Grilled Pork Chops

Juicy, tender, Grilled Pork Chops are so darn tasty, yet so easy to make! Marinated in a delicious soy sauce mixture that’s so savory good with hints of garlic, honey, and just the right amount of black pepper, these pork chops are a fantastic 20-minute make-ahead meal!

Best Grilled Pork Chops Recipe

Pork chops are a simple cut of meat that is ideal for marinating and then char-grilling. They are so good and grilling is my favorite way to cook them! With the bone-in and seasoned with lots of garlic, savory flavors, and a dash of honey. Then grilling them to juicy, tender, finger-licking good perfection!  

And this recipe is so simple! You can easily make it ahead of time. With little to no prep at all, it’s the perfect quick and easy main dish. Once you make the 3-minute 5 ingredient marinade and then let the flavors meld into the pork chops for about 30 minutes, they only take about 16 minutes to cook! 

Grilled pork chops are a fantastic option for a weeknight dinner or a weekend backyard BBQ! Just add a few sides like my Potato salad, Mashed Potatoes or Coleslaw. Or, my Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables and Cauliflower Rice if you’re trying to keep it extra healthy, low carb, or keto!

• Pork Chops – You will need bone-in pork chops that are about 1 inch thick for this recipe. Ideally, all the chops should all be about the same size for both more even cooking and estimating the cooking time. You can also use boneless pork chops or pork tenderloin medallions if you prefer.
• Olive Oil – I like to use olive oil when I make grilled pork chops, but you can also use any type of vegetable oil like canola, grape-seed, or soybean.
• Soy Sauce – Low sodium soy sauce is the best choice to add the yummy soy sauce flavor, but control the level of salt. 
• Garlic Powder – Grilled pork and garlic are a perfect combination. I use garlic powder as I find it works better in this pork chop marinade to really penetrate the meat.
• Honey – For just a touch of sweetness, honey complements the savory chargrilled flavor of the pork. You can also use agave, maple syrup or brown sugar if you don’t have any honey on hand or you prefer. 
• Black Pepper – If you have it on hand, be sure to use freshly ground black pepper. 

Prep And Marinate

1. Marinate the pork. Put the pork chops into a large ziplock bag or large bowl and then add all the remaining ingredients. Now, squeeze the chops in the bag so that the marinade moves around in the bag to mix everything together. You want to fully coat the pork. Then place the bag with the pork chops in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. 
2. Preheat your grill. First, oil the grates of your grill, and then heat it to medium-high so that it gets nice and hot.

Grill

1. Grill the pork chops. Remove the pork from the ziplock bag and discard the excess marinade. Now, place the chops on the hot grill and cook on each side for 6 to 8 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the size of the chops you selected. Also note, when you go to flip the pork it should not be sticking. If it is sticking that means that the chops need to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes so that the char marks can form, which indicates that the pork has cooked long enough on that side.
2. Check the internal temperature. When you think the chops are cooked, use an instant-read digital meat thermometer to check the temperature of the pork, which needs to be at least 145°F (63°C) when inserted into the center of the pork chops. If they haven’t reached 145°F allow the pork to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes and then check the temperature again.
3. Rest and serve. Once the pork chops are fully cooked, transfer them to a plate, cover them with foil. Allow the chops to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps them to stay nice and juicy.

Can I Use Other Cuts Of Pork?

Yes, you can! Pork chops are my favorite cut when grilling pork. But you can also marinate and grill pork tenderloin medallions or even pork steaks. But keep in mind that regardless of what cut of pork you choose to grill, the internal temperature needs to be 145°F (63°C) when checked with a digital thermometer.

Can I Bake The Pork Chops?

Yes! If you don’t own a grill or maybe it’s just too cold outside, you can easily bake these pork chops instead of grilling them. Just put the marinated chops on a nonstick sheet pan sprayed with cooking spray and bake them at 400°F (205°C) for about 18 minutes flipping them over halfway through baking.

How Do I Keep The Pork From Sticking To The Grill?

Pork chops will let you know when they are ready to be flipped by releasing themselves from the grates of the grill. They do this as the char lines form. So just be patient and let the pork tell you when it’s ready. If it’s still sticking that means you just need to give it another minute or two. It’s also important to always oil the grates of your grill before cooking and start with a clean grill.

Leftovers

You can store leftover grilled pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months! They are wonderful cold and don’t need to be reheated. But if you’d like to warm up your chops, just put them covered in the microwave for about 3 minutes on medium power or in the oven at 350°F (176°C) for about 12 minutes. 

Other Grilling Recipes To Try

• Grilled Bratwurst
• Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas
• Easy Grilled Chicken Breast
• Grilled Tomahawk Pork Chops
• Grilled Eggplant