• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Best Beef Recipes logo
  • Home
  • Find A Recipe
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About Best Beef Recipes
  • Follow Us!

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Smoked Beef

    Smoked Tomahawk Steak

    Published: May 4, 2022 Modified: Oct 24, 2022 by Isabel Laessig

    Share

    Share
    Pin279
    Tweet
    Email

    Best Beef Recipes is an Amazon Associate. We receive compensation for purchases made through affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    My Smoked Tomahawk Steak recipe is packed with flavor and so easy to make, even for total beginners to smoking beef! Complete with an amazing homemade steak seasoning and fresh thyme, and ready in under 2 hours, this simple smoked steak recipe is a must-try for beef lovers.

    Sliced tomahawk steak on a tray with asparagus and thyme
    Jump to:
    • Best Smoked Tomahawk Steak
    • Tomahawk Steak Recipe Ingredients
    • How to Smoke Tomahawk Steak
    • Smoking Tomahawk Steak Recipe Tips
    • Tomahawk Steak Temperature
    • Tomahawk Steak Recipes FAQs
    • Recommended Tools for Smoking Beef
    • What to Serve with Tomahawk Steak
    • Smoked Beef Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    Best Smoked Tomahawk Steak

    I am all about smoked beef recipes lately. My family and I just can't get enough of them! After trying everything from smoked beef ribs to prime rib, I knew I had to make an out-of-this-world smoked steak recipe.

    This easy tomahawk steak cut is exactly that. Smoking tomahawk steak, seasoned with homemade steak seasoning and fresh thyme, makes the beef so tender and oh-so flavorful. After smoking, the steak is reverse-seared for ultimate flavor.

    Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments below. I know you're going to love smoked tomahawk steak as much as I do!

    I love the reverse sear method on a steak and my reverse sear ribeye steak is out of this world! If you are looking for a quick, easy and delicious recipe, this is the way to go.

    It was my first time smoking a tomahawk steak. This recipe was easy to follow and just perfect.

    Joe on Pinterest
    Sliced tomahawk steak overhead shot on a tray with asparagus and thyme

    Tomahawk Steak Recipe Ingredients

    • Tomahawk Steak
    • Fresh Thyme
    • Butter
    • Coarse Sea Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Granulated Garlic or Garlic Powder
    • Paprika

    How to Smoke Tomahawk Steak

    Smoking is the best way to cook tomahawk steak, and it is easy. Follow these simple instructions to smoke tomahawk steak.

    1. Season room temperature tomahawk steak all over.
    2. Place on the smoker for 1 hour and 20 minutes for an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
    3. Reverse sear tomahawk steak in a buttered cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
    4. Allow the steak to rest, then slice and serve.
    Slicing tomahawk steak

    Smoking Tomahawk Steak Recipe Tips

    • Let your steaks come to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. The longer they cook, the more change for them to dry out. Letting them come to room temperate will give them a head start and guarantee a juicy steak.
    • Choose thick steaks, at least 1.5 inches thick. This will guarantee the juiciest tomahawk steak.
    • Look for well marbled steaks. They will have streaks of white running through them. Trust me on this, the little streaks of fat will guarantee an amazing eating experience!
    • Don't choose steaks with too much fat. Marbling is great, but you don't want pockets of fat, especially around the edges. Pick steaks that are well trimmed and without large pockets of fat.
    • Season the steak twice. I always season my beef before cooking and lightly season again right when it is pulled out of the smoker. This will guarantee the perfect flavor.
    • Allow your steaks to sit for 15 minutes and rest before slicing.
    • The Tomahawk is the ultimate show piece, and is sure to impress your guests. Always slice it against the grain. I like to slice it tableside and serve my guests immediately!
    • I used mesquite pellets for this recipe, but any pellet would do just fine.
    • If your steak is a different weight, simply check the internal temperature instead of going off of time, since the cooking time will change with the weight change. The internal temp is the deciding factor, no matter the size of the steak.


    Tomahawk Steak Temperature

    Check the steak of your beef using a meat thermometer and follow our Steak Temperature Chart for best results.

    chart showing slices of beef with temperatures - 125 for rare, 135 for medium-rare, 145 for medium, 150 for medium-well, 160 for well-done

    Tomahawk Steak Recipes FAQs

    What is the tomahawk steak?

    Tomahawk steak is a ribeye beef steak with at least five inches of rib bone left intact. Other names for tomahawk steak include tomahawk chop, bone-in ribeye, bone-in rib steak, cote du boeuf, and occasionally, cowboy steak, if it has a shorter frenched bone.

    What's so special about a tomahawk steak?

    Tomahawk steak has a high percentage of marbling and as a result is richly flavorful and buttery tender. One steak easily feeds two people, making it a perfect choice for a special dinner for two. Tomahawk steak is considered one of the best steak cuts.

    Tomahawk vs. Ribeye

    The flavor of tomahawk and ribeye is nearly the same, but tomahawk steak is often juicier because of its inclusion of the rib bone.

