Published 6/15/2023 • Updated 3/20/2024 In this post, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about grilling pork chops like what cut of meat to use, how to flavor it, and how to grill pork chops perfectly every time. Grill season is here and we’ve been loving grilled chicken legs and grilled salmon in foil just to name a few. We know that pork chops can get a bad rap for being flavorless and tough, but let this be the recipe that packs in a ton of delicious flavor from an easy pork chop marinade and that has perfect grill marks every time. We’ll walk you through everything step-by-step so that you can master pork chops on the grill.
What kind of pork do I need for grilling pork chops?
Pork chops are sliced cutlets from pork loin. They are a leaner cut of pork with some fat marbling that comes pre-portioned. You can either buy pork chops bone-in or boneless pork chops. They come in varying thicknesses and are widely available at most U.S. grocery stores. This grilled pork chops recipe calls for a thicker, bone-in pork chop. We recommend going to your local butcher or the meat counter at your local grocery store and asking for 2 lbs. thick-cut bone-in pork chops. We used 4 pork chops in this recipe. So each one weighed about 1/2-lb.
How to Flavor Pork Chops on the Grill
There are two main ways that you can flavor pork chops for grilling –> marinades (which we used in this recipe) or dry rubs. Marinades: a marinade is like a flavor bath for your pork. It infuses the meat with delicious flavors and leaves your pork extra juicy. In this recipe, we’re using our go-to pork chop marinade (more on that below). Dry Rubs: dry rubs are a great way to add amazing texture to the outside along with intense flavor. If you’d rather use a dry rub for this recipe, we recommend our Pork Rub. It’s sweet, savory, and a little smokey. It’s made with black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and a little cinnamon. PS: if you want ultra-tender chops, feel free to use our pork chop brine.
Best Grilled Pork Chop Marinade
We absolutely love marinating pork because it really does infuse the entire piece of meat with juicy flavor.
Pork Chop Recipes
Stuffed Pork Chops Instant Pot Pork Chops Oven Baked Pork Chops Grilled Pork Chops Air Fryer Pork Chops
Our go-to grilled pork chop marinade recipe is sweet, and salty and does wonders for flavoring your chops! Here’s what you need:
Soy sauce: add a richness of salt perfect for breaking down the tendons in your pork. Brown sugar: sugar helps balance out the saltiness with some sweetness. Worcestershire sauce: we love Worcestershire sauce in marinades because it’s savory and tangy all at the same time. Garlic: feel free to use minced garlic or mince your own garlic cloves. Lemon juice: a little citrus pulls all of these flavors together.
All you have to do is combine all of this in a large bowl and you’re ready to marinate your pork!
Other Ways to Flavor Grilled Pork Chops
Brine: a pork chop brine is a super simple way to infuse your chops with salty goodness and make them extra tender. Seasonings: homemade dry rubs are an excellent way to add robust flavor to pork. Here are some of our favorites:
Pork Rub Italian Seasoning
Juicy Grilled Pork Chops – Step by Step
Note: check out our grilled pork chops temperature guide below. You’ll see that we’re recommending taking the meat off the grill 5ºF lower than your preferred doneness. As pork rests, it will continue to cook around 5ºF. We recommend letting your pork chops marinate for 12-24 hours. Trust us, the longer they sit the better. If you’re short on time, make sure to marinate no less than 2-4 hours.
What kind of grill should I use?
Both a charcoal grill and a gas grill will work for this recipe. Just make sure to keep consistent heat of 400ºF or medium-high heat. So, below you will find internal temperatures corresponding to doneness:
145-150ºF – medium-rare150-155ºF – medium155-160ºF – medium-well160+ºF – well done
Remember to always let your pork chops rest for at least 5 minutes after removing them from heat so they can continue to rise in temperature by 5ºF. Thermoworks Thermapen
Can I use a grill pan for grilling pork chops?
Feel free to cook your pork chops on a grill pan over a burner that is set to medium/high heat. Follow the recipe as written. Do note that your house might get a little smokey!
How to Serve Your Pork Chops
Looking for some simple grilled sides to pair with your chops? Check out some of our favorite ones below!
Pork Chop Recipes
Instant Pot Pork Chops Oven Baked Pork Chops Best Pork Chop Marinade Pork Chop Brine Lemongross Ginger Baked Bone-In Pork Chops Honey Sticky Pork (+20 Best Pork Recipes)
Grilled Potatoes in Foil Potato Salad Grilled Asparagus Baked Beans Lemon Pasta Salad Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil
Storage
Our biggest tip when storing cooked pork chops is to let them cool completely before refrigerating. So, let it cool, transfer leftovers into an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
