Nothing adds flavour to a pork chop like a good marinade! These Grilled Pork Chops are infused with bright lemon flavours and plenty of garlic.
Terrific to throw on the BBQ โ of pan fry them if itโs not grilling season. They brown nicely on the outside and are extra juicy on the inside thanks to the marinade!
Grilledย Pork Chops โ Marinade
This lemon garlic marinade is SO GOOD with grilled pork chops โ though also excellent with chicken and lamb so Iโve have notes for marinating times and cooking directions for those too.
This marinade is a little different to most that I share in that thereโs a very high ratio of lemon juice in it. Which means if you leave it for too long, it starts to โcookโ the pork โ in the same way citrus juices (lemon and lime) is used to โcookโ raw fish to make ceviche without going near the stove.
On the plus side, the super marinating strength of lemon juice means that unlike most marinades, you donโt need to leave it overnight for it to work its magic โ even 1 hour is long enough!
How long to marinate pork chops?
1 hour minimum โ youโll be surprised how much flavour gets infused in such a short time!
3 hours is ideal;
Up to 24 hours is the absolute max โ beyond this,ย the surface texture of the pork turns white which is due to the acid in the lemon juice โcookingโ the pork.
Pork Chop Marinade Ingredients
Here are the ingredients required for this simple but highly effective marinade for pork chops:
Fresh garlic
Dried oregano
Lemon juice and zest (zest is where you get the most lemon flavour, the juice is mostly just sour)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Itโs ideal grilled because the high heat will sear the crust beautifully. But it can of course be cooked on the stove as well!
How long should you cook pork chops on the grill?
Cooking pork chops on the grill takes 4 minutes on the first side, then 3 minutes on the other side, followed by a 4 minute rest. This is for pork chops that are aroundย 2cm / 4/5โณ thick, 280g/9 oz each, bone in.
I cooked half of these Lemon Garlic Marinated Pork Chops on the stove (photo below) and half on the BBQ (see photo at the top). You can see the difference in the crust, simply because I get a higher heat on the BBQ.
Iโve also provided directions for how to bake these pork chops in the oven โ the only way youโll get a nice browning is to use the grill/broiler for a good 5 โ 7 minutes to brown the top side only. So the baking time is considerably reduced to cater for this.
What these grilled pork chops taste like
While thereโs a lot of lemon in the marinade, you donโt get sharp sour flavours once the pork chops are grilledย because the sharpness of the lemon is tempered once cooked, leaving you with tasty earthy lemon flavours.
And of course, you canโt miss all that garlic!!! โ Nagi xx
Try these on the side
Mrs Brodieโs Famous Potato Salad (for mayo free, try this healthier delicious Yogurt Potato Salad Dressing)
Lemon Potato Salad โ fresh and bright!
Coleslawย (also seeย mayo free, healthier Yogurt Coleslaw Dressing)
Big, fat juicy Greek Salad
Mexican Red Rice โ a fabulous seasoned rice that goes with everything!
And more pork chops recipes
Another great pork chop marinade โ my go to for all occasions!
Sticky Baked Pork Chopsย โ you probably already have everything required for the sauce!
Marinated Grilled Pork Chops
Watch how to make it
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Lemon Garlic Marinated Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
Marinade:
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tbsp dried oregano (or other herbs, Note 1)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/3 cup (85 ml) lemon juice (1 large or 2 medium lemons)
- 1/4 cup (65 ml) olive oil
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Pork:
- 4 pork chops bone in , 2cm / 4/5โณ thick about 280g/9 oz each (Note 2)
- Oil , for cooking
Instructions
- Whisk Marinade ingredients in a bowl (or ziplock bag). Add pork. Marinade for 1 hr minimum, 3 hours ideal, 12 hours max (Note 3).
- Take the pork out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking.
- Shake excess marinade off (but donโt wipe dry) and cook using preferred method. Pictured in post served with Minted Yoghurt โ see notes!
BBQ:
- Brush grills / plate with oil and heat on high until smoking.
- Place pork on grills and cook the first side for 4 minutes until it is nicely charred. Turn and cook the other side for 3 minutes. Turn the porks on their side to briefly sear the fat side (see video). Transfer to plate, rest for 3 โ 5 minutes then serve.
Stove:
- Heat skillet with about 1 tbsp oil over high heat. Add pork and cook for 1 minute, then turn DOWN slightly to medium high. Cook for another 3 minutes, then turn and cook the other side for 3 minutes. Turn the porks on their side to briefly sear the fat side (see video).
- Transfer to plate, rest for 3 โ 5 minutes then serve.
Oven:
- Preheat oven to 200C / 390F (fan forced / convection) or 220C / 430F (standard oven).
- Place oven shelf in top 1/3 of oven.
- Place pork on tray. Bake for 15 minutes, then flick to grill/broiler and grill on high for 5 minutes until the surface is nicely browned.
- Transfer to plate, rest for 3 โ 5 minutes then serve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
A new year, a new toy (for both of us).
Oh iRobot, I love you.
Hi Nagi! Super jealous of your wonderful hot weather we are in a deep freeze here in Toronto Canada, but never mind my whinning the pork chop recipe is wonderful as always no way to use the BBQ we have too much snow outsude๐ฃ I am going to use a stove top grill .
