prefer.
- Continue to cook for another 15 to 20 minutes until you reach an internal temperature of 150 degrees F. Remove the pork loin from the pellet grill and wrap it loosely in aluminum foil. Rest for 15-30 minutes. (this is important. Otherwise, the pork juices will run out, and the meat will be dry)
- Remove the pork from the aluminum foil, Slice the pork loin, and serve
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