A summer barbecue with chips, dip and grilled pork chops is a classic American meal. Grilling pork can be tricky, though. Pork is a meat that cannot be consumed undercooked like beef. How long you need to grill a pork chop is not clear cut, but certain methods need to be employed to ensure that the pork is cooked to perfection. Show
TemperatureRoman Rozenblyum/Demand Media The first consideration is the desired doneness. In order to properly grill a pork chop, you must have a meat thermometer. This gives you the internal temperature of the pork chop when you test it by sticking the end of the thermometer in it. According to the USDA, pork should be cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This creates a well done pork chop. Pork can safely be cooked to a temperature between 150 to 160 degrees. This leaves the pork chop slightly pink and juicy. The point of doneness is your choice, but be sure the temperature is at 150 degrees or above. ThicknessRoman Rozenblyum/Demand Media Pork chops do not come in a standard size. It is the thickness, not the weight, that makes the difference when grilling. For a half-inch-thick pork chop, it will take about five to seven minutes on direct high heat. High heat is around 450 degrees Fahrenheit on the grill. A three-quarters-inch thick pork chop will take around six to eight minutes on high heat. A 1-inch pork chop will cook in about eight to 10 minutes on direct medium heat. Medium heat on a grill is between 350 and 450 degrees. For a pork chop that is 1¼ to 1½ inches thick, sear each side for a total of six minutes on high heat, then finish grilling over medium heat for another four to six minutes. Pork Chop RecipeRoman Rozenblyum/Demand Media You will need six bone-in pork chops about 1 inch thick and a bottle of your favorite marinade. Place your pork chops in a resealable plastic bag and pour in the bottle of marinade. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Turn the bag several times and carefully work the sauce around the chops. Be gentle so the bones do not puncture the plastic bag. Place in the refrigerator for two to four hours. Remove the pork chops from the bag and throw away the bag. Grill over direct medium heat for about eight to 10 minutes. Turn the meat at least once halfway through the cooking. Remove the pork chops once the temperature reaches at least 150 degree and let the meat rest for three to five minutes before serving. This grilled pork chops recipe comes out so juicy and tender on the inside and has gorgeous, charred grill marks on the outside. In this post, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about grilled pork chops like what cut of meat to use, how to flavor it, and how to grill pork chops perfectly every time. Why Make Grilled Pork Chops?Grilled pork doesn’t have to be dry! This super juicy grilled pork chops recipe packs a ton of delicious flavor and is perfectly cooked every time on the grill. We’ll walk you through everything step-by-step in this “how to grill pork chops” post. Why make this grilled pork chops recipe?So juicy: these marinated grilled pork chops are seriously so juicy and flavorful. Perfectly cooked every time: we’ll teach you how to grill pork chops perfectly every time without over or undercooking them! High protein: Per serving, you get grilled pork chops pack in 48g protein. What is a Pork Chop?Pork chops are sliced cutlets from pork loin. They are a leaner cut of pork with some fat marbling that come pre-portioned. You can either buy pork chops bone-in or boneless pork chops. They come in varying thicknesses and are widely available at most U.S. grocery stores. What kind of pork chops do I need for grilling pork chops?This grilled pork chops recipe calls for a thicker, bone-in pork chop. We recommend going to your local butcher or the meat counter at your local grocery store and asking for 2 lbs. thick-cut bone-in pork chops. We used 4 pork chops in this recipe. So each one weighed about 1/2-lb. Cuts of PorkNot sure where all the different cuts of pork come from on the pig? We made it easy. Check out more details on everything pork in our favorite pork recipes round up! Learn MoreHow to Flavor Grilled Pork Chops for GrillingThere are two main ways that you can flavor pork chops for grilling –> marinades (which we used in this recipe) or dry rubs. Marinades: a marinade is like a flavor bath for your pork. It infuses the meat with delicious flavors and leaves your pork extra juicy. In this recipe, we’re using our go-to pork chop marinade (more on that below). Dry Rubs: dry rubs are a great way to add amazing texture to the outside along with intense flavor. If you’d rather use a dry rub for this recipe, we recommend our Pork Rub. It’s sweet, savory, and a little smokey. It’s made with black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and a little cinnamon. PS: if you want ultra-tender chops, feel free to use our pork chop brine. Best Grilled Pork Chop MarinadeWe absolutely love marinating pork because it really does infuse the entire piece of meat with juicy flavor. Our go-to grilled pork chop marinade recipe is sweet, and salty and does wonders for flavoring your chops! Here’s what you need:
All you have to do is combine all of this in a large bowl and you’re ready to marinate your pork! #1 tip for perfect marinated pork chopsLet. Them. Sit. We recommend letting your pork chops marinate for 12-24 hours. Trust us, the longer they sit the better. If you’re short on time, make sure to marinate no less than 2-4 hours. FAQHow long should you cook pork chops on the grill? Grill pork chops over medium/high heat over direct heat for 6-8 minutes on each side. How do you keep pork chops from drying out on the grill? The way to keep pork chops from drying out on the grill is to cook them over direct medium high heat. You want to make sure you cook them quickly so that they sear on the outside and stay nice and juicy on the inside. How long should you grill 1 inch pork chops? 1-inch pork chops should take around 12-14 minutes at around 400ºF. How to Grill Pork Chops – Step by Step
Note: check out our grilled pork chops temperature guide below. You’ll see that we’re recommending taking the meat off the grill 5ºF lower than your preferred doneness. As pork rests, it will continue to cook around 5ºF. Pork Chops Internal TemperatureThe best way to know if your pork chops are done is by measuring the internal temperature. Everyone likes to eat their pork chops slightly differently. Some like it well done and some like it medium-rare. So, below you will find internal temperatures corresponding to doneness:
Remember to always let your pork chops rest for at least 5 minutes after removing them from heat so they can continue to rise in temperature by 5ºF. Try it! Thermoworks ThermapenWe swear by using a meat thermometer when cooking any cut of meat. The Thermapen is our go-to meat thermometer that works every time. Buy NowWhat kind of grill should I use?Both a charcoal grill and a gas grill will work for this recipe. Just make sure to keep consistent heat of 400ºF or medium high heat. Can I use a grill pan instead?Feel free to cook your pork chops on a grill pan over a burner that is set to medium/high heat. Follow the recipe as written. Do note that your house might get a little smokey! What to Serve with Grilled Pork ChopsLooking for some simple grilled sides to pair with your chops? Check out some of our favorite ones below!
StorageOur biggest tip when storing grilled pork chops is to let them cool completely before refrigerating. So, let it cool, transfer leftovers into an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. TUTORIALS How to Grill Your Favorite Meat
More of our Favorite… Pork Chop Recipes
4.23 from 9 votes Juicy Grilled Pork ChopsThese grilled pork chops are sweet and savory and so juicy all thanks to an easy grilled pork chops marinade! Learn how to grill pork chops perfectly every time with this delicious recipe. Prep:4 hours Cook:16 minutes Total:4 hours 16 minutes Fat 9 Carbs 13 Protein 48 Yield: 4 1x2x3x Print Pin Rate Ingredients
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