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How to Grill Pork Chops: An easy recipe for perfect pork chops on the grill! Made with bone-in pork chops and a sweet and spicy blend of seasonings.
Made in partnership with my friends at Star Market®.
Easy Recipe for Pork Chops on the Grill
Grilled pork chops have to be one of my favorite easy dinner recipes. While I do love skillet pork chops, there’s something about the smoky flavors of the grill that just can’t be beat.
This easy recipe will have you grilling pork chops every night of the week all summer long and I’m thrilled to partner with Star Market® to share it with you! Their easy-to-navigate app and website makes shopping and planning a breeze! Head to starmarket.com/summer to find Virtual Cooking Classes with celebrity chefs, easy-to-shop recipes, new seasonal recipe inspiration, and more!
And I’ve nailed down exactly How to Grill Pork Chops to absolute perfection! For this grilled pork chops recipe, all you need are however many pork chops you’re cooking, oil, a simple dry brine, and a grill.
Ingredients Needed:
- Pork Chops: however, many you’ll need but if more than 4, make more marinade! I like to use bone-in!
- Oil: Star Market® exclusive Signature SELECT® olive oil or avocado oil are both great options.
- Lemon Juice: the acidity in lemon juice helps break down the meat for an even more tender texture.
- Seasonings: our simple and versatile spice rub is made up of salt, pepper, Star Market® exclusive O Organics® coconut palm sugar (Star Market® exclusive O Organics® honey works well, too), paprika, and garlic powder.
- Avocado Oil Spray: to grease the grill before cooking.
How to Make Pork Chops on the Grill
Grilling pork chops really could not be easier! They’re ready to go in just a few simple steps and they cook quickly!
- Season and marinate: Dry the pork chops, then rub them all over with oil and seasonings. Marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or more ideally, overnight in the fridge.
- Cook: Heat the grill or grill pan to 400ºF. Add the pork and cook for 7 minutes on each side.
- Rest and serve: Remove the pork from the grill and let it rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve and enjoy.
Bone-In vs Boneless Pork Chops
This grilled pork chop recipe calls for bone-in pork chops, simply because they fare better when cooked on the grill. Boneless pork chops tend to dry out more quickly…and nobody likes dried-out pork!
If you don’t want to use bone-in pork, feel free to use boneless pork chops. Just make sure you check the pork extra early with a meat thermometer to make sure you don’t overcook it!
How Long to Grill Pork Chops
Grilling pork chops is fabulous because it’s so darn quick! However, the grill time for pork chops will vary based on the thickness and whether you’re using bone-in or boneless.
My preference is to use 1½ -inch thick, bone-in pork chops. I cook them for anywhere from 10-16 minutes over medium-high heat, flipping halfway through.
The key is to check the pork early! You can always cook it more, but once it’s over-cooked there’s no going back.
What is the Correct Cooking Temperature for Pork Chops?
We recommend following the USDA guidelines and cooking these pork chops to 145ºF, then letting them rest. As they rest, they’ll continue to climb ever so slightly in temperature. Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the meat.
Now, over the years, the USDA has changed the recommended cooking temperature for pork. A while back it was recommended that pork be treated like chicken and cooked to 165ºF to kill off any potentially harmful bacteria. However, it was discovered that bacteria was killed at 140ºF, so the recommended cooking temperature was decreased to 145ºF with a 3 minute resting period.
I don’t recommend cooking past 145ºF. Over-cooked pork is dry and tough!
How Do You Grill Pork Chops Without Drying Them Out?
Pork chops are lean meat, which means they are quicker to dry out. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent that from happening!
Here are a few of my best tips for cooking pork chops on the grill without drying them out!
- Use bone-in pork. Bone-in pork is juicier than boneless.
- Marinate. Marinating not only adds flavor, but also breaks down the muscle fibers in the meat which creates a juicier, more tender texture. Trust me. Marinated pork chops grilled to perfection just can’t be beat!
- Don’t over-cook. Once the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145ºF, take them off the grill.
- Let them rest. Let the cooked pork sit for 5-10 minutes before slicing into it. If you slice into it too soon, the moisture will run out and your pork will be dry.
Can These Be Made Without a Grill?
Totally! While we love the taste of pork chops on the grill, this dish would still be delicious in a grill pan or even a regular skillet if that’s all you have. Do what works for you! Note you may want to turn on your range fan if cooking on the stovetop.
Serving Suggestions
These grilled pork chops are delicious on their own or topped with a scoop of fresh homemade peach tomato salsa!
Bulk your meal up with a side of:
- Roasted Potato Wedges
- Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Roasted Vegetables
- Avocado and Corn Salsa
- Restaurant Worthy Caesar Salad Recipe
How to Store
Leftover pork chops will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen, then warm in the oven or on the stove until heated through.
How to Grill Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 1 1/2 " bone-in pork chops
- 1/4 cup Signature SELECT® avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon O Organics® Coconut Palm Sugar or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Avocado oil spray for grilling
- O Organics® Cilantro optional
Instructions
- Dry off pork chops. Rub the pork chops with oil and seasonings. Rub the mixture all over the outsides of the pork.Let the pork marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature (or overnight in the refrigerator). Adjust marinade amount based on how many pork chops you're making! It's easy to double if needed.
- Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (400ºF).
- When hot add pork and let cook for 8 minutes on each side (timing will change based on thickness) or until fully cooked through to an internal temperature of 145ºF. Remove the pork chops from the grill and lightly cover with foil and let them rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve the pork chops hot with cilantro and sides of choice!
Notes
- Use bone-in pork. Bone-in pork is juicier than boneless
- Marinate. Marinating not only adds flavor, but also breaks down the muscle fibers in the meat which creates a juicier, more tender texture. Trust me. Marinated pork chops grilled to perfection just can’t be beat.
- Don’t over-cook. Once the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145ºF, take them off the grill.
- Let them rest. Let the cooked pork sit for 5-10 minutes before slicing into it. If you slice into it too soon, the moisture will run out and your pork will be dry.
This post is made in partnership with Star Market®! All opinions are always my own. Head to starmarket.com/summer to find celebrity cooking classes, recipe inspiration, and more!
Great marinade! Pork was juicy and tasty without adding any sugar laden BBQ sauce. It’s a keeper for our family!