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    Home » Recipes » Grill Recipes » Smoker Recipes » Smoked Ribeye Steaks on the Pellet Grill

    Smoked Ribeye Steaks on the Pellet Grill

    Published: Jun 20, 2022 · Modified: Apr 5, 2023 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Want to smoke juicy steaks on the Traeger? Try my super-simple smoked ribeye steaks recipe uses just 3 ingredients. It’s an easy and delicious smoker recipe for dinner that’s barely any work. I’ll teach you how to throw ribeye on the pellet grill and get them right the very first time you try ’em…

    Best Traeger Smoked Ribeye Steaks Recipe

    HEY THERE — Are you on instagram? I post quick, easy smoker recipes there @sipbitego.

    Table of Contents

    • Why smoking ribeyes is a great pellet grill recipe…
    • How long does it take to smoke ribeye
    • Ingredients
    • How to smoke ribeyes on Traeger Grills
    • Smoked ribeye temperature chart
    • Toppings for smoked ribeye
    • More ways to smoke ribeye on the Traeger
    • FAQs 
    • More Tasty Grill + Smoker Recipes
    • Meat thermometer recommendations
    • Meat thermometer recommendations
    • Why I wrote this steak recipe
    • Are you a foodie, too?
    • Best Traeger Smoked Ribeye Steaks Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Why smoking ribeyes is a great pellet grill recipe…

    • Simple seasonings.
    • Learn why you use two temperatures for smoking steaks like ribeye. 
    • Use my low and slow method to infuse BIG smoky flavor. 
    • Add even more flavor by using strong hickory wood pellets as seen in the Sip Bite Go demo.
    • Use boneless ribeyes or smoke bone-in ribeyes. 
    • New to smoked foods? See my step by step video for beginners (scroll to bottom of page). 
    Medium Rare Smoked Ribeye Steak Recipe

    How long does it take to smoke ribeye

    Plan for about 2 hours of smoke time for ribeye steaks (like the ones in the Sip Bite Go demonstration that are 2-3 inches thick) to reach the initial temperature goal. 

    See how to griddle ribeye on the Traeger Flatrock Grill…

    Traeger Smoking Ribeye Steaks

    Then you’ll raise the temperature to high heat to finish smoking them for about 30-60 minutes more. 

    So plan for about 3 hours total.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need to make ribeye steaks on the smoker.

    Infographic with ingredients for smoking ribeye steaks on traeger grills
    • Ribeye steaks (1 LB each, about 1.5 inches – 2 inches – 3 inches thick)
    • Olive oil
    • BBQ rub (or steak seasoning with fine sea or kosher salt and pepper in it)
    Seasoning ribeye steaks before smoking on pellet grill

    How to smoke ribeyes on Traeger Grills

    Now I’ll walk you through it…

    Infographic with how to smoke ribeye recipe steps with text captions

    Quick look at this low-temperature-smoking ribeye recipe

    1. Preheat the smoker and prepare ribeye steaks with seasoning. 
    2. Smoke ribeye at a low temp.
    3. Flip.
    4. Then smoke ribeye at a high temp to finish it with a nice crust. 
    5. Rest rest for 10 minutes at a minimum, and enjoy.
    Smoked Boneless Ribeye Steak

    Detailed recipe steps

    1. Let steaks rest for 15 minutes on the counter to come up to room temperature. (optional)
    2. Preheat Traeger Grills or Pitt Boss, Masterbuilt, or whatever pellet grill you’re using to 200 degrees F. We prepped the pellet with Hickory wood chip flavored pellets.
    3. Prep ribeye steaks for smoking. Drizzle all over with olive oil. Sprinkle with BBQ rub, all over, then massage it into the steaks. Let steaks rest about 15 minutes with seasonings to absorb flavor while the smoker preheats.
    4. Smoke ribeyes for about 90 minutes to 2 hours, or until they reach an internal temperature of 120 degrees F. (This is a very rare smoked ribeye temp, so FYI, you’ll continue smoking them to your desired temperature in the next step.) Remove steaks momentarily and cover with foil if desired. 
    5. Raise the smoker temperature for ribeye to 500 degrees F. Now we’re going to blast them with heat to get a delicious, flavorful crust. (Otherwise, you’d just have a gray outside and that’s not the most tasty way to serve them.) 
    6. Continue smoking ribeye steaks, basically sear them on the smoker, directly on the grill grates, at the higher temperature of 500 degrees F until done, flipping halfway through if desired. This step will be quick. (For my recipe demo in the Sip Bite Go video, I put the steaks back in and the internal temperature was 119 – they came down in temp by 1 degree F while waiting for the Traeger to preheat – then I flipped them at 125 degrees F, and took them off the grill around medium-rare temperature – about 130-135 degrees F). 
    7. Remove smoked steaks when they reach your desired temp, as measured with an internal read thermometer.
    8. Finish ribeye steaks by letting them rest about 10 minutes before serving. 
    Medium Rare Traeger Smoked Ribeye Steak

