Smoked Pork Loin
This Smoked Pork Loin is my go-to when I want something hearty, flavorful, and easy. I love how tender and juicy it turns out every single time. The flavor payoff is huge with minimal prep!
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork loin, trimmed, but leave thin layer of fat intact
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ½ teaspoon rosemary, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat smoker to 225F.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, and rosemary.
- Evenly press seasoning on all sides of pork loin.
- Insert heat-safe meat thermometer into the centermost part of the pork loin.
- Place the pork loin fatty side up, directly on the grill rack of smoker. Close the lid and smoke until internal temperature reaches 145F, approximately 2 1/2 hours. Do not cook longer than this.
- Remove the roast from the smoker and wrap with foil. Allow to rest on cutting board for 15 minutes to let the juices settle inside the pork, prior to slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use hickory wood for a stronger, smoky flavor or apple wood for a sweeter, milder finish. Both pair beautifully with pork.
- Pork loin often comes in huge portions, so we typically use half of a loin and freeze the other half for later. If you’d like to use a larger/whole pork loin, simply double or triple the seasoning amounts.
- Many pork loins already come trimmed, but if yours has a layer of fat that is over ¼”, feel free to trim off the excess. Leave a thin layer of fat on top.
- Use a heat-safe meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature during smoking. This helps you avoid overcooking and keeps the pork juicy and tender.
- Press the seasoning mixture firmly into all sides of the pork loin to help it form a flavorful crust during the smoking process.
- Place the pork loin with the fat side facing up. This allows the fat to naturally baste the meat as it cooks, adding moisture and flavor.
- This recipe is part of our Smoker Recipes Collection.
- We love serving Smoked Pork Loin with a scoop of Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 548mg | Potassium: 862mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg