Pork Chop Marinade

This pork chop marinade is the best for flavorful, juicy, caramelized pork chops. It’s an easy marinade but it will infuse the meat with so much flavor, whether you marinate it for 2 hours or overnight. This pork marinade will work perfectly with grilled, pan-seared, and baked recipes.

Our Favorite Pork Chop Marinade!

One of my favorite things to grill is pork chops. Grilling them is a great way to seal in the juices and flavor while still keeping the pork nice and juicy. Can’t forget about the extra smoky flavor from the grill, especially when using charcoal or wood burning grill.

Pork is a great meat because it has a mild natural flavor and at the same time, it goes great with many seasonings and sauces. This is a fast-cooking meat too, which could be good or bad. It’s good because dinner will be ready in just a few minutes but the bad part is how easy it is to overcook.

If you’ve been afraid to cook pork because you’ve had it come out dry, marinating it first will help you battle that. Marinating and watching the temperature and doneness closely as well. I have a few tips on cooking juicy pork chops below, to keep reading!

What Is In Pork Chop Marinade?

I keep my marinade with simple ingredients that I always have in a pantry. Even if you don’t cook every single day like I do, you still probably have most of the ingredients at home. You will need the basics like oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Note that if you want to make this pork chop marinade gluten free, make sure to use gluten free soy sauce!

Most Common Questions and Tips

What Kind Of Pork Chops to Use?

Use bone-in pork chops that are between 1 and 1 1/2 inches thick. Thin pork chops will cook very fast and you will run the risk of overcooking them.

How Long Should I Marinate Pork Chops?

This is a nice, strong marinade so you can marinate pork chops for as little as 2 hours. Feel free to marinate thicker pork chops (that are 1-1 1/2 inches thick) overnight.

At What Temperature To Grill Pork Chops?

You will want to set your grill to medium-high temperature, which is ranging from 425°-500°. Prepare the grill to have two temperature zones! In case the pork is turning dark too fast, you will need to finish cooking it over the cooler side.

How Long To Cook Bone-In Pork Chops On The Grill?

For best results, use a leave-in meat thermometer to track the temperature of the meat. It will give you the best indication when the meat is done.

If you’re grilling thin and boneless pork chops that are about 1/2 inch thick, all you need is about 3- 4 minutes per side.

When grilling bone-in pork chops that are about 1 inch thick, estimate about 10-12 minutes total cook time.

For grilling bone-in pork chops that are about 1 1/2 inches thick, estimate 16-18 minutes but can take up to 20 minutes total cook time.

NOTE: cooking times are always an estimate because each piece of meal has different thickness and composition and each grill will cook differently. You may also need to start on the hot side and finish the meat on the cooler side.

When are Pork Chops Done?

By USDA recommendation, pork should be cooked to 145° internal temperature. Remember that meat continues to cook for a few minutes after you take them off the grill. Personally, I take my pork chops off the grill around 140° degrees and they get to temperature while resting. Remember to rest the meat for about 5 minutes before serving and cutting.

Always measure the center of the pork chops and not right next to the bone.

How To Grill Pork Chops?

To Marinate:

Combine all the ingredients in a large zip-top bag and mix them well. Add pork chops and make sure to spread them evenly. Get all the air out and seal the bag. Place the bag with pork on the plate and into the refrigerator. Let it marinade for at least 2 hours or overnight.

To Grill:

Pull the pork out of the refrigerator about 30-45 minutes before cooking. This will give you time to set up the grill, clean it, and get it preheated.

Insert a leave-in meat thermometer into one of the pork chops, through the side and towards the center. Place pork chops onto the hot side of the grill, over direct heat. Close the lid and let them cook for about 2 minutes, until release from the grill easily, and then turn them to make criss-cross grill marks. Close the lid and cook for another couple of minutes and flip them over. Repeat the same thing on that side.

Remember, you can always move pork chops over to the cooler side of the grill if they are getting dark fast.

Cook pork chops until the internal temperature gets to 145°. Take them off the grill and rest for about 5 minutes before cutting.

Tips For Grilling Juicy Pork Chops:

Use bone-in pork chops – bone -in pork chops are the better choice. They may take a few minutes longer, but they tend to be much juicier than boneless ones.

Marinade – marinating and brining does help keep the lean pork meat tender and juicy after cooking it.

Don’t cook cold pork chops – you shouldn’t cook any meat cold to avoid seizing. So remember to pull the meat out of the refrigerator about 30-45 minutes before cooking.

Don’t pierce the meat while cooking – It’s best to use a leave-in thermometer instead of poking the meat continuously to check temperature. Poking it will make the juices leak out from the inside.

Cook it to the right temperature – another reason to remember to use a leave-in meat thermometer is to keep track of the temperature. Pork is a lean meat so it’s easy to overcook, tracking the temperature will help avoid that.

Let it rest – always let your meat rest! Depending on the size and thickness, 5-10 minutes is good.

Sides That Go Great With Pork:

Any kind of potatoes are great with pork, like mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes.

Gather your favorite vegetables and you can cook them right on the grill alongside of the pork. Try grilled zucchini, asparagus, green beans, and so many more.

Grilled pineapple will also compliment post wonderfully!

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