This pork chop marinade recipe ensures perfectly tender, juicy, and flavorful pork chops every time.
How to Marinate Pork Chops
You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:
Pork Chop Marinade Ingredients
Make this simple pork chop marinade recipe with olive oil, garlic, dark brown sugar, lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, dried thyme, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, white wine vinegar, mesquite-flavored seasoning, dried parsley flakes, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.
Tip: Increase the amount of marinade if cooking a larger portion.
How Long to Marinate Pork Chops
Marinate the pork chops in the refrigerator for about six to eight hours before grilling. This will result in perfectly flavorful, tender meat every time.
How to Grill Marinated Pork Chops
To grill the pork chops:
- Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
- Grill chops until nicely browned on each side and slightly pink in the center, about 8 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the chop should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
What to Do With Leftover Marinade
You may be tempted to reuse the marinade straight from the bag, but don't. A used marinade is not safe to use as-is. The bacteria from the raw meat could make you (and your dinner guests) very sick.
All that flavorful marinade doesn't have to go to waste, though: You can make it safe-to-eat by boiling the liquid for several minutes. This process will also reduce the liquid, resulting in a thick sauce that'll work well with your freshly cooked pork chops.
Learn more: How to Safely Reuse a Meat Marinade
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
“This was great,” according to LaurieC. “I used a pork tenderloin and then boiled the marinade for a sauce. Will definitely be doing this again!”
"This marinade is fantastic,” raves Elaine. “So many flavors at one time. Definitely my favorite. The only change I made was to substitute Cajun seasoning for the mesquite seasoning.”
“Delicious,” says Victoriaren. “Made this for a large dinner party and got rave reviews. I used thick-cut pork chops, bone-in, and grilled them over charcoal. The flavor from this marinade is fantastic. Not too obvious, but unique.”
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
Ingredients
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2 large pork chops
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¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
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4 cloves garlic, chopped
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3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
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2 tablespoons lemon juice
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2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
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2 teaspoons dried thyme
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1 teaspoon onion powder
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1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
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1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
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1 teaspoon mesquite-flavored seasoning
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½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
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½ teaspoon kosher salt
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½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
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Gather all ingredients.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Place pork chops on a flat work surface. Slice horizontally through the middle, being careful not to cut all the way through to the other side. Open the two sides and spread them out like an open book.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Whisk olive oil, garlic, brown sugar, lemon juice, mustard, thyme, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mesquite seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; pour into a large resealable plastic bag.
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Add pork chops, coat with marinade, squeeze out excess air and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator, 6 to 8 hours.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Remove chops from marinade and shake off excess. Discard remaining marinade.
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Cook chops on the preheated grill until nicely browned on each side and slightly pink in the center, about 8 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of each chop should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
From the Editor
The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of marinade. The actual amount consumed will vary.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 756 | Calories |
| 42g | Fat |
| 30g | Carbs |
| 62g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 2 | |
| Calories 756 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 42g | 53% |
| Saturated Fat 9g | 43% |
| Cholesterol 160mg | 53% |
| Sodium 1451mg | 63% |
| Total Carbohydrate 30g | 11% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
| Total Sugars 21g | |
| Protein 62g | 124% |
| Vitamin C 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium 87mg | 7% |
| Iron 4mg | 22% |
| Potassium 950mg | 20% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
