A great pork chop marinade that will make your pork extra juicy with a terrific savoury flavour and a gorgeous caramelised crust without overpowering the natural flavour of pork. Even 1 hour of marinating makes a remarkable difference!
Just a great pork chop marinade
You know when something hits the pan and it smells so great than even if it’s the first time you’ve made that recipe, you know it’s going to be a winner? This is one of those. 🙂
Plus, the added bonus is that there is a very good chance that all the ingredients are already in your pantry. Checklist:
soy sauce
brown sugar
mustard
garlic
pepper
Worcestershire Sauce (I never spell that right first go! Thank you auto correct).
Soy sauce is the secret ingredient
“Soy sauce?”, I hear some of you think, dubiously.
YES. Soy sauce. NO it doesn’t make this the least bit Asiany (no matter how I spell it, auto correct does not like that word!). It’s a brine that injects the pork with juiciness and it’s better than the basic salt + water brine because it’s got more flavour to it.
If you’ve never tried a soy sauce based brine for a protein before, I think you’re going to be very pleasantly surprised. Watch the video below the recipe – the end when I press down on the pork chop to show how juicy it is. That’s courtesy of the soy sauce!
I’m sharing this Pork Chop Marinade because I got all excited that I finally got a new BBQ. Living by the ocean means that anything that resides outdoors has a limited life and my current BBQ looks like an abandoned burnt out car.
While it’s terrific seared on the grill, it is of course great pan fried as well which is how I usually make it.
If you’re BBQ-ing, try it this Lemon Potato Salad and a garden salad with French Dressing, and have a browse for more Grilling Ideas.
If it’s winter where you are, try this One Pan BAKED Vegetables and Rice – you’ll love the seasoned rice! – Nagi xx
More great pork chop marinades & rubs
Or use the marinades from these recipes for pork: Lime Chicken, Greek Chicken Gyros, Chicken Shawarma
Try these on the side
My favourite back-pocket marinades
These are the ones I use over and over again, made with pantry staples with lots of sub options!
Watch how to make it
Recipe video for this great Pork Chop Marinade! Don’t miss the end when I show how juicy the chops are…
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A Great Pork Chop Marinade
Ingredients
- 4 bone in pork chops, 2 cm / 4/5″ thick about 280g/9 oz each (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp oil
Marinade:
- 1/3 cup (85 ml) soy sauce (light or all purpose, not dark)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place Marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag. Massage to combine.
- Add chops. Massage to coat in the Marinade. Marinate for 1 – 24 hours. (Note 2)
- Take the chops out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking.
- Brush BBQ grill or drizzle oil in pan, heat on medium high. Add pork and cook for 4 minutes or until the underside is caramelised and the pork releases from the grill, then turn the chops and cook for 3 minutes (Note 2 for thin chops).
- Baste both sides with residual marinade in ziplock bag, then cook the basted side for 30 seconds before serving. The chops should have a great crust
- Transfer chops to a plate, cover loosely with foil. Rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes:
* Thin chops: 1.25 cm/ 1/2″ thick – 1 hr+
* Thick chops 2 cm / 4/5″ thick – 3 hrs+ COOK TIME for just white (juicy, no pink, reduce by 1 min for hint of blush):
* Thin chops – 3 minutes first side, 2 minutes second side, then 30 seconds on each side for basting.
* Thick chops – 4 minutes first side, 3 minutes second side, then 45 seconds on each side. If your chops are thicker than the Thick Chops, then I’d recommend starting on the stove and finishing in the oven at 180C/350F until the internal temperature is 145F / 63C. 3. Troubleshooting / tips: Once you put the chops on the BBQ, DON’T TOUCH IT! Once it is cooked, it will release naturally from the grills. If it sticks, it’s not ready to turn. If your chops are cooking too quickly and start to burn because of the sugar in the marinade, turn the heat down. Remember, these chops are meant to have a gorgeous chargrilled crust! 4. CRISPY POTATO ROSTI recipe (pictured on the side of the chops) – by reader request, here’s an abbreviated form of the recipe: 2 large brushed (Sebago) potatoes (US: use russet), peeled and grated using a box grater. Grab handfuls and squeeze out excess liquid or do this using a dish towel (clean!). Place in bowl, sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tbsp butter + 1 1/2 tbsp oil (I use olive) in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add dollops of potato, spread into pancake shape about 12 cm / 4.5″ wide, 0.75 cm / 1/4″ thick. Press down to compact into rosti, cook for 3 minutes or until deep golden brown. Flip and repeat. Drain on paper towels, repeat with remaining potato, should make 8. Originally posted August 2017, photos replaced in May 2018, some tidying up done in February 2019, no change to recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
This is what a doggie smile looks like!
Since I live in Apartments I’m not allowed to grill outside. I used my George Foreman grill and they turned out super delicious. Thanks for this excellent recipe.
