The best pork chop marinade recipe makes your pork chops extra juicy and flavorful. Mine is a mix of olive oil, soy sauce, spicy brown mustard and more, with a touch of hot sauce for a bit of zing. Perfect for grilling, baking, broiling, however you want to cook your pork chops! And just look at that awesome crust.
Easy Pork Chop Marinade Recipe
Do you like pork chops? I do. I enjoy mine grilled or seared on the outside with a nice and juicy inside, and a good level of seasoning.
I'll cook them up in different ways - on the grill, in the broiler, baked in the oven, seared in a pan - and no matter how they are cooked, the best way to get that awesome flavor AND that wonderful juicy tenderness is with a good marinade.
The best pork chop marinade makes your chops extra juicy and flavorful. That's exactly what I have here for you, my friends. I've been experimenting with different marinades for different cuts of meat, and today I'm bringing you my favorite pork chop marinade.
The Best Pork Chop Marinade Recipe
My pork chop marinade is better than the rest, made with a mixture of soy sauce, spicy brown mustard, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, along with brown sugar, seasonings, lots of fresh garlic, and, an extra awesome ingredient - HOT SAUCE!
It adds just a touch of zing, so much better than anything from the grocery store.
This is the best pork chop marinade for grilling, baking, broiling, air frying, no matter how you want to cook your pork chops. Notice the wonderful crust on the chops when you're done, absolutely amazing.
Let's discuss how to make pork chop marinade and why using a marinade is a good thing for your chops.
Why Should I Marinate Pork Chops?
Marinating is an important flavor building component. A good marinade, like this zingy marinade, helps to add moisture to lean cuts of meat as well as tenderize the meat.
Aside from flavor and moisture, marinades can help with digestion and help to reduce carcinogens produced when cooking meats at high temperatures.
How Long Should I Marinate Pork Chops?
Marinate pork chops for at least 1 hour. However, you'll get the best flavor penetration if you marinade your pork chops for 24 hours.
You can marinate them overnight or whip up the marinade in the morning and marinate the chops throughout the day until you're ready to cook later that evening.
Even if you only have a single hour to marinate, it is worth doing it.
Pork Chop Marinade Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Soy Sauce - Key ingredients, my friends! Big flavor combination.
- Minced Garlic
- Light Brown Sugar
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Hot Sauce - Use a good Louisiana style, like Crystal or Tabasco, or use your favorite
- Spicy Brown Mustard - Dijon mustard is a good tangy substitute.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Chili Flakes
- Black Pepper
This marinade is good for four 8-ounce Pork Chops, bone-in chops or boneless chops. You can use other ingredients and seasonings, like onion powder and lemon juice, but these are my preferred ingredients.
How to Marinate Pork Chops - the Recipe Steps
Whisk the Marinade Ingredients. First, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, garlic cloves, light brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, spicy brown mustard, apple cider vinegar, chili flakes and black pepper together in a small bowl. You can also use a large sealable baggie or plastic bag.
Marinate the Pork Chops. Add your chops to the bowl or bag and submerge in the marinade. Marinate for 1 hour minimum, or up to 24 hours for the best flavor penetration.
Discard Marinade and Cook the Pork Chops. When ready to cook, remove the pork and pour the marinade out. Cook the chops however you’d like!
You have different options for cooking up your chops. Here are instructions for cooking them.
Make the Pork Chop Marinade Ahead
One question I always get is - Can I make my pork chop marinade ahead of time? Absolutely, yes. You can make the marinade the day before and refrigerate it until ready to use.
Can I Freeze This Marinade?
You can also freeze your marinade for several months until ready to use. Another trick you can use is to marinate your pork chops in freezer friendly bags, then freeze them with the marinade. They will last a few months this way.
When you're ready to cook, simply thaw, discard the marinade, and cook them up. This makes a wonderful freezer meal.
Internal Temperature for Cooking Pork Chops
No matter how you cook your pork chops, you want to cook them to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F for medium or 160 degrees F for well done.
I like to use my ThermoPop meat thermometer from ThermoWorks (I'm an affiliate). Works great! Almost there!
How to Cook Pork Chops
Oven-Baked Pork Chops
Here are some of my favorite ways to cook marinated pork chops.
For Bone-In Pork Chops / 1-inch thick:
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.
- Set the chops in a roasting dish and roast about 25 minutes, turning once half way through, until the pork reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F for medium or 160 degrees F for well done.
- Remove the chops and let rest a few minutes before serving.
For Boneless Pork Chops / 3/4-inch thick:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Set the chops in a baking dish and bake them about 25 minutes, turning once half way through, until the pork reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F for medium or 160 degrees F for well done.
- Remove the chops and let rest a few minutes before serving.
Grilled Pork Chops
For pork chops 3/4 inch thick marinated in grilled pork chop marinade:
- Heat your grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates.
- Add the chops to the grill and cover. Grill for 3-4 minutes.
- Flip the chops and grill another 1-2 minutes. Get those nice grill marks!
- Reduce the heat to medium-low (or, if using charcoal, move the chops to less direct heat) and continue to grill another couple minutes, until the minimum internal temperature of the pork reaches 145 degrees F for medium or 160 degrees F for well done.
- Remove the chops and let rest a few minutes before serving.