    See this recipe for smoked baked potatoes…

    Smoked ribeye temperature chart

    Infographic smoked ribeye steaks done temperature chart
    • Rare smoked ribeye (125-130°F) is still red inside.
    • Medium rare smoked ribeye steaks (130-140°F) is red to pink inside.
    • Medium ribeyes (140-150°F) is mostly pink.
    • Medium well (150-160°F) has just a slight bit of pink inside.
    • Well cooked (160°F) has no red or pink inside.

    Toppings for smoked ribeye

    • Have herbs in the fridge? Make my easy compound butter for steak.
    • Make a bourbon butter.
    • Creamy peppercorn sauce.
    • Give this compound smoked steak butter a try.

    More ways to smoke ribeye on the Traeger

    • Reverse sear ribeyes on a gas grill by smoking them first, taking it off the grill when it hits around 180-200 degrees F internally. Then instead of raising the temperature of the pellet grill, you’ll use a gas stove or charcoal grill to finish cooking the steak at a high temperature around 500 degrees F in just a couple minutes. 
    • Smoke high and hot, quickly at 450-500 degrees F. This method doesn’t pick up as much of a smoky flavor though, due to the short cook time.
    Closeup of Smoked Ribeye Steaks On The Traeger Grills

    FAQs 

    What wood pellets do you use for smoking ribeye?

    We used Traeger Hickory Pellets in the Sip Bite Go demo. I like wood chip flavors, or pellets, that are stronger in taste for beef cuts like this steak, smoked brisket, and smoked burgers.

    Is a ribeye roast the same as a ribeye steak?

    Wondering about smoked ribeye roast vs steaks? The deal is, both ribeye cuts are from the same area. But a ribeye steak is cut BEFORE cooking. A ribeye roast is larger. 

    What’s the difference between smoking boneless ribeye steaks vs. bone-in?

    You can basically cook them both according to this recipe. Boneless is usually a little more expensive. We used boneless grass fed ribeye. 

    What is a cowboy ribeye?

    It’s a huge piece of steak! You can smoke a cowboy ribeye with this recipe, but since it’s around 3 inches thick (about twice as large as ribeye steaks), it will take a little longer on the smoker.

    Can you use this recipe for bone in ribeye roast on the Traeger?

    Yes, it might take a little longer to smoke due to the bone. 

    Why don’t you smoke steaks in a cast iron skillet?

    Recipes like my smoked meatloaf wrapped in bacon use a cast iron skillet in the smoker because they have juices that need to be contained to keep the ground beef moist. These ribeye steaks, on the other hand, smoke for a shorter period of time and remain very juicy while smoking directly on the Traeger grates.  

    Pellet Grill Ribeye Steaks Medium Rare

    More Tasty Grill + Smoker Recipes

    • Smoked mac and cheese
    • Smoked cream cheese
    • Smoked brisket flat
    • 321 ribs
    • Beer can chicken on the smoker
    • Smoked wings
    • Smoked tomahawk steak
    • Traeger tri tip
    • Smoked turkey breast
    • Smoked turkey legs
    • Whole smoked turkey
    • Smoked Traeger pizza
    • Smoked onion rings
    • Traeger smoked ham
    • Smoked whole chicken
    • Smoked jalapeno poppers
    • Smoked corn on the cob
    • Traeger beef ribs
    • Smoked leg of lamb
    • Smoked shrimp
    • Roasted chicken
    • Grilled chicken wings
    • Grilled skirt steak
    • Flank steak marinade
    • Grilled potato wedges
    • Smoked pulled pork
    • Want more? See my lineup of easy smoker recipes

    See this Traeger Flatrock grill review.

    See my favorite smoker tools and seasonings in my Amazon Storefront.

