Description
Juicy pork chop marinade gives your weeknight dinner an instant flavor boost with simple ingredients that make meat tender and delicious. Whisking together garlic, soy sauce, and herbs creates a quick marinade guaranteed to elevate your protein from bland to grand.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 pork chops
Flavor Enhancers:
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Base and Sweeteners:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Grab a medium bowl and thoroughly whisk ⅓ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, and ½ teaspoon onion powder until the mixture looks completely smooth.
- Transfer 4 pork chops (about 1 inch thick) into a large resealable plastic bag or shallow glass dish, then pour the entire marinade over them to ensure each chop gets thoroughly covered.
- Seal the container tightly and refrigerate your marinating chops for at least 2 hours, but no longer than 24 hours to keep the meat’s texture perfect.
- When ready to cook, remove the pork chops from the marinade and discard the remaining liquid to prevent cross-contamination.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat or your oven to 400°F, preparing to cook the chops until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
- If grilling, cook the chops for 4-5 minutes per side, creating beautiful grill marks and achieving a juicy, flavorful result.
- If baking, place the chops in a preheated 400°F oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, checking the internal temperature to ensure they’re perfectly done.
Notes
- Marinate pork chops for maximum flavor, with 4-8 hours being the sweet spot for tender, well-seasoned meat.
- Use thick-cut, bone-in chops for juicier results and deeper flavor absorption during marinating.
- For a gluten-free version, replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain the same umami profile.
- Pat chops dry before cooking to ensure a beautiful golden-brown sear and prevent steaming instead of browning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Pork
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 364 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1075 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg