Juicy Grilled Pork Chops
Published 6/15/2023 • Updated 3/20/2024
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If there is one dinner that reminds me of my adolescence, it’s pork chops! Growing up in the midwest, my parents weren’t afraid to use their grill year-round, and let me tell you, they loved grilling pork chops. This grilled pork chops recipe comes out so juicy and tender on the inside and has gorgeous, charred grill marks on the outside and it’s an ode’ to my mom and dad.
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.
Cuts of Pork
Not sure where all the different cuts of pork come from on the pig? We made it easy. Check out more details on everything pork in our favorite pork recipes round up!
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.
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:
#1 tip for perfect marinated pork chops
Let. Them. Sit.
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.
FAQ
Grill pork chops over medium/high heat over direct heat for 6-8 minutes on each side.
The way to keep pork chops from drying out on the grill is to cook them over direct medium-high heat. You want to make sure you cook them quickly so that they sear on the outside and stay nice and juicy on the inside.
1-inch pork chops should take around 12-14 minutes at around 400ºF.
Juicy Grilled Pork Chops – Step by Step
- Mix marinade: combine the grilled pork chops marinade in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Marinate: place pork chops in a gallon-size bag or large dish and pour marinade on top of the pork chops. Squish them around making sure every last bit gets coated. Let marinate in the fridge for 12-24 hours (or for at least 2-4).
- Grill over direct heat: grill over direct heat for around 6-8 minutes on each side and until the internal temperature reaches at least 140ºF (for medium-rare) or 150ºF (for medium-well).
- Let rest: let pork chops rest for 5-10 minutes to allow the internal temperature to rise 5 more degrees.
- Enjoy!
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.
Pork Chops Internal Temperature
The best way to know if your pork chops are done is by measuring the internal temperature. Everyone likes to eat their pork chops slightly differently. Some like it well done and some like it medium-rare.
So, below you will find internal temperatures corresponding to doneness:
- 145-150ºF – medium-rare
- 150-155ºF – medium
- 155-160ºF – medium-well
- 160+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.
Try it!
Thermoworks Thermapen
We swear by using a meat thermometer when cooking any cut of meat. The Thermapen is our go-to meat thermometer that works every time.
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.
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!
- 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.
Juicy Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 2 lb. bone-in pork chops, we used 4
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 medium lemon, juiced (2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Add the soy sauce, light brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, and lemon juice into a bowl and whisk until the sugar dissolves.
- Place the pork chops into a large, gallon-size plastic bag, and then pour the marinade into the bag.
- Remove the air from the plastic bag and carefully massage the marinade into the pork chops.
- Place the pork chops into the fridge and marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight (which is preferred).
- When you’re ready to cook, preheat the grill to 400ºF.
- Remove the pork chops from the refrigerator and remove the pork chops from the bag, letting excess marinade drip from the pork chops.
- Place the pork chops over direct heat and grill them for 6-8 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature of the pork chops reaches at least 140ºF*.
- Remove the pork chops from the grill and let them rest for around 5 minutes so that they continue to cook and reach 145ºF before serving.
Tips & Notes
- 145-150ºF – medium-rare
- 150-155ºF – medium
- 155-160ºF – medium-well
- 160+ºF – well done
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.
Excellent! I’m usually pretty bad at cooking pork because it often comes out dry, but these were nice and juicy! I had a huge pork loin to use up, so I cut it into thick boneless chops and marinated it all day, then grilled them outside on the grill for supper, and served with mashed potatoes and green beans. Delicious! This recipe is definitely a keeper!
Yum!
Did you cook them the same length of time as the bone-in?
Only the bones were left. I’ll be making it again tomorrow.
I’m not a good cook so I love cooking sites like this, thanks for sharing good articles so I can learn and cook delicious food. wordle hint
So simple, and actually juicy! It is absolutely delicious and so, so flavorful. I grilled them on a cast iron ribbed lodge grill pan on the stove – it really imparted a charred and grilled flavor which was just divine.
We’re blushing! So glad you loved this pork chops, John 😀
These come out so tasty! The marinade is so easy and delicious.