Get the 9 best Pork Chop Marinades for grilling, oven baking, air frying, and pan cooking to get the most flavorful, juicy, and tender pork chops. The easy and quick marinades make dinner simple and absolutely delicious!
Why We Love It
You’re going to LOVE these quick and delicious pork chop marinades, perfect for making simple meals super flavorful!
Marinating pork chops infuses flavor and moisture into the meat, giving you the best-tasting and juiciest chops.
All the ingredients in these pork marinades are budget-friendly and easy to find in grocery stores, and they only take a few minutes to put together. You can make just one or all nine!
So whether you’re cooking your pork chops on the grill, in the oven, skillet, or air fryer, use any of these easy pork chop marinades for the most delicious flavor.
Like my easy Salmon Marinades or healthy Chicken Marinades recipes, these marinades for pork chops are sure to go in your regular dinner rotation!
The Marinades
There are three elements to every marinade: Fat, acid, and flavor enhancers. They work together to make your meat more tender and moist while infusing flavor.
All of these pork marinade recipes jam packed with flavor and made without anything artificial, because our focus is always on flavor and real, delicious ingredients! Most can easily be customized to fit Keto or Whole30 eating plans, too!
There’s a lot of variety in the flavors, so there’s something for everyone! Now tell me in the comments, which will you make first?
- Garlic & Herb
- Double BBQ
- Honey Mustard
- Steakhouse
- Zesty Ranch
- Honey Soy
- Sweet Hawaiian
- Italian Balsamic
- Mexican Inspired
Garlic & Herb Pork Chop Marinade
This marinade is a classic! It’s bright and zesty in flavor and goes with just about any side dish, but I like to serve it with Canellini Bean Salad or a Beet and Feta Salad.
Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Garlic
- Crushed red pepper
- Dried Thyme
- Dried Rosemary
- Salt and Pepper
Double BBQ Pork Chop Marinade
If you love a lot of smokey, sweet, and rich flavor, this marinade is for you! It packs a double punch because it’s flavored with BBQ sauce and BBQ seasoning!
Serve these chops with purple cabbage slaw or my broccoli & bacon salad.
Ingredients
- BBQ Sauce. Use my sugar-free recipe or your favorite store bought sauce.
- Olive Oil
- BBQ Seasoning. Make your own BBQ seasoning or use any store bought blend.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Honey Mustard Pork Chop Marinade
The classic warm, zesty, and sweet flavors in the honey mustard marinade go perfectly with lean pork chops! Kids especially love this recipe.
I like to serve it with simple salad and sweet potato fries!
Ingredients:
- Honey
- Dijon mustard
- Apple cider vinegar
- Paprika
- Salt & Pepper
Steakhouse Pork Chop Marinade
If you love classic steakhouse flavors, this is the marinade for you! The marinade is made with deep, smokey, savory, fragrant, and rich flavors.
Serve these steakhouse pork chops with my roasted parsnip fries or dairy free mashed potatoes.
Ingredients:
- Worchesterire Sauce
- Dijon Mustard
- Brown Sugar
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
- Montreal Steak Seasoning
Zesty Ranch Pork Chop Marinade
If you love ranch as much I do, make these marinated Ranch Pork Chops! It’s zesty and herbaceous in flavor, plus it’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Serve with broccoli ranch slaw or roasted broccoli.
Ingredients:
- Ranch Seasoning. Make your own homemade ranch seasoning or use any store bought blend you like.
- Lemon juice
- Olive Oil
Honey Soy Pork Chop Marinade
This Honey Soy Marinade is fabulous on everything from pork belly to chicken, and these chops are no exception. They have the perfect sweet and savory flavor combination you’ll come back to time and time again.
They go beautifully with simple roasted vegetables and rice or any Asian-inspired side dishes!
Ingredients:
- Honey
- Soy sauce or substitute coconut aminos if you’re avoiding soy.
- Sesame oil
- Rice vinegar or substitute apple cider vinegar if that’s what you have.
- Garlic
- Optional: Add 1/2 teaspoon sriracha for a little extra heat!
Hawaiian Pork Chops Marinade
Like my Aloha Burgers, these Hawaiian pork chops are deliciously unique, and perfect for backyard cookouts and get-togethers! Inspired by a long ago anniversary trip to Hawaii, they’re flavored with sweet pineapple and tangy teriyaki sauce and always make me think happy thoughts.
I like to serve these chops with blistered shishito peppers.
Ingredients:
- Pineapple Juice. If you don’t want to buy a whole bottle of pineapple juice, you can drain the juice from canned pineapples in 100% juice and use that!
- Teriyaki Sauce. Use my soy-free teriyaki sauce recipe if you’re following Whole30 or avoiding soy.
- Garlic
- Olive Oil
- Green Onions
Italian Balsamic Pork Chop Marinade
This Italian Balsamic marinade has classically rich Italian flavors. It reminds me of my Balsamic Chicken recipe because it’s hearty without being heavy, and rich without being overwhelming.
I recommend serving these pork chops with fresh tomato bruschetta or a quinoa and arugula salad.
Ingredients:
- Italian Seasoning. Make a homemade Italian Seasoning blend or use any storebought seasoning blend.
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
Mexican Inspired Pork Chop Marinade
These Mexican-inspired pork chops are super simple, fresh, and lightly spicy! The bright flavors make these pork chops perfect for your next fiesta (even if it’s just a random Tuesday night).
Serve them with some semi-homemade air fryer tortilla chips, pickled onions, and corn salad.
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Lime Juice
- Taco seasoning. Use my homemade taco seasoning recipe or any store bought blend.
- Fresh Cilantro).
How to Marinate Pork Chops
- First, mix together all the marinade ingredients in a small dish.
