Pork Chop Marinade
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The BEST Pork Chop Marinade recipe is a quick and easy marinade made with pantry staples! It will make your pork chops extra juicy, full of flavor and delicious. This pork marinade works great if you are grilling outside or if you are inside using a grill pan!
This quick and easy Pork Chop Marinade is going to quickly become your new go-to pork marinade for all your grilling. So easy to make when all of the marinade ingredients are pantry staples and it makes your pork chops tender and full of flavor.
There’s nothing like firing up the grill on a summer evening and throwing some pork chops on it along with my favorite vegetables Grilled Asparagus and Grilled Baked Potatoes! I think another time I will add Grilled Sweet Potatoes to the mix to switch it up.
Why You’ll Love this recipe
- It only takes 5 minutes to mix up!
- Tenderizes your pork chop so you’ll pull a juicy, delicious pork chop off the grill that will have your mouth watering.
- Infuses your pork with so much flavor! No dry, tough, flavorless pork for you!
Ingredients for Pork Chop Marinade
- Brown sugar – Adds just a touch of sweetness, plus it helps to caramelize the pork chops when you cook them.
- Extra virgin olive oil – Prevents the pork from sticking to the grill plus helps transfer the flavors to the pork while it marinades.
- Soy sauce – We like to use reduced sodium, but regular works too. This provides flavor and helps tenderize your pork chop.
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds a depth of flavor.
- Salt and ground black pepper – Adjust to your taste buds, you can even leave the salt out since the soy sauce provides plenty of salt.
- Garlic – Provides so much flavor. Fresh garlic works best.
- Bone-in pork chops – Any thickness works and you can use boneless if you prefer, just adjust your cooking times.
Can I use Boneless Pork Chops?
Yes! We just prefer the bone-in pork chops because they keep the meat extra moist and juicy.
Remember to watch the internal temperature of the pork chops when you grill them. Pull them off at 145 degrees Fahrenheit which is safe to consume according to the USDA and then allow to rest. This helps give you a juicy pork chops no matter if they are bone-in or boneless.
helpful tools
- Meat thermometer
- Grill
- Grill pan
- Grill tongs
- Small mixing bowl
How to Marinate Pork Chops
- Whisk all of the ingredients except pork chops together in a small bowl.
- Place pork chops into a resealable zip top bag. Pour the marinade into the bag. Squeeze as much air out of bag as possible and seal. Marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
How to Grill Marinated Pork Chops
- When you are ready to grill the pork chops, preheat grill or grill pan to medium heat. Place pork chops on grill or in pan.
- Discard remaining marinade. Grill the pork chops over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer inserted in the middle of the meat reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from grill or grill pan.
- Let pork chops stand for 5 minutes before eating to let juices redistribute. This gets you that super juicy, delicious pork chop!
It acts as a brine, which injects the pork with tons of flavor and makes it juicy. It’s way better than your basic salt and water brine because it also brings a flavor to your marinade.
After an hour the pork chops will already benefit from the marinating. I prefer to let them marinate for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours to get the most out of the marinade.
Yes, any acid in the marinade starts to break down the protein, aka the pork chop, after 1 day, so we recommend not marinating these longer than 24 hours.
You’ve come to the right recipe, because marinating the pork will help to tenderize the meat lock in the moisture of the pork so you don’t have a dry pork chop.
Resting the meat after it has been cooked will allow juices to redistribute. It is also important not to overcook the pork. Keep an eye on the internal temperature while you are cooking.
Research shows that pork can be consumed safely when cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degree Fahrenheit followed by a three minute rest time.
This yields a finished product that is pinker in color than home cooks might be used to, but no worries it’s totally safe!
We recommend an instant read food thermometer to make sure your meat is safe to consume.
Yes, you can bake these if you prefer oven-baked pork chops. I recommend a preheated oven of 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes. Be sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached a safe temperature for eating.
To freeze, simply freeze uncooked pork in resealable bag with marinade, making sure the pork chops are well coated. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To use, place the pork chops in the refrigerator overnight to completely thaw. Grill as directed.
Storage and Reheating
Fridge: Store cooled pork chops in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
Freezer: You can freeze leftover pork chops if you have too many on hand. I recommend wrapping individually in plastic wrap before storing in a freezer bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Reheat leftover pork chops in the oven. Place in a baking dish with a little bit of water to add moisture while the are reheating and cover with foil to retain this moisture.
You can microwave, but it is more likely that your pork chops will dry out this way.
pro tips
- You can use honey in place of the brown sugar if necessary.
- Double this recipe, freeze half of it uncooked and you just made two meals.
- Do not be alarmed if your pork chops are still a bit pink. As long as they are cooked to temperature, 145 degrees Fahrenheit, they are safe to eat.
