Step 1

Prep. Season the chuck roast with Kosher salt. If you can, give the salt 1 to 2 hours to be absorbed. The process of salting in advance is called dry brining. The rule of thumb is 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound (453.6 g) of meat, but you can simply eyeball it by sprinkling on the same amount of salt you would sprinkle on a steak.

Step 2

Fire up. Prepare a smoker for indirect cooking. Alternatively, you can set up a charcoal grill for 2-zone cooking by placing a chimney full of hot charcoal briquets on one side of the grill's charcoal grate in order to create direct and indirect cooking zones. Adjust the smoker or grill vents to bring the temperature to about 225°F (107.2°C) in the indirect zone and add 2 to 3 chunks of your favorite smoking wood to the charcoal for flavor. On a gas grill, adjust the temperature knobs so that one half of the grill is off (the indirect side) and the other half is heated enough to maintain a temperature of approximately 225°F (107.2°C) on the indirect side.

Step 3

Once the smoker or grill is ready, season the chuck roast with coarsely ground black pepper.

Step 4

Cook. Place the chuck roast in the indirect zone on the main cooking grate as far away from the heat source as possible. Set the lid on the grill with the top vent fully open and positioned directly above the chuck roast in order to force the smoke over and around the meat.

Step 5

Allow the chuck roast to smoke until it reaches an internal temperature of 180°F (82.2°C) (we recommended using an instant read thermometer such as the ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4 for the most accurate temperature readings).

Step 6

Serve. Remove the chuck roast from the smoker or grill. Slice and serve.Also be sure to check out this video for smoked and sliced chuck roast featuring the Slow 'N Sear.