That’s wonderful to hear David! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x ❤️
We throughly enjoyed your recipe..you nailed it!!
I’m so pleased to hear that Michele! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it – N x ❤️
Nagi,
What a delicious marinade. My pork chops were sweet, sticky, dark (hubby and me hate pale food) and sooooo so good that I had to make them two days in a row because they were finger-licking good!
This was so easy and I had all the ingredients which made me very happy. Definitely adding to the meal schedule and they will appear often.
Thank you!
That’s so great to hear Mary! I’m so glad you enjoyed it – N x ❤️
Thank you Nagoya a delicious marinade.
That’s terrific Brent! Thanks for letting me know! N x ❤️
What do you think about replacing the soy sauce with either liquid amino’s or coconut amino’s?
I’m not sure, sorry Tom, I am not familiar with amino’s
I used liquid aminos instead of the soy sauce and it turned out so juicy and tender! My husband couldn’t stop complementing me! This is an amazing marinade. Thank you. I rate it a 10!
That’s so great to hear Helen! Thanks for letting me know – N x ❤️
This recipe was lovely . Next time I might use only one tablespoon of sugar as it was a little sweet.
I’m so happy you enjoyed this Rose! Yes definitely reduce the sugar if you want – N x ❤️
if i don’t have Worcestershire, what is the closest substitute ?
As weird as this sounds, Chinese oyster sauce is. It won’t taste Chinesy, it has a similar savoury flavour 🙂 N xx
I’m curious why you can’t use dark soy sauce for this recipe? Would it work if you just used less?
Hi Matthew! It’s because dark soy sauce has a stronger flavour than light and all purpose, it would dominate the flavour. If you want a stronger soy sauce flavour, by all means go ahead! N x
I made these tonight. Marinated them too long so they were black looking and a little over powering, but still great! My husband and kids ate them all up!
I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed this Katie! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know – N x
This recipe was great. I cooked mine up on a cast iron today but I can’t wait to try it on our grill. This is a definite keeper! Thank you!
Thank you for the review Sammie, it’s so terrific to hear you enjoyed this! N xx
Nagi, I have told you before that I love love love your recipes! I just tried the marinated pork chops recipe you posted awhile ago and it is utterly and indubitably scrumptious and melt in your mouth goodness. All you followers- you gotta try it!!!!
Thanks for the great review Jean-e! I’m SO pleased to hear you enjoyed it! N xx
Nagi, hands down the best pork marinade. So delicious. Will be go to for pork chops. Thanks.
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for the great review Steven! N xx
I just wanted to take a moment to say I luv getting your emails with comments and cooking instructions. Thanks for making it easy. This looks great and I look forward to trying the recipe!!
Hi Lynn, I’m so pleased you enjoy my recipes and stories! Thank you for taking the time to message me 🙂 N xx
Could you subsitute the dijon mustard for something? My husband is allergic..
Hi Kerryn! Just skip it, will still be terrific! 🙂 N xx
We thoroughly enjoyed these tonight (16th) for my husband’s birthday. Thanks, Nagi!
That’s so great to hear Wynn! Thanks for letting me know – N xx
This was fantastic, i used Prok strips and counted the calories!
http://www.vcalorie.com.au/caloriesin/pork-strips-as-purchased-raw/
great meal within my calories
xoxo Sarah
Ohhhh! I love hearing that Sarah, thanks for sharing that! N xx
Thanks Nagi. Marinate is good idea, haven’t tried with soy but will give it go. Have you had chance to test your BBQ yet? Dozersure having good work out, is he doing one round for You! Ha, ha..why Not? He does have good heart.!
Not yet! It got assembled yesterday, I need to get my deck organise and get rid of the other one, I can’t WAIT to fire it up this weekend! N xx
Only marinaded the porkchops I had for about an hour and they were still amazing! Enjoyed by the whole family hot off the grill 😊
That’s great to hear Stephanie! Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback! N xx
Okay , do you have a camera on me so that you can see what I take out of the freezer for dinner. I have just taken out some thick pork chops, go to check my emails and BAM this recipe is there LOL.
I will be marinading for sure.
I LOVE hearing that. 😎 N x
Hi Nagi well I feel like a donkey right now ,since about 3 o’clock perth time I have been clicking in on and off looking for your new recipe,the last hour I was getting quite annoyed that your recipe hasn’t gone to print yet when I suddenly remembered it’s only Tuesday my goodness did I feel silly.definatley old timers setting in.I will wait until tomorrow night now and look again ha ha Does anyone else have these days.please say yes lol.Rhonda.
P.s. Could not rate recipe here as I haven’t tried it yet but it looks yumm
Ba ha ha!!! You may have been right even if it was actually Wednesday because I am sometimes late!! 🙂 N xx
Love recipes where I have all the ingredients! And these flavours are fantastic – thanks!
ME TOO!!!! 😂