The BEST Pork Chop Marinade

The BEST Pork Chop Marinade is a quick and easy marinade made with pantry staples, including one SECRET ingredient! It will make your pork chops extra juicy, full of flavor and delicious. This simple pork marinade works great if you are grilling outside or if you are inside using a grill pan!

This post is sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. All text and opinions are my own.

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 with 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 Grilled Asparagus and Grilled Baked Potatoes!

It is an entire meal all prepared on the grill with minimal clean up in the kitchen. This is something I can get behind!

Why You’ll Love this Easy Pork Chop Marinade!

• 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!
• You can even use it on our Grilled Pork Loin if you want to switch it up a bit!

You know what else I can get behind? Supporting my favorite farmers! Especially my friends over in Iowa that produce amazing pork.

That’s why I’m excited to share with you a little about the Iowa Pork Producers today!

First of all, did you know that one-third of all the pork raised in the U.S. comes from Iowa? That’s amazing! Plus, most of the pork raised on those farms in Iowa is eaten right here in the United States.

Every time you pick up pork from a grocery store across the United States, you are supporting family farms in Iowa. Now that right there is awesome!

Family farms are the key to pork production across Iowa.

Pork Chop Marinade Ingredients

• 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 & 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.

does marinating pork make a difference?

Absolutely! Not only does marinating pork chops tenderize and enhance the flavor of the meat, it also helps you out with meal prep.

How to Marinate Pork Chops

• Mix Marinade – First, grab a small bowl and whisk all of the ingredients except pork chops together.
• Marinate – Next, grab a resealable zip lock bag and place the pork chops in it. Pour the marinade you prepared into it. 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

• Preheat Grill – 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.
• Grill – 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.
• Rest – Let pork chops stand for at least 3 minutes before eating to let juices redistribute. This gets you that super juicy, delicious pork chop!

The Secret Ingredient! Soy Sauce!

Don’t leave out the soy sauce! It’s like a secret ingredient.

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.

No, don’t worry, it won’t make your pork chops take on an Asian flavor!

How Long to Marinate Pork Chops

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!

I love throwing my pork chops in the marinade in the morning so when I come home they are ready to go and I can have dinner in about ten minutes!

How long can i let pork chops marinate?

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.

What temperature should Pork Chops be cooked to?

Research shows that pork can be consumed safely when cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit and followed by a three minute rest time.

This yields a finished product that is pinker in color than home cooks are used to, but no worries it’s totally safe!

We recommend an instant read thermometer to make sure your meat is safe to consume.

Can I Bake Marinated Pork Chops in The Oven?

You sure can! Oven-baked pork chops are great if you are not in the mood to grill. Place them on an oil or parchment lined baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven.

Be sure your pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit and rest for three minutes before you dig in!

can i reuse pork chop marinade?

I usually recommend discarding the marinade that is left in the zip lock bag, but if you bring the remaining marinade to a boil, it will make a nice sauce for a rice and veggie side.

Because the marinade was in contact with raw pork, it is very important that the sauce boils to kill any bacteria that might be present.

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Can I Freeze Pork Chops In A Marinade?

Yes! This makes a great freezer meal!

To freeze, simply freeze uncooked pork in resealable bag with marinade, making sure the pork chops are coated. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To use, place the pork chops in the refrigerator overnight to completely thaw. Grill as directed.

Double this recipe, freeze half of it and you just made two meals. This is my kind of cooking!

How to store leftover pork chops

Store cooked and cooled leftover pork chops in a sealed container in the fridge up to three days. Leftovers can also be frozen and then thawed overnight in the fridge.

how to reheat leftover pork chops

For moist leftover pork chops, reheat low and slow to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Place in a shallow baking dish and add about 1 Tablespoon of water per pork chop, cover with foil and reheat for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

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what goes with marinated pork chops?

• Grilled Asparagus uses only a few ingredients and is full of flavour plus who doesn’t love grilled vegetables?
• Grilled Baked Potato is a grilling side staple
• Bacon Wrapped Asparagus is terrific if you’re feeling a little more adventurous
• Put some fresh herbs to use with our flavor packed Grilled Corn Salad

Imagine biting into a tender, juicy and delicious pork chop with amazing flavor. The perfect easy dinner recipe that you’ll always come back to! If you love this marinade, then check out or chicken marinade too.

More Pork Chop Recipes!

• You can also use this pork chop marinade for these Grilled Boneless Pork Chops
• Smoked Pork Chops are a great option if you want to switch it up with a dry rub
• Add a little sweetness to supper with Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops
• Sheet Pan Parmesan Pork Chops are a great choice if you need supper on the table in 30 minutes
• Feeling daring? Try our Greek Chicken Marinade next time you’re firing up the grill for pork chops. The lemon juice adds a great burst of flavour.