I love dozerโs expression looking at the robot VERY CURIOUSLY INTELLEGENT
AS ALWAYS CHEERS FROM US IN CANADA
Did you just used the word โintelligentโ and Dozer in the same sentence?? ๐ค
I did and j knew it would put a odd SMILE on your face๐ hats off to you for taking care of the WOODSMAN jn the dog park. โฆI look forward to updates from you on Dozer and also look forward to your always wonderful recipes ..I am tempted to visit Australia cheers and woof to Dozer too
Hi ; My daughter 18 years old has just been diagnosed with Ceoliac disease: a disorder of the small lntestine caused by sensitivity to gluten food; Do you have any gluten free recipes. Thanks KYM
Plenty! Right here โ a whole collection of them! https://discountspot.info/indexes/recipe-index/gluten-free/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Thank you very much; Time to change the way I cook. KYM
Your blog is so much fun, and a constant source of inspiration, too. Thinking of what to make for dinner has been a frustrating trial for years, so I read everything you send. I may not have made all the recipes yet, but Iโve still enjoyed all of them, and you and Dozer, too.
My sister and I are completely different, but weโre both turning into our motherโfigure that one out!
Itโs a genetic disorder we canโt avoidโฆ ๐
Dear Nagi and Dozer,
You two rock! Iโm all the way over a few thousand miles, in Northern California, USA. Weโre cold and rainy at the moment, so a BBQ grill is out of the question.
Iโm wondering if you can tell me the BEST oil to use for stove-top frying for these chops. It seems every oil Iโve tried just smokes and my wonderful chops, steaks, seafoodโฆno matter what Iโm cooking just burns to a crisp. I just invested in a good cast iron frying pan, but the oil part remains a mystery. Iโm not a bad cook, overall-just really frustrated at the mess I manage to create when my intention is gorgeous chops like you show here.
Can you help this dumb Yank? A million thanks. You inspire me.
Thank you so much! Here I thought it was something wrong with products, and I canโt tell you how many different ones I tried. Maybe aliens hijacked my heat controls-I am totally at the mercy of a non-high-end apartment model of (yes, cheaper and older) gastop stove. Iโm going to go ahead and use one of your marinade recipes and let the bird stew in it overnight, then give it all another go. I appreciate your sweet comment! This may be a good effort, finally! Cheers!
Hi Flap! No putting yourself down around here please! ๐ I use vegetable oil, it has a pretty high smoke point If you are having problems with burning, it sounds like your heat is super strong so just lower it to heat up the BBQ / stove so itโs more gradual then when you see wisps of smoke, add the meat! N x
Sugar, wonder what Dozer is thinking about that iRobot and I DO hope you both are having fun with it! I have nearly succumbed to the beastie every time it appears with a lowered price-tag on-line! My home being somewhat furniture-heavy after downsizing I donโt think the poor dear would like the continuous bumps and turns . . .Almost always marinate my meats and this recipe is well beloved . . . OK, OK, Iโll add an extra bit of lemon juice ๐ !! Some pork chops in fridge at the moment โ if I have luncheon hour later, mmh ? . . . . lovely . . .
DO IT EHA! (Both the chops AND the iRobot! ๐)
Love the pic of Dozer with the irobert.our dog and cat have a somewhat similar reaction.
Love your recipes and your approach to food!!!
New way to exercise our pets! ๐
This looks absolutely delicious and I cannot wait to try it. It looks like a nice, easy recipe that will have excellent results.
I canโt stop laughing at the picture of Dozer with the iRobot. He looks like he is trying to get in sync with it so he can attack it. LOL!!!! Oh gosh, I love that dog.
He is absolutely attacking it!! Chasing it around the house like itโs a mouse!!
I canโt wait to try these because they look absolutely amazing โ I never really cook pork chops because I find they can sometimes be quite bland so I love the idea of marinating them!
Oooh yes it makes such a difference, especially if you get lean ones! ๐ N x
Hi, this looks YUMMY! Tell me, the accompanying sauce in the 2nd photo here, is it Zatziki?
Oh dear, I should have added that in the recipe! Minted yoghurt โ will add to notes! N x
Thanks for this great recipe Nagi. Iโm in Perth and Iโve recently discovered your site. There are so many food blogs out there but I have to say yours has really captured me. The recipes are clearly easy to make and obviously delicious, the photos and videos are professional and incredibly helpful, and your recipe notes are not only comprehensive but fun to read. I think your recipes are just as good as (if not better than) a certain famous English cook whose name also begins with N! And your co-worker (the manager?) Dozer is gorgeous.
These chops look great and are on my long list of your recipes to try. Iโve made a similar marinade for lamb chops with garlic, honey, paprika, lemon juice, fresh rosemary, and olive oil.
Thanks again for your great site! Itโs a credit to you.
Rachele x
Dozer is the project manager. You know how they have a bad reputation for just strutting around and bossing people around and not doing much themselves? Thatโs HIM! ๐
Nagi! My husband loves you! Because all your recipies I make from your collection he devours! Canโt wait to try this oneโฆ. xx
Itโs all YOU!!!! I just lend a small helping hand.. ๐
We DO love our pork chops! And we have marinated them before and you are so right โ the taste is so good. Although, we have forgotten and time and left our chicken in too long. The outside started turning really white. Weโve got some gorgeous pork chops in the freezer. Weโll have to get the barbie fired up. I know this is a nosey question but I just canโt resist โ has Dozer tried to catch the iRobot? I could picture him trying to make friends with it. ๐Have a good week!!xoxo
Heโs been chasing it ALL OVER THE HOUSE!!๐
I love how fresh that looks! Canโt wait to try it ๐