    Incredibly juicy tomahawk steak on a tray

    Recommended Tools for Smoking Beef

    • Meat thermometer: A meat thermometer allows you to easily check the temperature of any cut of beef. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat close to the center, through the side. If you don't already own a meat thermometer, you should!
    • Cast iron skillet: Cast iron skillets are the best for reverse searing beef. You will get a perfect, even sear every time.

    What to Serve with Tomahawk Steak

    Try smoked tomahawk steak with an easy sauce recipe, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and fried asparagus.

    • Garlic Butter Sauce for Steak
    • Caramelized Onions for Steak
    • Mushrooms for Steak
    • Air Fried Asparagus
    • Chimichurri Sauce for Steak
    Tomahawk steak on a tray with thyme and asparagus

    Smoked Beef Recipes

    Try more of my favorite smoked beef recipes:

    • Smoked Beef Roast
    • Smoked Prime Rib
    • Smoked Short Ribs
    • Smoked Brisket
    • Smoked Burgers
    • Smoked Wagyu Steak
    • Use the leftovers to make Beef Quesadillas

    Love this tomahawk steak? You'll love our Grilled Porterhouse Steak, too! Have leftovers? Try making one of our best Leftover Steak Recipes!

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you think! We love to hear from you!

    Try more of the best beef cuts according to your needs and budget by following my guide on the Best Cuts of Beef and our Popular Beef Dishes!

    📋 Recipe

    Tomahawk steak on a tray with asparagus and thyme
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.72 from 7 votes

    Best Smoked Tomahawk Steak (Reverse Seared)

    My reverse seared Smoked Tomahawk Steak recipe is packed with flavor and so easy to make, even for total beginners to smoking beef!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time1 hr 30 mins
    Total Time1 hr 50 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: smoked steak recipe, smoked tomahawk steak, smoking tomahawk steak, tomahawk steak recipes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 1261kcal
    Author: Isabel Laessig

    Equipment

    • Pellet smoker
    • Meat thermometer
    • Cast iron skillet

    Ingredients

    • 2.5 Pound Tomahawk Steak
    • 2 Large Sprigs Fresh Thyme
    • 1 Tablespoon Butter
    • 1 Tablespoon Coarse Sea Salt
    • 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
    • 1 Tablespoon Granulated Garlic
    • 1 Tablespoon Paprika

    Instructions

    • Preheat your pellet smoker to 250°F. While it’s preheating, let your steak sit outside the fridge to come to room temperature. This is important!
      tomahawk steak ingredients
    • Sprinkle the entire steak with the salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic.
      2.5 Pound Tomahawk Steak, 1 Tablespoon Coarse Sea Salt, 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Granulated Garlic, 1 Tablespoon Paprika
      Sprinkling seasoning on tomahawk steak
    • Place on the smoker for 1 hour 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 125°F. Use a meat thermometer for best results. Season lightly a second time when it comes out of the smoker.
      Placing raw tomahawk steak on the smoker
    • Heat a large cast iron skillet to medium-high heat and add the butter. When melted, add the thyme and place the steak in the skillet. Sear on each side for about 2 minutes.
      2 Large Sprigs Fresh Thyme, 1 Tablespoon Butter
      Reverse searing tomahawk steak in a cast iron skillet
    • Allow the steak to sit for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
      Tomahawk steak on a tray with thyme and asparagus

    Notes

    • The process of searing after the steak is cooked is called a “reverse sear.”
    • Allowing the steak to sit for a few minutes after being cooked allows it to reabsorb some moisture that was cooked out. It makes it a tender and melt-in-your-mouth steak.
    • 125 degrees makes the steak medium-rare. If you want rare, that’s 120 degrees, and 130 degrees is medium.
    • I used mesquite pellets for this recipe, but any pellet would do just fine.
    • If your steak is a different weight, simply check the internal temperature instead of going off of time, since the cooking time will change with the weight change. The internal temp is the deciding factor, no matter the size of the steak.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1261kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 116g | Fat: 86g | Saturated Fat: 39g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 40g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 361mg | Sodium: 3839mg | Potassium: 1695mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2048IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 11mg

    Share

    Share
    Pin279
    Tweet
    Email
    « Korean Ground Beef in the Instant Pot
    Carne Asada Seasoning Recipe »

    About Isabel Laessig

    Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and makes regular television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment or question - we love to hear from you! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Let's Get Social

    • Family Foodie Facebook
    • Sunday Supper Pinterest
    • Sunday Supper Youtube
    • Family Foodie Instagram
    • Family Foodie Tiktok

    Best Beef Dinner Ideas

    • Chuck Roast in the Oven
    • Our Famous Burger Seasoning
    • Air Fryer Steak
    • Birria Tacos Recipe
    • Smoked Brisket Recipe
    • Boneless Prime Rib Recipe

    Footer

    Our Brands

    Best Beef Recipes | Sunday Supper Movement | Easy Sauce Recipes | Best Side Dishes | Best Pork Bites

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • About Best Beef Recipes
    • Disclosure & Privacy
    • Sign up for our Newsletter!
    sunday supper movement logo

    Best Beef Recipes is part of the Sunday Supper Media publishing family.

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright ©2019-2023 Best Beef Recipes, All Rights Reserved.