Pork Chop Marinade
This simple pork chop marinade will become your go-to for adding Italian flavor to any type of pork, from chops to tenderloin, and it's delicious on veggies, too!
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Pork Chop Marinade Recipe
Summer nights call for easy recipes and this quick marinade for pork chops will make dinner a breeze.
Once I learned to grill the right way, the grill quickly became my go-to cooking method in the summertime.
One of the easiest meals to make is grilled pork chops , and the chops get their flavor from this simple Italian marinade!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
This marinade is wonderful for a number of reasons:
You need just a few basic ingredients, and the spices are very common, so you may even have them on hand already!
It takes just 5 minutes to put the marinade together. Then, let time do its magic to infuse your pork chops with flavor.
This Italian marinade is versatile for more than just pork chops! It's delicious on vegetables, pork tenderloin, and other proteins like grilled chicken breast and shrimp skewers, too.
Ingredients
The ingredients are pretty simple, but the flavor combination makes this Italian marinade zesty and delicious!
The flavor of the marinade comes mainly from basil, oregano and thyme! You can opt for fresh or dried, but keep in mind that a tablespoon of fresh herbs equals about a teaspoon dried. Using dried herbs is a nice option because they offer more intense flavors, not to mention they are super convenient.
To make for easy prep, use minced garlic from a jar. If you're using fresh garlic cloves, a garlic press will quickly mince them.
Crushed red pepper flakes add a bit of heat to this marinade. If you're sensitive to spices, you can leave them out and the marinade will still be super flavorful.
If possible, use freshly squeezed lemon juice. It will take the taste of the marinade up a notch. Bottled lemon juice works in a pinch and is always good to have on hand.
Want to use a different flavor of marinade? There are a few other marinade recipes here and on our sister site, Cook At Home Mom, that are fantastic with pork! One of my favorites is a Mexican-inspired cilantro lime marinade, and my Greek chicken marinade is really tasty with pork chops!
How to Make the Pork Chop Marinade
Putting this marinade together is very easy, and it takes just a couple of minutes.
- First, pour the marinade ingredients into a mason jar and cover with a lid. You will need at least a 12 ounce jar to fit everything.
- Shake vigorously to emulsify the dressing. This is to force the oil and vinegar to combine and prevent the two from separating while your chops marinate. This will also help the dressing coat the meat completely.
- Use immediately or store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- When you're ready to use, drop the pork chops into a zip top bag and douse them with the marinade.
Madison's Tips for Success:
I've tested this recipe and have successfully made the pork chop marinade many times. Use my tips to ensure that it turns out perfectly for you, too!
- If the marinade separates in the fridge, don't fret! Just shake it up to emulsify again.
- Marinate 1-2 inch thick pork chops in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- After removing raw meat from the marinade, throw out any leftover marinade. Raw pork carries bacteria like e-Coli that can make you and your family very sick. See this FDA article for more information on food safety.
Uses for Pork Marinade
This recipe yields 1.5 cups of pork chop marinade, enough to marinate up to 2 pounds of pork. You can double the ingredient amounts and use it for grilled veggies as well! My favorite way to grill veggies is in a foil pack or grill-safe basket.
Because the base ingredients are oil and vinegar, it is also a delicious dressing for French potato salad or corn and tomato salad.
Meal Prep Tip
For easy meal prep, add the marinade to a freezer-safe zip top bag and add uncooked pork. The marinated pork chops can stay frozen up to 2 months. I like to write the date on the bag so I know how long it's been in there.
The night before you're ready to cook the chops, just move it from the freezer to the refrigerator so it can thaw out. I usually do this overnight to ensure ample time and so the meat has time to marinate.
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a 
review below!
It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave comments and questions below!
Easy Pork Chop Marinade
Ingredients
- 1 cup olive oil
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Measure all marinade ingredients into a mason jar, then close the lid tightly.
- Shake vigorously to combine.
- Use immediately or store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- When ready to use, marinate pork chops in fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes or as long as 12 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Easy Marinades
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It was okay, but nothing to write home about. Wouldn't make again
Looks delicious
This marinade looks great! Can't wait to try it.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
Very good marinade, I will be making this again. Served with pesto spaghetti.
I don't know why pork chops are never on my shopping list because they're ALWAYS so freaking delicious. Adding these for next weekend because holy cow, do they look amazing and perfect for the warm weather we've recently been experiencing.
I love that marinade, too! SO good!
Thanks so much Erin! I hope you guys love them!
We're also huge fans of grilling (and not just in the summer - year round. Grilling in the snow is my jam!) and it's such a great quick weeknight dinner. If you're looking to move your pork chops inside, brine them! It is the ticket to juicy, not at all dry chops. But grilling is definitely my favorite method. 😉 I haven't tried them with an Italian marinade yet - thanks for the inspiration!
Grilling in the snow sounds so fun! That's a great tip about brining the pork chops if you're cooking them inside! I need to try that. This Italian marinade is definitely a favorite!
I absolutely love the sound of these, Madison! Who doesn't love grilled pork chops? And that homemade Italian marinade just puts 'em over the top. Definitely gonna enjoy these this week!
The marinade is my fave part, for sure!
That marinade sounds delicious! We love picking fresh veggies from the garden and grilling them up alongside dinner...I'm totally going to try out that marinade with some pork chops next week now. Thanks for sharing! #client
Yummmm! We don't make pork often either and we don't have a grill, but when we get one I am sure we will give this a try! Also, your veggie medoly looks amazing!