Easy Smoked Pastrami

If you love mile-high pastrami sandwiches, then this homemade Smoked Pastrami will rock your world! I’ll show you my shortcuts to making the best and easiest smoked and steamed pastrami right in your backyard!!

There’s a reason why you pay big bucks for your favorite pastrami sandwich at the local deli – it’s because pastrami takes FOREVER to make, but I’ve got some clever tried-and-true shortcuts to help you make this easily at home in a fraction of the time.

And, with this pastrami recipe, you don’t need to inject the meat, brine it, or cook it forever and ever. It’s a simple, straightforward recipe and technique that’ll save you time, and money, because making pastrami yourself is SO much cheaper!

What Is Pastrami?

Pastrami vs corned beef – what’s the difference? They both start out the same way – with meat that’s been brined for days in a solution of salt and spices. Traditionally, corned beef is made from beef brisket, while pastrami is made from the deckle, or beef navel, a cut of meat from below the ribs. These days, pastrami is also often made from brisket because it is more commonly available.

Pastrami is also coated in a bold spice rub and herb mixture that further flavors the beef, whereas corned beef is simmered with some pickling spices.

Finally, they are finished differently. Corned beef is boiled low and slow to break down all the connective tissues, while pastrami is smoked and then steamed. This double process of smoking and steaming helps the connective tissue break down and infuse the meat with smoke, and then steaming further breaks down the connective tissues and infuses the meat with moisture.

Making either corned beef or pastrami from scratch is a days-long labor of love, but you’re in luck because I’ve got a genius hack for you that’ll have you chowing down on thinly sliced pastrami perfection in no time.

The Best Pastrami

My hack shortcuts the process of making beef pastrami from scratch by starting with a prepared store bought corned beef. Making easy pastrami from this shortcut is going to shave DAYS off the process.

Remember how both corned beef and pastrami start out the same? Instead of boiling the it and serving it with carrots and cabbage, we’re going to smoke and then steam it for tender bites.

What You’ll Need To Make This Easy Smoked Pastrami Recipe

• Corned beef – We’re taking a shortcut by using corned beef instead of brining our own.

For The Pastrami Rub

• Black pepper – Coarsely ground.
• Coriander powder
• Mustard powder
• Brown sugar – Use light brown sugar.
• Smoked paprika – Smoked paprika has a smokier flavor than regular paprika.
• Garlic powder – Powder, not garlic salt.
• Onion powder – Powder, not onion salt.

How To Make Homemade Pastrami From Corned Beef

Soak the corned beef in a large pot of cold water to draw out the excess salt, 2 days before smoking the pastrami. Keep this pot of soaking beef in the fridge.

Remove the beef from the water and pat it dry with paper towels. 

Make the dry rub by combining the pastrami seasoning spices in a bowl. 

Rub the beef with a thick layer of the spices, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it overnight.

Soak wood chips in water for 2 hours, then prep the smoker for 225-F and add water to the water pan.

Rest the corned beef at room temperature for about 30 minutes before smoking.

Place the meat fat side up on the smoker and cook until the internal temperature reaches 190-F. 

Remove the beef from the smoker, wrap it in foil, and cool completely.

How To Steam Pastrami

Steaming pastrami is easy! Grab some foil, and here’s what you do:

Slice off as much meat as you’ll need – slice it thinly and against the grain.

Place the meat in the center of a large sheet of aluminum foil. Fold the edges up around it but don’t pinch it shut.

Place the pastrami on a steamer or metal wire rack above simmering water. Don’t let the meat touch the water. Steam until tender and heated through.

Steaming whole pastrami? Place it in a large foil sheet and cover tightly with foil. Steam it for 2 hours, adding water as needed until the meat reaches 200-F.

When ready to serve, slice it thin for a classic sandwich, try these mini sliders or jazz up a hot dog with a Reuben version if you’re feeling wild and crazy.

What Wood Do You Use To Smoke Pastrami

Everyone has their favorite kind of wood chips, but if you are ready to get serious about your wood smoking (and I know you are), you want to pair the best smoke flavors with whatever you’re smoking.

When it comes to smoking pastrami, you want the flavors of the meat to pull through without wood that will overshadow that. You get a smoke flavor that carries all the brining flavors through with fruit or sweet wood. Going with a more savory, acrid wood smoke like mesquite tends to overshadow everything else. 

With that in mind, I recommend using something sweeter and milder like alder, maple, or cherry. Hickory is also suitable for a strong but not overwhelming flavor.

What Goes With Smoked and Steamed Pastrami?

If you’re not just shoveling thinly sliced pastrami in your mouth with a fork (like I do), you should serve this shaved pastrami on a fresh hoagie roll, pumpernickel, or marbled rye with a slice of melty Swiss and coleslaw. Check out my deli classic corned beef sandwich for specifics!

Serve your hearty pastrami sandwich with a side of smoked potato salad, French fries, or even just potato chips, and dig in! 

Storage Instructions

I recommend storing the pastrami after smoking and only steaming as much as you’re going to serve for ultimate freshness!

Leftover smoked pastrami will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for 1-2 months.

To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then use the steam method to reheat it. Adding a pot of bubbling water to the oven creates a moist environment that allows everything to warm back up while remaining juicy and flavorful. I usually heat it at 200ºF for about 2 hours, but this will depend on how much you’re reheating.

More smoker recipes to try

If you’ve tried my Easy Homemade Pastrami Recipe or any other recipe on GirlCarnivore.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I get inspired by your feedback and comments! You can also follow me on Instagram @girlcarnivore as well as on  Twitter and Facebook.