Pan-Seared/Sautéed Pork Chops
For pork chops 3/4 inch thick marinated in pork chop marinade:
- Heat a bit of oil in a pan to medium-high heat.
- Add the chops to the sauté for 4-5 minutes per side.
- Continue to sauté another couple minutes, until the pork reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F for medium or 160 degrees F for well done.
- Remove the chops and let rest a few minutes before serving.
Try my air fryer pork chops recipe. Awesome!
NOTE: This pork marinade works for any cut of pork, not just pork chops. Use it as a pork loin marinade, pork shoulder marinade, or any of your favorite cuts of pork.
That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy your pork chops! Let me know how you wind up making them!
Cookbook Recommendation
If you enjoy spicy cooking, I hope you'll check out my cookbook! 75 easy recipes with big, bold flavor.
- The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Recommended Product
Snake River Farms Kurobuta pork chops are exceptionally juicy and full of savory pork flavor. All our pork chops are 100% Berkshire, a heritage breed recognized for abundant marbling and striking pink color.
Buy Kurobuta Pork from Snake River Farms (affiliate link, my friends!)
Try your chops with any of these awesome bbq sauces!
BBQ Sauces for Pork
Try Some of My Popular Pork Chop Recipes
Try Some of My Other Great Marinade Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Perfect Pork Chop Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 4-5 garlic cloves minced
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce Use a good Louisiana style, like Crystal or Tabasco, or use your favorite
- 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- FOR COOKING: 4 eight ounce Pork Chops bone-in or boneless
Instructions
- Whisk all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. You can also use a large sealable baggie or plastic bag.
- Add your pork chops to the bowl or bag and submerge in the marinade.
- Marinate for 1 hour minimum, or up to 24 hours for the best flavor penetration.
- When ready to cook, remove the pork chops and discard the marinade. Cook the chops however you’d like!
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 6/26/2023 to include new information and photos. It was originally published on 7/24/2019.
Lavina Datwani says
Such a brilliant and comprehensive guide for different methods for cooking pork chops of different thickness! The marinade sounds incredibly flavorful and delicious! Love it!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Lavina! And nice and SPICY, too! Just the way we love it! =)
Bill says
Not on the topic here, but I just wanted to compliment you on your website, your recipes, and, most importantly, your scrupulous attention to identifying affiliate websites. It speaks well of you! Keep on rockin'...and burnin'!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Bill! I truly appreciate it.
Dan says
Outstanding! Did thick bone-in rib chops. Great flavor. Basted with extra marinade while grilling. Left out the chill flakes and would be fine for the non spicy crowd. Would make great wings too!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome! Yes, great for wings for sure. Glad you enjoyed it!
Cassie says
I’m going to make the marinade today and cook chops tomorrow. I’m curious if I could freeze fresh chops in the marinade to be used at a later date?Thanks!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I hope you enjoy it, Cassie. Yes, you can freeze the pork chops in the marinade. Not sure how it might affect the texture, but I don't see why you couldn't. Let me know how it turns out if you do.
Nicky says
Has anyone cooked down the excess marinade for a pan sauce? If so did you add anything extra and what sides did you serve with it?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nicky, I have not, but curious if you try it! I'd love to hear!
Lisa Dyrda says
I am always looking for easy recipes for my husband to throw on the grill for when I work nights. I made this marinade the day before so the pork chops were marinating for 24 hours. They were so flavorful and delicious! I definitely will not ever eat plain pork chops again! Thanks for sharing this recipe! So good!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Lisa! Super happy you enjoyed it!
Sheri says
Holy Toledo best marinade ever!! Thanks so much for sharing
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Sheri! Yes! I agree, we LOVE this marinade. So good! Glad you enjoyed it.
Debbie Kemp says
Can you make this marinade and put in a plastic bottle and use when you need it and how long will it last in refrigerator if you can
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Debbie, yes, it will last at least a week in the refrigerator, possibly longer with the vinegar. Enjoy!
Liz says
So delicious. I only marinated my pork chops for 2 hrs, yet they were still pretty tender. Served with broccoli & red pepper pasta stir fry. Thank you!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Liz! Sounds like the perfect pairing! Glad you enjoyed it.
CHARLES CALHOUN says
So I doubled this recipe to use with a 3lb. pork loin I cut into 8 one inch pieces. As you know pork loin can be blah and almost tasteless. But these were marinated about 20 hours and then grilled. Absolutely the best ever! They really didn’t need any bbq sauce because they were so flavorful. Thank you, thank you for the great recipe. Next up will be baby back ribs and I can’t wait.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Outstanding, Charles! Yeah, pork loin can be pretty blah. I swear by this pork marinade. It always delivers the flavor. Glad you loved it! Let me know the ribs turn out, too.
col says
great info re: the cooking times for various cuts and different methods. much appreciated.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Col! Enjoy your pork chops!
Harry says
Best tasting chops or steaks have the bone in
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Agreed, Harry. I love a good bone-in chop or steak.
Art Homme says
Try this at home I use a big can of tuna Add 2 Ghost peppers 2 Hot Cherry peppers Onion celery garlic Horseradish 4 radishes and pickle relish. I make sandwiches out of this with swiss cheese I call it HOT Tuna I have made this since I was a kid. Its wonderful. Try it you wont be disappointed.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
This sounds AWESOME, Art! Definitely something for me to try! Right up my alley.