- Be sure to let the pork rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
- The soy sauce in this recipe acts as a brine, which injects the pork with tons of flavor and makes it juicy. It’s way better than your basic salt and water brine because it also brings a flavor to your marinade.
- Of course, sprinkle with fresh herbs like parsley to add some color when serving.
Imagine biting into a tender, juicy and delicious pork chop with amazing flavor. The perfect easy dinner recipe to try this week!
Shop Our Spices
Shop Now!Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!
Pork Chop Marinade Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce reduced salt
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 bone-in pork chops
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk first 7 ingredients.
- Add pork chops to a resealable zip lock bag or large bowl and pour the marinade over the top of the pork chops. Squeeze as much air out of bag as possible and seal.
- Marinate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium heat. Place pork chops on grill or in pan. Discard remaining marinade.
- Grill over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer inserted in the middle of the meat reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from grill.
- Let pork chops rest for 3-5 minutes before serving. This helps redistribute juices and make them tender and juicy!
Nutrition Information
how to serve pork chops
Fire up the grill and cook your whole meal at once. A family favorite with pork chops is fork-tender and wonderfully seasoned Grilled Asparagus. And of course, you can’t have a meal on the grill without Grilled Baked Potatoes. If we are feeling kind of fancy, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus is our go to for an easy, elevated vegetable.
more great pork chop recipes
- Grilled Boneless Pork Chops are proof you don’t need a bone to have juicy tender pork chops.
- Smoked Pork Chops are seasoned with a homemade seasoning and so easy for a beginner on the smoker.
- A sweet brown sugar marinade makes these Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops so tender and juicy. Plus they are topped with a pineapple ring.
- Baked pork chops and veggies all on one pan? Sheet Pan Parmesan Pork Chops are exactly what you need to get supper on the table tonight.
Maria says
I made this exactly as recipe states and cooked them in air fryer for 11 minutes total. I don’t think I have ever tasted a more tender pork chop! This will be my go to marinade in the future. Thank you.
Brooke Kill says
Awesome Maria! I’m so happy it turned out!
KAY says
simple and seriously delicious !
thanks a bunch 😁
Kathy says
Absolutely the best chop marinade I’ve tried. My family doesn’t want it any other way and could live off chops made in this marinade!
Jeanine Gafeney says
Would like to make this in the oven but what temperature and how long
Sarah Hill says
While I don’t have an oven recipe on this page, Julie’s Eats & Treats has one for baked pork chops. This might not be exact, but it’ll get you close! Add pork chops to pan (medium-high heat) and saute for 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Place browned pork chops in skillet into the preheated oven (450 degrees). Bake for 8-10 or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Hope this helps!
Lisa Kirkpatrick says
Can you bake in oven if you don’t have a grill?
Sarah Hill says
Yes, you should be able to bake as well! As long as the meat reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit and you let it rest a couple minutes after, you should be fine!
Tammie says
I subbed maple syrup for the brown sugar. It gave a smoky flavor that was delicious!
Sarah Hill says
Oh yum! That sounds like a great alternative! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Chris says
Was excellent! Will definitely have again!
Sarah Hill says
So glad you enjoyed this marinade! Thanks for commenting and rating!
Mark says
Our absolute go to now for a pork chop marinade. It also helps that these are all ingredients that we always have on hand.
Courtney says
Awesome! Thank you!
Gloria Reay says
We love this marinade. I bake them in the oven.
Courtney says
So glad you love this!
Mary Jean Dian says
my employer said when I try your recipe very nice and tasty thank you.
Courtney says
Thank you!
Joanie says
This is my go to marinade for pork chops! I usually double the recipe as I cook at least 6 porkchops on the grill. Turns out delicious every time.
Courtney says
The leftover pork chops are definitely good! Thanks for letting us know you enjoyed this recipe!
Shelly says
Awesome.
Had everything I needed in house already
Courtney says
Great!
Suzanne Rossignol says
This is my go to marinade but wondering if I make marinade ahead and put in a glass jar until I need to use about how long it might keep in the fridge.
Courtney says
We haven’t tested this method. We would suggest not keeping longer than 5 days. If you try this, please let us know if it works for you!
Albert G says
Simple but delicious! I added a splash of my homemade cider vinegar and marinated for about 4 hours.
Courtney says
Yum!! Thank you for letting us know you enjoyed it.
michael says
nothing special
Courtney says
Sorry to hear this. Thank you for finding this recipe and for giving it a try.
Shelly says
What did you do wrong?
Holly says
can you cook the chops in an air fryer or conventional oven
Courtney says
Yes, you could make in the air fryer or oven!
Shelly says
Why not