Grilled Pork Chops

Summertime calls for marinated and grilled pork chops for a healthy dinner that impresses. This easy dinner comes together in less than an hour.

Let me tell you how great it is to be back at the grill! It was a long winter and I'm so glad the pleasant Arizona spring weather is back in time for Grilling Month.

So far I've shared my favorite Grilled Turkey Burgers and Grilled Chicken Thighs. But I wanted to show you some non-poultry dishes too.

Seriously, once you know how to grill, you can grill anything.

Grilled Pork Chops Recipe

Grilled pork chops make for a delicious dinner. You can have them for a casual weeknight dinner, but they also make a stunning centerpiece for a fancier dinner.

If you're having friends over for a dinner party or simply making date night at home, grilled pork chops will steal the show.

Grilled pork chops are wonderful for a number of reasons:

• They are easy to flavor with a marinade or a rub.
• Pork pairs well with tons of dishes.
• Chops are affordable, healthy and always impressive!

Bone-in vs. boneless pork chops

Boneless chops tend to be cheaper, but the extra expense is worth it if you are willing to spring for bone-in.

Bone-in pork chops will help lock in moisture so your pork chops stay juicy and tender. The bone also imparts some flavor as well.

However, you can just as easily make boneless pork chops with this recipe if you like.

I recommend choosing bone-in pork chops that are about 1½-inches thick.

Pork chop marinade

When you marinate pork chops, they turn out super juicy. I love this Italian marinade, and it's one of my most popular recipes of all time.

Another one I like is a cilantro and lime marinade for pork chops that I absolutely love. So good for a meal filled with Latin flavors!

This honey garlic marinade for pork chops also sounds truly delicious.

If you prefer to skip the time it takes to marinade, try a dry rub for your pork chops.

Tips for marinating pork chops

Make sure you marinate them for 30 minutes or more. Longer will yield a more flavorful pork chop! Don't marinate for more than 24 hours or the citrus in the marinade will begin to break down the meat.

Make sure you let the meat rest at room temperature before grilling.

Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Pork needs to be cooked to 145ºF and can easily dry out when it is overcooked. (I wouldn't recommend cooking them over 160ºF.)

Once you've grilled them, let the pork chops rest after cooking for 5-10 minutes before cutting into them to let the juices settle.

Ingredients

To make an easy marinade for pork chops, you’ll need:

• olive oil
• vinegar
• dried herbs
• garlic
• red pepper flakes
• lemon or lime juice

I love this marinade because it is super customizable based on what you have on hand.

For the dried herbs, I use a mix of dried basil, oregano and thyme — about ½ teaspoon of each. You can also use rosemary, cilantro or parsley. Have fun!

You can use lemon or lime juice — you need something acidic to flavor the meat.

For the vinegar, I use red wine vinegar, but balsamic, white or apple cider vinegar will work.

How to marinate pork chops

Putting together this Italian marinade for pork chops is so very easy. You’ll be shocked at how simple it is!

1. First, pour the marinade ingredients into a mason jar and cover with a lid.
2. Shake vigorously to force the oil and vinegar to combine. (This is called emulsifying.) It will also help the marinade to coat the meat completely and not settle while your pork chops marinate.
3. Place the pork chops into a ziptop bag and pour the marinade over top. Close the bag and rotate to cover the pork chops.
4. Marinate 1-2 inch thick pork chops in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

How To Grill Bone-In Pork Chops

Here's how to grill pork chops with a bone.

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (375°F).
2. Grill pork chops for 10-15 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
3. Remove from grill and let pork chops rest for 5-10 minutes.

Then serve! Try them with shredded cheesy potatoes and garlic brown butter green beans.

If your pork chops are boneless: Simply check the temperature a bit sooner as they won't need as much time on the grill.

Tips For Success

When pork chops are ready to be flipped, they will easily release from the grill. If you try to flip them and they are sticking to the grill, that means they aren’t ready to flip yet. Be patient!

For thinner pork chops or boneless, reduce the cook time to 6-10 minutes depending on thickness.

You can double this marinade and use it for grilled veggies as well! Cook grilled veggies in a foil pack or grill-safe basket.

How long to grill pork chops

Pork cooks quickly which makes it perfect for a weeknight!

If you prefer your pork medium rare, you should cook it to an internal temperature of 145 degrees (followed by a three-minute rest).

If you like your chops a little more done, you can cook them to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

If you use boneless pork chops, they will take less time to cook, so keep an eye on your meat thermometer.

What To Serve With Pork Chops

Pork chops are a beautiful meal, but you’ll want to cook up some sides to go with them!

Make Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus to serve as an appetizer or as a side dish of these pork chops.

You could also serve them on top of this Strawberry Spinach Salad or over your favorite risotto.

Finish your meal off with delicious summer desserts, such as Peach Cobbler, Mini Lemon Cheesecakes or some No Bake Whipped Cream Pies.