These grilled pork chops are soaked in a flavorful marinade, then cooked to golden brown perfection. A quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for any BBQ or summer gathering!
In my opinion, pork chops are an underrated cut of meat. They’re inexpensive, juicy and packed full of flavor. Some of my favorite ways to prepare pork chops include mushroom pork chops, brown sugar pork chops, and these simple yet satisfying grilled pork chops.
I do a lot of grilling when the weather warms up, and I have to say, one of my favorite things to cook is these grilled pork chops. They’re packed full of flavor and pair perfectly with a variety of side dishes. These pork chops can also be broiled or pan seared in cold weather months.
How do you make grilled pork chops?
To grill pork chops, first make a marinade by whisking together olive oil, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, lemon zest, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic in a large bowl. Place your pork chops in the bowl and let them marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Preheat a grill to medium heat. Place the pork on the grill and listen for that satisfying sizzle. Grill the chops until golden brown and cooked through. Add a sprinkle of parsley and you’ll be ready to eat!
Tips for grilled pork chops
- You can use bone in or boneless pork chops. I prefer bone in chops as they’re less likely to dry out on the grill.
- You can make the marinade up to 3 days in advance. Store the marinade in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
- This marinade contains sugar which adds great flavor, but can burn on the grill. Make sure your grill is not too hot before you add your meat!
How long do you marinate pork chops?
You will want to marinate pork chops for at least an hour before putting them on the grill. If you have time, marinate the pork chops for up to 8 hours for maximum flavor.
Grilled pork chop variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize it to your tastes.
- Spicy: You can add crushed red pepper flakes to this marinade. I typically add 1/4 teaspoon, but you can add more than that if you like.
- Asian: Try a blend of olive oil, toasted sesame oil, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and garlic for the marinade.
- Mexican: You can marinate the chops in a blend of olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chili powder and onion powder. Add a sprinkle of cilantro before serving for maximum flavor.
What temperature should pork be cooked to?
Pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. This temperature will make sure the meat is safe to eat while keeping the pork moist and tender. The best way to gauge whether your pork is done is to use a thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat for the most accurate reading.
I make these pork chops year round, they’re just that good. I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine does!
More great pork recipes
- Smoked Pork Tenderloin
- Stuffed Pork Chops
- Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
- Brown Sugar Pork Chops
Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops bone in, or boneless
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons parsley leaves chopped, plus more for garnish
- 2 teaspoons thyme leaves chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoons minced garlic
Instructions
- Place the pork chops in a bowl or resealable gallon sized bag.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the olive oil, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, lemon zest, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic.
- Pour the marinade over the meat. Marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.
- Preheat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium heat.
- Place the pork on the grill. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chop registers 145 degrees F.
- Let the meat rest for 5 minutes, then serve. Garnish with additional chopped parsley if desired.
Donna says
Made these tonight. Outstanding! So moist, tender, and flavorful.
Helena says
Delicious and juicy pork chops! I really think it can be hard to find recipes that make flavorful pork chops but these were a homerun! The marinade is fast and easy to make and the pork chops I made marinated for about 4 hours. The grilling times listed on the recipe worked perfectly. Thanks for a great recipe!
Linda Reimer says
Can these be in the marinated for several days? I would prefer to meal prep for at least 4 days at one time. Just wondering if there is negative science behind marinating it for days versus hours.
Sara says
I really prefer to marinate for just about 24 hours, if you go past that, the texture of the meat can change and become mushy!
Kent S says
I’m giving this a try. I have the chops in the fridge marinating for about six hours. I figured there was no lemon juice or other acid in this marinade so as not to break down the meat. If you use lemon juice you might want to only marinate for an hour or two.
The picture shows them served on a bed of quinoa with bell peppers on the side. I am going to try to reproduce that. My idea is to lightly stir fry them in some olive oil and season with salt pepper and parsley. Any other suggestions?
Rhonda says
First let me say that your recipes have always been AMAZING! I just adore you and THANK YOU! Question. Can this marinade be used for pork steaks, or do you have a recommendation?
Sara says
Yes this will work for pork steaks!
Debra Morrison says
Delicious! Will definitely make it again. Next time I will marinade it longer (only 4 hours this time but it was still delicious).
Roger Borges says
It occurred to me, that I frequently use your recipes and never comment. So,, here it is THANK YOU!! Your recipes are always on point and perfectly delicious! I stand humbled that you would share such valuable recipes. Thanks. My family loves your food!
Antoinette says
This recipe is amazing, is my go to for pork chops now. I used orange instead of lemon because our stores was out of lemon. I have now tried it both ways and I like it better with orange but it was good with the lemon as well.
Jean says
Made these tonight. Don’t usually grill pork chops as they tend to dry out but these were fantastic! Company worthy, thank you!
Ryan says
The marinade alone smelled great but was missing a little something so I opted for lemon juice as well. It brightened it up and gave it a beautiful flavor. I have the chops marinating in the fridge now, these are going to be FANTASTIC!
Baltisraul says
Grilled 6 chops last night and WOW what a flavor. No need to ever try any other recipe. Used bone-in and grilled 3 min per side, direct with the Weber lid on and the vents half open. I had them chilling in the marinade for about 6 hours.
Bill R. says
Fantastic! Just made these. Thanks for the recipe.
Jodi says
These were great! Thanks for the recipe.
Amy says
Made tonight and it was a hit. Made mostly as described. Probably used a bit more parsley and thyme because I used whatever I cut from the garden, maybe closer to a Tbsp each.
Jessica Turner says
These were scrumptious! I was worried all the flavor profiles might overwhelm the pork – but it was perfect and nicely balanced! Juicy and flavorful – I’ll definitely cook these again.