Marinated Pork Chops

Once marinated, these grilled pork chops turn out moist and full of flavor in only 5-6 minutes on the BBQ.  My husband and I love these pork chops (and truth be told, we have them every other week). I alter the marinade from time to time, but the basic easy prep and grill are the same.

I use thinner pork chops for this recipe, about 1/2-3/4 inch.  For thicker pork chops, I use the brine method them as described in our Glazed Pork Chops recipe.

The trick to these marinated pork chops is to not overcook them so that they stay tender and juicy. A little pink is perfectly safe. I find the marinade adds great flavor to otherwise very bland meat. There is a big debate about the usefulness of marinating meat. Food scientists say that marinades don’t penetrate much past the surface so it’s a waste of time. I have to disagree – at least for thinner pork chops. Since the chops are thin, penetrating the front and back surfaces pretty much covers half the chops.  All I can say is that the chops are a lot tastier with the marinade than without.

For extra oomph, I serve them with apple sauce or our 30-minute peach chutney. Some of my favorite sides with these chops are corn on the cob and Charred Onions, Summer Grilled Peaches or Grilled Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.

Tailor To Your Taste

• Use balsamic vinegar instead of the lemon and soy.
• Try using other herbs like oregano and thyme.

Shortcut

• When I have no time to marinate, I smear on Dijon mustard, drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle with chopped herbs, then salt and pepper the chops generously. You can then have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes including a side or two.

Make Ahead Marinated Pork Chops

• Marinate the chops ahead of time in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before grilling.
• These chops taste great cold.

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5 from 2 votes

Marinated Pork Chops Recipe

Once marinated, these grilled pork chops turn out moist and full of flavor in only 5-6 minutes on the BBQ.  My husband and I love these pork chops. I alter the marinade from time to time, but the basic easy prep and grill are the same.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Marinating and Resting Time1 hr 10 mins

Total Time1 hr 20 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4

Author: Cheryl

Ingredients

• 5 -6 rib pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
• salt and pepper
• fresh chopped rosemary for garnish

Marinade

• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp soy sauce (I use light)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tbsp maple syrup (or honey)
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp minced garlic (2 cloves)
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary (or 1 tsp dried)

Instructions

• MARINATE CHOPS: Place marinade ingredients in large ziploc sealed bag. Massage well to combine. Add pork chops, seal bag and massage to distribute marinade over chops evenly. Let sit on counter for an hour or refrigerate for 3-24 hours.
• HEAT GRILL: Clean and spray oil on grill. Heat to medium high (400-425F).
• GRILL PORK CHOPS: Remove chops from marinade. Pat dry with paper towel. Spray with oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Grill chops for 2-3 minutes per side depending on thickness. An instant thermometer should read 140F (temp will rise further when chops are resting). Remove from grill. Let chops rest 10 minutes, loosely covered, to lock in juices. Garnish with additional chopped rosemary if desired. Serve with apple sauce or fruit chutney.

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Here are three other pork chop recipes you might like:

Glazed Pork Chops get the recipe

Skillet Pork Chop Dinner get the recipe

Sous Vide Pork Chops With Pineapple Salsa get the recipe