Pork steaks are a flavorful and affordable cut of meat that will have your taste buds screaming for more! Once a regional delicacy primarily found in St. Louis, Missouri, this cut of pork has grown in popularity over the past few years.
As a native St. Louisan who was raised on BBQ pork steaks, I’m here to show you the proper way to cook them.
What Cut of Meat is a Pork Steak?
Have you ever had pulled pork? The pork steak is just a slice of meat from that same cut of the pig: the shoulder.
The pork shoulder is where the pork butt (or Boston butt) comes from, which is used to make pulled pork. It’s rich in flavor, eats like a steak, and is quick to cook.
The ideal thickness of a pork steak should be one inch or 1 1/2 inches. This is to make sure they don’t cook too fast and you can lock in more of that juicy flavor.
Ingredients
- Pork steaks
- Seasoning – sweet and heat preferred
- BBQ sauce – use your favorite one
How to Cook a Pork Steak
The traditional way to cook a pork steak is also the most simple way: directly on the grill. Season it with a sweet and heat seasoning for the best balance of the two flavors.
Cook pork steaks on the grill over medium to high heat, around 375 to 400 degrees. Flip at least once to ensure both sides get a little bit of char on them.
Near the end of the cook, slather both sides with BBQ sauce. This is the traditional way to finish them off.
Don’t leave them on too long or you’ll burn the sauce. Let it cook a minute on each saucy side before removing from the grill.
What Temperature is Pork Done?
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: pork does NOT have to be cooked to 165 degrees to be considered safe to eat. From the USDA website: “the USDA has lowered the recommended safe cooking temperature for whole cuts of pork from 160 ºF to 145 ºF with the addition of a three-minute rest time.”
A pork steak takes about 10 minutes to cook on the grill. I highly recommended to go by temperature, not time.
Remove pork steaks from grill when internal meat temperature reaches between 137 to 140 degrees. Let it rest for three minutes as the USDA suggests.
Bonus Tip: Food Thermometer
Use a trusted food thermometer to properly track internal meat temps. Of all of the meat thermometers I have used, I swear by the Thermapen ONE from Thermoworks.
Fast, accurate readings. They are durable and have lasted me through all the cooking I do over the years.
What Other Ways Can You Cook Pork Steak?
There are different ways to cook pork steak. Some options are smoked on the grill, battered and deep fried, or baked in the oven. There are some great recipes for those methods online.
This recipe is for the traditional cooking method that originates in the midwestern United States.
Other Pork Recipes to Try
Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)
Smoked, Seared Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Twice Baked Potatoes w/Pulled Pork
BBQ Pork Steaks
Pork steaks are a flavorful and affordable cut of meat that have grown in popularity. Let me show you the proper way to cook them!
Ingredients
- 4 Pork steaks
- 3 Tbsp Seasoning
- 1/2 Cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium high heat.
- Season pork steaks with a seasoning that has both sweet and heat flavors.
- Cook meat on grill for about 5 minutes, flipping at the 2:30 mark. Slather BBQ sauce on top of pork steak, flip over and slather other side and flip after a minute.
- Remove from grill when internal temperature of meat reaches 137 degrees. Let rest on cutting board for five minutes to let internal temp raise a few degrees before slicing.
Notes
- Substitute sweet and heat seasoning for your favorite pork rub.
- Pork is done when internal temps reach medium, which is between 140 to 145 degrees.
- Patriot Sauce from Code 3 Spices is perfect for this recipe as they know pork steaks, especially being from the St. Louis area where this cut comes from.
- Counting calories? Removing BBQ sauce from this recipe will greatly reduce the calories and sugar content of this recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 pork steakAmount Per Serving: Calories: 360Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 650mgCarbohydrates: 17gSugar: 12gProtein: 26g
NOTE: Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
