Sweet and Spicy Marinated Pork Steaks ⋆ Deb's Daily Dish

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These pork shoulder steaks are juicy and tender with a double layer of flavoring. Start with a savory, sweet and spicy marinade and finish with a dry rub of your favorite spices. They are easily cooked on your outdoor grill or on the stovetop.

Pork steaks and broccoli on white platter.

Why this recipe is just so good....

If you love making your own rubs and sauces for your meat, this recipe is for you. I love that it is a high protein, low carb and keto recipe that is so versatile. You can adjust the sweetness and the spiciness to your preference.
You can also make the marinade ahead and let the pork steaks marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours before you're ready to cook.
This recipe works just as well barbecuing the pork on your outdoor grill or cooking on a grill pan or cast iron skillet on the stovetop. Either way, when you sear the pork and let it get a nice char on the outside, the meat has a delicious, smokey flavor.
If you are a fan of pork recipes, you may want to try some of our favorites such as Lemon Pepper Pork Chops or Dutch Oven Pork Chops.

Ingredient Notes

Pork shoulder steaks are also known as pork blade steaks, are a flavorful cut of meat from the pork shoulder. The pork shoulder is what many recipes use for pulled pork or pork stew since it is delicious when it braised for a long time. If you can't find the shoulder steaks, you can buy the shoulder and cut them into steaks yourself. It is a fairly inexpensive cut of meat and you could freeze the extra steaks.
When you buy them, the steaks should be pink in color and have a good amount of marbling of fat throughout which will make it tender and flavorful.
We are using a simple soy sauce, sugar and spice marinade. You can increase the spice level by adding more chili sauce, red pepper flakes and ginger if you prefer.
The dry rub uses a basic homemade seasoning mix including paprika, garlic and onion powder.

vinegar, chili sauce, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sugar substitute.

How to cook pork steaks

Combine the ingredients for the marinade. Put the pork and marinade in a large bowl or plastic storage bag. Let pork marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour, up to overnight.

Remove from refrigerator, drain and discard marinade. Blot pork steaks with paper towel.
Stir together the dry rub and pat on top and bottom of the pork.
Preheat your BBQ grill over medium high heat. Grill for 4-6 minutes per side if they are thinner pork steaks. Grill 7-8 minutes per side if they are thicker. If the steaks are getting too charred, lower flame and continue cooking.Test for doneness with a meat thermometer. It should register at least 145°F.
For an indoor grill or fry pan, spray with non-stick cooking spray, preheat pan over medium heat for a minute. Grill pork steak for same amount of time as the outdoor grill. Watch for extra browning or smoking and turn down flame to low-medium if needed.

FAQ

What is the difference between pork steak and a pork chop?

Masterclass states there are a few main differences between the two. The pork steak comes from the shoulder and is sold with and without a center bone. It is cheaper than a pork chop by up to half the cost per pound. It tends to have a stronger flavor than the chop since it has more dark meat in it.

The pork chop comes from the loin of the pig and is also called center loin, sirloin or tenderloin. It also is sold with and without a bone. Although all pork is a low carb, keto form of protein, the pork chop is leaner, has less fat and is lower calorie than the pork steak.

How do you keep pork from drying out?

Here are a few tips:
Choose a pork cut that is thicker rather than thinner.
Marinate the meat for at least an hour.
If you use a dry rub, make sure it has salt in it. This will help tenderize the meat and retain water.
And most importantly don't overcook it. Test with a meat thermometer earlier than you think. Put the thermometer into the meat only, avoiding the bone. Pork should be cooked to 145°F.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

There are so many side dishes that would go well with pork but some that I recommend would be Roasted Celery or Marinated Asparagus.

You can store leftovers in a container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in pan on the stovetop for a few minutes or in a microwave. Or freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months and defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

If you tried this recipe and enjoyed it, I'd love if you gave it a 5 star rating. This tells me what you like and want to see more of. Thank you!

Some other quick dinner ideas to try!