    Meat thermometer recommendations

    Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly. 

    On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

    1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
    2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill. 

    It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature. 

    How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

    While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

    Meat thermometer recommendations

    Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly. 

    On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

    1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
    2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill. 

    It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature. 

    How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

    While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

    Pellet Grill Smoker Ribeye

    Why I wrote this steak recipe

    You’ve probably noticed that mastering all different sorts of steaks with various kitchen appliances is a hobby in my house. This cut of meat ranks right up there with other favorites like this grilled skirt steak, smoked flank steak, and coulotte. 

    We love grilled ribeyes cooked on super high heat, which are ready pretty quickly on the gas grill. And then we love super low cooked sous vide ribeye steak, especially with a mayo sear. 

    So it wasn’t long before perfecting how to cook ribeye on outdoor pellet smokers made it onto our bucket list. 

    Waiting over 45 minutes for a steak to be cooked doesn’t phase me anymore, as we start preparing for dinner around breakfast time!

    I was so eager to see how tender the smoker would make the meat the first time I tried it. It was a difficult debate to choose between the reverse-sear method, where for a portion of the time, the ribeye smokes at a high heat, to give it a seared crust. 

    But actually, I find the brown crust of this recipe to be perfect. It’s a pretty easy set it and forget it smoker recipe, and one I definitely recommend for an upscale BBQ menu, served with a side of smoked mashed potatoes or smoked mac and cheese. 

    Are you a foodie, too?

    Hey home chefs, hope that answers all your questions about how to smoke a ribeye steak. 

    In the future, I’ll have more on exactly how to smoke a ribeye roast and other Traeger smoker recipes for beginners.

    For more smoked food inspiration, follow me on Instagram @sipbitego. And for more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel and see the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

    Best Traeger Smoked Ribeye Steaks Recipe

    Best Traeger Smoked Ribeye Steaks Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Want juicy smoke steaks on the Traeger? Try my super-simple smoked ribeye steaks recipe. It uses just 3 ingredients and is a very easy smoker recipe for dinner! | sipbitego.com
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: BBQ
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 1011kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Equipment

    • Traeger Pellet Grill Ironwood 650
    • Traeger Hickory Pellets

    Ingredients

    • 2 LB ribeye steaks 1 LB each, about 1.5” – 2” – 3” thick, boneless is what I used
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 tbsp BBQ rub or steak seasoning with salt in it

    Instructions

    • Let steaks rest for 15 minutes on the counter to come up to room temperature. (optional)
    • Preheat Traeger Grills or Pitt Boss or whatever pellet grill you’re using to 200 degrees F.
    • Prep ribeye steaks for smoking. Drizzle all over with olive oil. Sprinkle with BBQ rub, all over, then massage it into the steaks. Let steaks rest about 15 minutes with seasonings to absorb flavor while the smoker preheats.
    • Smoke ribeyes for about 90 minutes to 2 hours, or until they reach an internal temperature of 120 degrees F. (This is a very rare smoked ribeye temp, so FYI, you’ll continue smoking them to your desired temperature in the next step.) Remove steaks momentarily and cover with foil if desired.
    • Raise smoker temperature for ribeye to 500 degrees F. Now we’re going to blast them with heat to get a delicious crust. Otherwise, you’d just have a gray outside and that’s not the most delicious way to serve them.
    • Continue smoking ribeye steaks, basically sear them on the smoker, at the higher temperature of 500 degrees F until done, flipping halfway through if desired. This step will be quick.
      (For my recipe demo in the Sip Bite Go video, I put the steaks back in and the internal temperature was 119 – they came down in temp by 1 degree F while waiting for the Traeger to preheat – then I flipped them at 125 degrees F, and took them off the grill around medium-rare temperature – about 130-135 degrees F).
    • Remove smoked steaks when they reach your desired temp, as measured with an internal read thermometer.
    • Finish ribeye steaks by letting them rest about 10 minutes before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/smoked-ribeye
     
    Watch the full-length YouTube recipe video for smoking Traeger ribeye steaks on Sip Bite Go’s YouTube channel.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1011kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 91g | Fat: 71g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 36g | Cholesterol: 277mg | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 1229mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 121IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 9mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Caleb says

      February 20, 2023 at 1:01 pm

      Thanks for the recipe! I found that my steak was able to hit an internal temp of 120 after only 30 minutes.5 stars

      Reply

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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

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