When in doubt, make these 5 ingredients Pork Chop Marinade to add sweet, salty and garlicky flavors to your pork!
Really tasty pork chop marinade
Whether you want to make grilled pork chops, Instant Pot pork chops, or baked pork chops, it’s always a good idea to make marinated pork chops.
This pork chop marinade is sweet with brown sugar, salty with soy sauce and savory with Worcestershire sauce. All this combined with some citrus and garlic makes this delicious Pork Chop Marinade!
What is a marinade?
A marinade is essentially a flavor bath for your meat/food. When marinating pork, the longer it stays in the marinade, the more flavor penetrates the meat.
Why should you dry marinate your pork chops?
While this is really a matter of taste, we love marinating pork chops because the end result is just so flavorful, tender, and juicy. It also soaks the entire piece of meat, not just the outer layer like with dry rubs.
PS: If you prefer to use a dry rub, check out our All Purpose Pork Dry Rub. It tastes fantastic with pork chops!
What you need for a juicy pork chop marinade
This really is the best pork chop marinade. In fact, it’s also our favorite marinade for grilled pork chops because the end result is absolutely delicious!
- soy sauce: You’ll notice that salt isn’t in the ingredients list and that’s because most of it comes from soy sauce! Happy to swap for Tamari.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness to this sweet and salty marinade. Any kind works.
- Worcester sauce: I love Worcestershire sauce in marinades because it’s flavorful and hearty.
- Garlic: The garlic it contains gives the marinade real cohesion.
- lemon: A bit of citrus really is the icing on the cake!
What is the secret ingredient of this pork chop marinade? Worcestershire sauce is definitely the secret ingredient. It adds a little spice, flavor and so much flavor.
Add other flavors
Want to use what you have on hand? Feel free to use some black pepper, Dijon mustard, honey, extra virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar. All would add delicious flavors.
Fresh herbs of all kinds such as rosemary, thyme or basil would also be a delicious addition!
What Kind of Pork Chops Should I Buy?
There are so many different types of pork chops on the market – thick, thin, bone-in, boneless.
This pork chop marinade is great for any cut of pork.
In the photos in this post, we used thick-cut bone-in pork chops that we bought direct from the butcher at a local grocery store.
Where to store marinated pork chops
When marinating meat of any kind, we usually use two different vessels:
- casserole dish: If using a casserole dish, we recommend flipping the pork chops a few times to ensure everything is coated nicely. You can also use any deep pan you have on hand.
- Gallon-sized plastic bag: I prefer using a plastic bag because I find it covers more of the meat.
How long do you marinate pork chops?
When it comes to this easy pork chop marinade, the longer the better in terms of marinating time!
We recommend marinating your pork chops for 12-24 hours. However, if you are short on time, 2 to 4 hours will do.
Trust us when we say the longer the better. Your pork chops will be juicier and more flavorful the longer they rest.
How to Marinate Pork Chops (Quick Guide)
- Whisk marinade: Whisk together all of the pork chop marinade ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined.
- Transfer: Place the pork chops in a gallon-sized plastic bag or large bowl and pour the marinade over them. Press the pork chops around so they are completely covered.
- Seal: Remove and seal as much air as possible.
- Marinate: Marinate pork chops in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours, or up to 24 hours.
Ways to cook marinated pork chops
I mentioned that this is a fantastic marinade for grilled pork chops, but it can also be used in a variety of other cooking methods.
grill: Grill pork chops at 400°F (medium-high heat) over direct heat, about 6-8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked. Check out our Grilled Pork Chops recipe.
Oven: Depending on how thick your pork chops are, cook at 180°C for about 15 to 20 minutes. Check out our Oven Baked Pork Chops recipe.
instant pot: Pressure cook pork chops at high pressure for about 10 minutes. Check out our Instant Pot Pork Chops recipe.
Air Fryer: Air fry pork chops for 10 minutes at 200°C, turning halfway through. Check out our Air Fryer Pork Chops recipe.
Internal temperature of pork
According to FoodSaftey.gov, the minimum safe internal temperature of pork is at least 145° F.
Try it!
Thermoworks thermal pen
We swear by using a meat thermometer when cooking every cut of meat. The Thermapen is our go-to meat thermometer that always works.
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questions and answers
The best way to tenderize a pork chop is to either use a meat tenderizer to break up the tendons and/or use a marinade to add moisture to the meat.
You can marinate your pork chops for up to 24 hours.
The best way to soften and tenderize a pork chop is to marinate it, sear it over high heat, and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Can You Freeze Marinated Pork Chops?
This Pork Chop Marinade really is perfect for freezing! Instead of marinating your pork for the recommended 12-24 hours, pop the plastic bag straight into the freezer. Freeze up to 3 months.
Thaw the pork chops completely before cooking, then follow your preferred cooking method.
Amazing Pork Chop Marinade
A sweet and salty pork chop marinade made from just 5 ingredients. It is made with soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, garlic and Worcestershire.
Preparation:12 hours
Cook:0 protocol
In total:12 hours
instructions
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In a bowl, combine soy sauce, light brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, and lemon juice and stir until sugar is dissolved.
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Place the pork chops in a large gallon-sized plastic bag, then pour the marinade into the bag.
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Remove the air from the plastic bag and gently massage the marinade into the pork chops.
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Place the pork chops in the refrigerator and marinate for 12-24 hours, or at least 2-4 hours.
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When you’re ready to prepare your pork chops, follow your favorite cooking method, like these grilled pork chops.
nutritional information
Calories: 307kcal Carbohydrates: 13G Protein: 48G Fat: 9G Fiber: 0G Sugar: 3G
Photography: The photos captured in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.