Perfect Pork Chop Marinade

This marinade guarantees succulent, flavorful pork chops that are always tender and juicy.

How to Marinate Your Pork Chops

Below, you'll find a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions, but here's a quick rundown of the basics:

Ingredients for Pork Chop Marinade

Prepare this easy pork chop marinade with olive oil, garlic, dark brown sugar, lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, dried thyme, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, white wine vinegar, mesquite seasoning, dried parsley, kosher salt, and black pepper.

Pro Tip: For larger portions, increase the amount of marinade accordingly.

Marinating Time for Pork Chops

Refrigerate the pork chops and marinate for 6 to 8 hours for the best flavor and tender results every time.

Grilling Marinated Pork Chops

Here's how to grill your marinated pork chops:

1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and lightly grease the grate.
2. Grill the chops, turning them until they are golden brown on both sides and just a little pink in the center, approximately 8 minutes per side. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness – it should read 145°F (63°C) in the center. Let the chops rest for 5 minutes before serving.

How to Handle Leftover Marinade

Though you might be tempted to reuse the marinade, it's not safe. After coming into contact with raw meat, the marinade could harbor harmful bacteria that can cause illness, so discard it properly.

Don't let that delicious marinade go to waste! By boiling it for a few minutes, you can make it safe to eat. The process also thickens the liquid, turning it into a rich sauce that pairs perfectly with your freshly grilled pork chops.

Dinogo Community Tips and Feedback

“This was fantastic,” says LaurieC. “I used a pork tenderloin and then simmered the marinade to create a sauce. I’ll definitely make this again!”

“I love this marinade,” shares Elaine. “So many amazing flavors in one recipe. It’s definitely my go-to. The only tweak I made was swapping in Cajun seasoning for the mesquite seasoning.”

“Delicious,” comments Victoriaren. “I served this at a large dinner party and got rave reviews. I used thick-cut bone-in pork chops and grilled them over charcoal. The marinade's flavor was perfect—subtle yet unique.”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients List

• 2 large pork chops

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped

• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard

• 2 teaspoons dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon mesquite-flavored seasoning

• ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Prepare all the ingredients.

Place the pork chops on a flat surface. Carefully slice horizontally through the center, ensuring you don't cut all the way through. Open the two halves and lay them flat, like a book opening.

In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, brown sugar, lemon juice, mustard, thyme, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mesquite seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture into a large resealable plastic bag.

Add the pork chops to the marinade, ensuring they're fully coated. Remove any extra air from the bag, seal it, and refrigerate. Let the chops marinate for 6 to 8 hours.

From the Editor

Nutrition Facts (per serving)