Make juicy tender grilled pork chops perfectly every time in just a few simple steps.
There are just a couple of simple tools, cook times, and tips you need to know and use to make perfect grilled pork chops. and I’ll show you how with this Pineapple grilled pork chop recipe! Printable recipe card below. Serves 6 (Serve this with BBQ Baked beans!)
How to Make Tender Grilled Pork Chops
Grilled pork chops are made tender and perfect with dry rub seasoning, a grill, and an instant-read meat thermometer.
Season Pork Chops
Give yourself a little time to get your pork chops seasoned well. Mix your dry rub seasoning in a small bowl. Use 2 tablespoons of avocado oil or olive oil all over your pork chops, and rub seasonings all over them.
Place your seasoned pork chops in a 9×13 pan, or in a zip lock bag, and cover them with pineapple juice and 1/4 cup soy sauce. Then, let them marinate on the kitchen counter for at least 30 minutes. (Marinating longer is better for more flavor… I like to give them at least an hour in the marinate, or overnight!)
Dry Rub Seasonings
You can use your favorite premixed dry rub marinate here, but I like this one really well with the pineapple flavor. In a small bowl combine:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Pro Tip
Why marinate on the kitchen counter? I suggest marinating for 30 minutes to an hour on the kitchen counter because then your pork chops can come to room temperature before grilling them!
Grilling meat that has come to room temperature helps it to cook faster and evenly. However, if you are marinating longer, place chops in the fridge, and take them out 30 minutes to an hour before grilling!
Grilled Pork Chops Ingredients
- 6 thick bone-in pork chops.
- 2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil.
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- The juice from 1 can of pineapple rings. (Grill the pineapple rings along with your pork chops for a sweet treat that everyone loves!)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
Tools You Will Need
A gas or charcoal grill
Charcoal for charcoal grills
Long Tongs or a long BBQ Fork to place meat and turn on the hot grill.
*An Instant Read Meat Thermometer!!! – This is the most important tool for perfect pork chops!
Marinating pan or bag
A large serving plate.
Hungry humans!
Heat The Grill
You can either use a gas grill or a charcoal grill for making perfect pork chops.
Gas Grill – Light your gas grill to preheat on high and bring the temperature up to 350 to 400 degrees F., this should take about 10-15 minutes.
Charcoal Grill – Charcoal grills are the best way to grill pork chops… I love the smell of the charcoal and the complex flavor that the charcoal imparts to the pork chops!
Charcoal grills require more time and effort than a faster gas grill, but the finished pork chops are worth your while! If you are using a charcoal grill prep your charcoal getting your BBQ nice and hot.
How Long To Cook Pork Chops On The Grill
Place pork chops on HOT grill grates to get those pretty grill marks, then move them to indirect heat for a medium-heat to medium-high heat cooking temperature.
Grill pork chops for a cooking time of 5 to 7 minutes on each side WITH THE LID CLOSED, till the meat thermometer reaches your desired doneness.
*For tender juicy pork chops grill to 145 degrees F internal temperature in the thickest part of the meat.*
Keep in mind that thick pork chops will take a bit longer than thin pork chops to cook to 145 degrees F for the best pork chops.
Pork chops are lean meat with little fat inside for moisture, so if you let them get to 160 degrees F., or above, the meat will be dryer and tougher.
Cooking Time
For best results cook thick-cut pork chops for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until the instant-read meat thermometer reads 145 degrees in the thickest portion of meat.
Pro Tips for Perfectly Cooked Pork Chops
Top 4 tips for perfect grilled pork chops:
1 – Thicker Pork Chops are Better!
Pork chops are a leaner cut of meat making them easy to overcook. BUT… thicker pork chops are a little more forgiving! If you can find double-cut pork chops get those. They should be at least 1.5 inches thick.
2 – Marinate or Brine Your Chops!
Marinating or brining your pork chops will help keep them moist while grilling, and it adds flavor to the meat!
3 – Don NOT overcook.
Check your instant-read meat thermometer often. For thin-cut and quick-cooking loin and rib pork chops, be super careful not to overcook them because it will dry out your meat. Cook to 145-155 degrees F internal temperature on an instant-read thermometer, then let them rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
4 – Go for bone-in Pork Chops!
The bone in bone-in pork chops helps to protect them from overcooking. Plus, the bone has some fat around it that makes pork chops juicier and tastier!
Buying Pork Chops
This recipe is for double-cut pork chops that are about 1.5 inches thick. You can choose between bone-in pork chops or boneless pork chops, but bone-in pork chops have extra flavor from the bone and it also helps keep your meat moist!
The bone looks beautiful in the final product and it’s also a bit more affordable! But you can make tender grilled pork chops with bone-in or boneless chops… I just prefer bone-in for flavor.
You will find There are 5 types of pork chops at the grocery store:
- Rib chop – also called center-cut rib chops. These chops are tender and great for grilling! They have a little more fat on them than loin chops do and the bone at the top are baby back rib bones.
- Loin chops – Also called porterhouse chop, and pork loin chops. They’re a very lean cut of pork with a mild flavor that is great for grilling, but be careful not to overcook.
- Boneless Chop – Also called pork loin filet, these are great for grilling a perfect juicy pork chop but have less flavor than bone-in chops.
- Sirloin chops – These cuts are better for slow cooking, not grilling because they have several muscles, and connective tissue in them and they cook differently.
- Shoulder chop – shoulder chops have more gristle so they don’t work as well for grilling… They need slow cooking to break down the connective tissues.
Rib chops come from the area between a pig’s shoulder and the middle of its loin. They feature a big piece of lean loin meat with some fat on the edges and a rib bone along one side.
What to Serve with Grilled Pork Chops
So many sides and desserts go perfectly with grilled pork chops. Here are just a few of my favorites:
Strawberry walnut salad – A light green salad with sweet strawberries and crunchy walnuts or pecans.
Apple Waldorf Salad – If you haven’t tried this… DO IT! Perfect side for fall grilling.
Loaded Potato Salad – Loaded with bacon, green onions, sour cream… This potato salad is divine.
Pasta Salad – Need I say more?
Soft Sourdough Rolls – These are super delicious if you have the time, get these started early in the day.
Grilled Pineapple! If you use pineapple juice from canned pineapple in this recipe… Grill the Pineapple rings for a tasty sweet treat!
Dirty Rice
BBQ Bakes Beans – The perfect BBQ side!
Deviled Eggs
Perfectly Moist Chocolate Cake for Dessert. This is a small batch texas sheet cake style cake that is super moist and perfectly chocolate with fudgy frosting.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover pork chops make a great lunch the next day! If you are lucky enough to have leftover pork chops, store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
You May Also Enjoy These Favorite Pork Recipes:
Bonston Butt Roast – Oven-roasted Boston BUtt Roast for perfect pulled pork! This is great with or without BBQ sauce!
Apricot Pulled Pork – A tantalizing spin on traditional pulled pork cooked with an apricot nectar mist and served with apricot sauce!
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