Easy Grilled Pork Chops
This recipe offers an effortless way to prepare flavorful grilled pork chops. It features a simple yet effective marinade of honey, vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, cumin, and red pepper flakes. After a quick 1-hour marinade, the bone-in chops are grilled to perfection, yielding a juicy, tender result with a sweet and slightly spicy caramelized exterior, ideal for a quick and satisfying meal.
Equipment
- 1 Small Mixing Bowl
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Re-sealable Plastic Bag For marinating
- 1 Grill or Grill Pan Alternatively, a large skillet can be used
- 1 Tongs For handling and flipping chops on the grill
Ingredients
Main
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Eight 1/2-inch bone-in pork chops about 3 ounces each
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Begin by making the marinade. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, oil, vinegar, cumin and red pepper flakes. Easy, right?
- Sprinkle both sides of the pork chops with salt and pepper and place in a re-sealable plastic bag with the marinade. Let rest on the counter for 1 hour. That's easy.
- Heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Remove the pork chops from the bag and lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on the grill and cook until the pork chop releases from the grill, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side for another 3 minutes. If using a grill pan, be sure to do in batches so you don't steam the chops. And don't worry if you have neither; you can do this in a pan. See, easy!
Notes
The honey in this marinade adds a lovely sweetness but can caramelize quickly and potentially burn. Keep a close eye on the chops, especially during the last few minutes of grilling. For perfect doneness, use an instant-read thermometer; pork chops are safely cooked to 145°F (63°C) for medium-rare, with a short rest. Resting the cooked chops for 5 minutes after grilling is crucial for juicy results. To enhance flavor, consider adding a clove of minced garlic or a pinch of dried thyme to the marinade. Ensure your grill surface is clean and lightly oiled to prevent sticking and achieve those beautiful grill marks.