Tired of dry and flavorless pork chops? Let’s fix that with this easy pork chop marinade. This simple pork recipe adds a depth of savory herbs, acid, and richness to tenderize the meat and lock in flavor. Say goodbye to dull and hello to delicious.
Table of Contents
When it comes to pork chops, a lot of people think they are dry and bland. But we think there are two reasons for that, overcooking the pork (past 145 degrees F) and not using something as simple as a delicious pork chop marinade. So we worked out the perfect quick and easy recipe that adds a layer of flavor so that you can whip up easy grilled pork chops you’ll love.
As far as easy recipes go, we’re convinced that whether you’re marinating chicken to throw on the grill, or using a steak marinade on a tough cut of beef to make it tender, this is the best way to add depth to almost any cut of meat.
Why marinate pork chops?
Marinating pork chops is an easy technique that elevates flavor, tenderness, and juiciness. Ideal for grilling, baking, or pan-frying, it imparts deep tastes and aromas by infusing a blend of herbs, spices, oils, acids, and seasonings. This process also tenderizes through natural enzymes. It helps the meat retain more moisture for more succulent bites.
Ingredients
Nothing about this simple marinade recipe is meant to be fussy or complicated. We use simple ingredients to balance oil, acid, herbs, and umami.
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Oil – We use a mix of neutral cooking oils for marinades. Canola and Avocado are our favorites. We avoid olive oil because it can have a strong, distinct flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce – You can use soy sauce or coconut aminos as substitutes.
- Champagne or red wine vinegar
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Fresh rosemary – thyme or dill are also great additions to this pork marinade.
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
It’s easy to customize to your favorite flavors with different herbs and spices. Feeling zesty, add some cumin and lime juice. A tablespoon of Dijon mustard can even boost this, depending on what pork chop recipe you’re making and its flavor profile. If you want something more herbal, add dill and rosemary. Add Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes. This basic pork chop marinade recipe can be tweaked to become your go-to method for adding tons of flavor to juicy pork chops for fast meals.
How to marinate pork chops
This is the best pork chop marinade when you want easy meals. If you pop your marinated pork chops in the fridge before work, you can whip up an easy dinner on even the most busy weeknight.
- Mince the garlic.
- Then, simply whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Pour the marinade over your raw pork chops and store in a resealable bag or air-tight container in the fridge until you’re ready to grill. If using a bag, leave a bit of the top unsealed. Then, gently press as much air out as possible before sealing completely.
- When ready to grill, remove the pork from the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels before placing it on the grill grates. Any excess marinade can cause flare-ups, so it’s best to remove as much as possible.
- Follow our recipe for grilled pork chops or thick pork chops in the air fryer for an easy dinner idea! It’s great for bone-in or boneless pork chops. This marinade is also perfect for pork loin, or grilled pork tenderloin or even oven roasted pork tenderloin.
Girl Carnivore expert recipe tips
- Marinate the pork in a resealable Ziploc bag or glass container. Avoid metal pans and trays, as the acid in the marinade can react with the metal, causing additional undesired flavors.
- Always store marinating pork in the refrigerator.
- If you add sugars to the marinade, remember that it can help with nice grill marks and add a little sweetness but also can burn when the sugars caramelize on the heat of the grill pan or cast iron skillet. Use sparingly.
- Pork is best when cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, which may result in a slightly pink center. Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure accuracy.
Recipe FAQs
Pork chops should be marinated for at least 30 minutes, but it’s best to marinate them for 2 hours and a maximum of 8 hours.
No, you do not need to prick the pork chops with a fork or knife.
No, discard any marinade that has had contact with raw meat. To use the marinade for basting, reserve some of it before adding the pork chops.
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A well-marinated pork chop can truly elevate your grilling experience. The right combination of flavors, like in this pork chop marinade recipe, can tenderize the meat and add a delicious depth that will have everyone coming back for seconds. The next time you know you want an easy dinner, don’t forget to take the extra step of marinating your pork chops beforehand – it’s sure to take your meal to the next level of flavor!
Pork Chop Mariande
Ingredients
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 1 cup Oil neutral cooking oils like Canola or Avocado
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce or Soy sauce, coconut aminos as substitutes
- 1 tbsp Champagne vinegar or red wine vinegar, balsamic or apple cider
- 2 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- Fresh rosemary Thyme or dill are also great additions
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Smash the garlic.
- Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Pour the marinade over your raw pork chops and store in a resealable bag or air-tight container in the fridge. Marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
- When ready to grill, remove the pork from the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels before placing it on the grill grates. Any excess marinade can cause flare-ups, so it’s best to remove as much as possible.
Notes
- This marinade is great for any type of pork chop: boneless or bone-in pork chops, pork porterhouse steaks, pork loin, and even pork tenderloin.
- Pork is best marinated for at least 2 hours and up to 8. But even 30 minutes will help infuse a little extra flavor.
- If you add sugars to the marinade, remember that it can help with nice grill marks and add a little sweetness but also can burn when the sugars caramelize on the heat of the grill pan or cast iron skillet. Use sparingly.
- Pork is best when cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, which may result in a slightly pink center. Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure accuracy.
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You can use a variety of herbs and spices to change the flavor profile of this marinade like:
- Cumin, cilantro, and lime juice
- Italian spices and red pepper flakes
- Thyme, dill and Dijon mustard
Nutrition
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This was killer!! I really liked this marinade. I doubled the recipe so that after grill marks, I used the fresh marinade to use as a glaze!!
So Tasty 🤤🤤🤤😋😋😋