- Place the pork chops in a shallow glass or plastic container or bag. Do not use a reactive metal container.
- Pour the marinade onto the pork, turning it so that all sides of the meat are completely coated.
- Cover and refrigerate the pork as it marinates for 2-18 hours.
How to Cook Marinated Pork Chops
❗Important: Cook pork chops until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C), then rest for 3 minutes, per USDA. The cook time will vary slightly based on the thickness of the chops.
Grill Instructions
- Preheat your grill to 375°F (190°C). Oil the grill grates well. Allow the excess marinade to drip off of the pieces of pork.
- Set the chops on the grill, and cook for 7-9 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Set the pork chops and marinade in a baking dish.
- Place in the oven and cook for 20-22 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Air Fryer Instructions
- To cook pork chops in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Allow the excess marinade to drip off of the pieces of pork.
- Spray or brush the air fryer basket with a little oil, then carefully place the pork chops in the basket, leaving space between each piece.
- Cook for 12-14 minutes, stopping halfway to flip the pork chops, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Skillet Instructions
- Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the pork chops and brown for about 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Lower the heat and allow the pork chops to continue cooking for 4-5 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Expert Tips
- If I’m planning to cook my meat pork soon, I like to marinate meat in a casserole dish, but if I’m planning to freeze it for later, I use a large freezer-safe plastic bag.
- The pork can be frozen in the marinade. Simply seal the pork chops and marinade in a freezer-safe bag or container, then freeze for 4-6 months, per USDA. You can also double the recipe and freeze half of the pork for an easy dinner later on!
- Do not reuse marinade! Once it has been used, discard the marinade.
- To get juicy chops, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chops, and stop cooking once it reaches 145°F (63°C).
- I used boneless pork chops about 1 inch thick, but you can use thin pork chops or bone-in pork chops (just note that it will adjust the cooking time).
Recipe FAQ
Marinating pork chops infuses the meat with flavor and moisture, which makes it more tender and juicy. That means you should definitely marinate your pork chops to get the best taste!
For the best taste, marinate pork chops between 2 and 18 hours, but you can marinate pork chops for a maximum of up to 3-5 days, per USDA.
Aim for about 1/3 cup of marinade per pound of pork chops.
Marinated pork chops can be frozen, then defrosted and cooked later on. Place the pork chops and marinade in an airtight, freezer-safe container or bag, then seal, squeezing out as much air as possible. Freeze immediately. For best quality, use it within 4-6 months, per USDA. Use a freezer inventory chart to make sure you do!
If your cooked pork chops are dry after cooking, there could be a few reasons. First, don’t let the pork marinate for more than 18 hours, or the marinade will actually begin to work in reverse and make the meat tougher. Second, be sure not to overcook the pork chops. Once the internal temperature reaches 145°F, remove from the heat and allow the chops to rest for at least 3 minutes before cutting.
The best way to marinate pork chops is to mix all the marinade ingredients together in a small dish. Next, place the pork chops in a shallow glass or plastic container or bag and pour the marinade onto the pork, turning it so that all sides of the meat are completely coated. Cover and refrigerate the pork as it marinates for 2-18 hours.
Related Recipes
- French Onion Pork Chops
- Instant Pot Pineapple Pork Chops
- Air Fryer BBQ Pork Chops
- Dutch Oven German Pork & Sauerkraut
- Brown Sugar Pork Chops
I’d love to hear about your experience making this recipe!
Please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.
9 Best Pork Chop Marinades
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pork chops any kind
Garlic & Herb Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Double BBQ Marinade
- 1.5 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons bbq sauce
- 2 teaspoons bbq seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Honey Mustard Marinade
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1.5 Tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Steakhouse Marinade
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak Seasoning
Zesty Ranch Marinade
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1.5 Tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
Honey Soy Marinade
- 2 Tablespoon honey
- 1.5 Tablespoons soy sauce or substitute coconut aminos
- 1.5 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar or substitute apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Hawaiian Marinade
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons pineapple juice
- 2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 green onion diced
Italian Balsamic Marinade
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1.5 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Mexican Inspired Marinade
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1.5 Tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon cilantro minced
Instructions
Prepare the Marinade
- Add all the marinade ingredients in to small dish and mix together.
Marinate the Pork Chops
- Place the pork chops in a shallow glass or plastic container or bag. Pour the marinade onto the pork, turning it so that all sides of the meat are completely coated.Cover and refrigerate the pork as it marinates for 2-18 hours. Alternately, you can seal the bag or container and freeze the salmon in the marinade for 4-6 months, per USDA.
Cook the Pork Chops
- Grill Instructions: Preheat your grill to 375°F (190°C). Oil the grill grates well. Allow the excess marinade to drip off of the pieces of pork. Set the chops on the grill, and cook for 7-9 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Oven Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Set the pork chops and marinade in a baking dish. Place in the oven and cook for 20-22 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Air Fryer Instructions: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Allow the excess marinade to drip off of the pieces of pork. Spray or brush the air fryer basket with a little oil, then carefully place the pork chops in the basket, leaving space between each piece. Cook for 12-14 minutes, stopping halfway to flip the pork chops, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Skillet Instructions: Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and brown for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Lower the heat and allow the pork chops to continue cooking for 4-5 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Video
Notes
- Salt and pepper should be added to taste to any of the marinades. Ingredients like seasoning blends, soy sauce, etc., will already contain salt and can vary in saltiness.
- Never marinate meat in a reactive metal container. Instead, use plastic, glass, or ceramic.
- For best quality, aim to marinate meat in the refrigerator for 2-18 hours.
- Don’t reuse marinade.
- Cook pork chops until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C), then rest for 3 minutes, per USDA.
- Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the chops.
Leave a Reply