Grilled Pork Chops – Spend With Pennies

June 16, 2023

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Grilled pork chops make for an easy summer (or anytime) dinner.

An easy lemon herb marinade makes them tender, juicy, and flavorful. Serve them with a simple salad and add some grilled veggies, then dine al fresco!

cooked Grilled Pork Chops with vegetables on a plate

Perfectly Grilled Pork Chops

Pork chops, AKA ‘the other white meat’, is a healthy entrée, and they’re easy to grill!
The marinade adds flavor while making for extra tender meat.
This recipe can be made with bone-in or boneless chops.
Pork chops are affordable and accessible, plus they cook fast making for the perfect dinner.

Ingredients & Variations

Pork Chops – Pork chops can be packaged in thicknesses from ½-inch thick to 1 ½-inches. This recipe works with bone-in pork chops (which is what we prefer) or boneless chops. The cooking times in the recipe below are intended for ¾-inch thick chops.

Marinade – Lemon juice adds a bright flavor and helps to tenderize the meat as it marinates. Brown sugar brings a hint of sweetness and helps with caramelization while the savory herbs balance out the flavor of the marinade.

loin chops, spices , lemon , garlic, oil , soy sauce , brown sugar, mustard to make Grilled Pork Chops with labels

How to Grill Pork Chops

Grill marinated pork chops over medium-high heat until the internal temperature reaches 145°F at the thickest point. Use this handy guide for grilling bone-in or boneless pork chops on a gas grill at a medium-high temp:

cook 1/2″ chops for 4 minutes per side
cook 3/4″ chops for 5-6 minutes per side
cook 1″ chops for 7-9 minutes per side

For really thick chops with a ‘fat cap’ (a thicker ribbon of fat on one edge) slice the fat diagonally every ¼” inch across the fat. This will prevent the meat from curling up as it cooks.

Keep the fat on because it adds great flavor!

dressing for Grilled Pork Chops in a bowl

adding chicken to dressing to marinade for Grilled Pork Chops

Tips & Tricks for Pork Chops

For best results, marinate the pork chops for a minimum of 2 hours to season and tenderize the meat.
Always start with a preheated grill so the meat sears on the outside, instantly sealing in all the juices! A light brush of oil across the grill grate will prevent sticking.
Avoid pressing down the meat with a spatula as this will squeeze out the juices and make the chops tough.
Use a meat thermometer inserted at the thickest part of the meat to check for doneness. Pork should be at 145°F, and remember, it will continue to cook as it rests.

For the Juiciest Pork Chops…

Pork is lean so it’s important to ensure it doesn’t overcook. Pork can be a little bit pink inside.

Pork is best cooked to 145°F but we remove it from the grill a few degrees early as the temperature will rise as it rests. Be sure to allow at least 5 minutes to rest before serving.

sheet pan full of Grilled Pork Chops and cooked vegetables

Leftovers?

Leftover pork chops can be kept in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 4 days.

Reheat them in the microwave or air fryer just until heated through. Freeze portions wrapped in plastic and then place them in a zippered bag. Freeze for up to 4 weeks.

Perfect Side Dishes for Pork Chops

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Grilled Pork Chops

A simple marinade makes these grilled pork chops wonderfully tender and juicy!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Marinating Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes

Instant Read Thermometer on white background

Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl or large freezer bag. Add pork chops and marinate for at least 2 hours.
Preheat grill to medium-high.
Remove the pork from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off.
Grill pork 5-6 minutes per side or until temperature reaches 145°F with an instant-read thermometer. Do not overcook.
Let the pork chops rest on a plate for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Bone-in or boneless chops can be used in this recipe, we prefer the flavor of bone-in pork chops.
Optional: add 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard to the marinade
This recipe is for pork chops that are 3/4 inch thick. Thicker chops will need additional time while thinner chops will cook faster. For the best results, use an instant-read thermometer.
Allow the chops to cook on one side until they have nice color without pressing or flipping. They should be easy to remove from the grill, if they stick, leave them a bit longer.
Chops should reach an internal temperature of 145°F in the thickest part. Remove them from the grill a few degrees early (about 140-142°F) as the temperature will continue to rise as they rest. Pork can be a little bit pink inside.

cook 1/2-inch chops for 4 minutes per side
cook 3/4-inch chops for 5-6 minutes per side
cook 1-inch chops for 7-9 minutes per side

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Entree, Pork

Cuisine American

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