Center Cut Pork Chop Recipes Grill

How To Grill Thick

How to Make Perfect Grilled Pork Chops | The Stay At Home Chef

Has this summer been as grill-heavy for you as it has been for us? I personally have taken every chance I could to cook on the delicious grill rather than heating my kitchen to unlivable temperatures. But in all of the hubbub surrounding National Grilling Month, surely you have not forgotten the humble pork chop, have you?

I say humble, but there is nothing small or meek about big, juicy pork chops. Pork chops take well to all kinds of seasonings and flavor combinations and are far cheaper than even cheaper steak cuts. To demonstrate their versatility, today were going to discuss how to cook massively-thick double-cut pork chops on the grill.

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Recipes To Try With Thick Grilled Pork Chops

There are so many different ways you can prepare and flavor your grilled thick pork chops. While you can always simply rub the meat with salt and pepper before throwing it on the grill, marinating the pork with Goya Mojo Marinade or any other marinate recipe you like can give it a tangy, zesty kick.

Alongside your thick grilled pork chops, serve any of these yummy recipes:

How Should I Season My Pork Chops

After the pork chops are brined, theres no need to rinse them off with water simply dry them very well with paper towels. You can sprinkle on some black pepper at this point, or go with your favorite spice or spice rub. Just use a spice rub that doesnt contain salt, as youve already seasoned the chops.

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Best Grilled Pork Chops

I love grilling pork chops. Theyre a simple, yet satisfying dinner that everyone can enjoy. This recipe coats the pork chop in my Signature Sweet Rub. Its a brown sugar-based dry rub that adds a sweet and savory flavor to the chop. You can make this from scratch, or to save some time, we sell Sweet Rub from the Hey Grill Hey Store.

These chops also taste amazing with my Best Pork Chops Seasoning. You can even season half with one rub and half with the other to see which one you prefer best.

How To Make Grilled Pork Chops

Recipe For Center Cut Pork Chops On The Grill
  • Pat the Pork Chops Dry Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel to help the marinade stick better.
  • Make the Marinade In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and black pepper together.
  • Rub the Marinade Rub the marinade all over the sides of the pork chops and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Allow them to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
  • Grill the Pork Chops Grill the pork chops on high for about 5 minutes on each side of the grill grate. Pull them off the grill when the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
  • Allow the Chops to Rest Allow the pork chops to rest for 10 minutes before slicing into them. This will bring the internal temperature to 145°F and make them extra juicy.

Pro Tip: If you can, let the pork chops marinate overnight. It will take the flavor of the chops to the next level!

Pro Tip: The grilling time will depend on the thickness of the pork chops. If youre using thicker chops, they will take longer. Thinner chops will need less time.

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How To Reheat Grilled Pork Chops Without Drying Them Out

Cooked pork chops can easily become really dry when stored in the fridge, but if you use this method, you can reheat pork chops while keeping them as juicy and tender as possible.

  • Preheat your oven to 350F
  • Remove pork chops from fridge and let them sit at room temperature while the oven is preheating.
  • Add the pork chops to a foil packet along with 1/4 cup of water or chicken broth. Close tightly and place the foil packet on a baking sheet.
  • Add the foil packet of pork chops to the oven for 12-15 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and carefully open the foil packet for tender reheated porkchops.
  • What Kind Of Pork Chops Are Best For Grilling

    Personally, I prefer to grill thick, bone-in pork chops that have a lean area, with a good amount of fat all around to keep the grilled pork chop juicy. Just like rib pork chops.

    I often grill boneless pork chops since they are my husbands favorite. When I do, I purchase thick pork chops and soak them in a quick marinade or I season them with a spice rub and let them sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before cooking them.

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    Why You’ll Love These Grilled Pork Chops

    • BBQ pork chops that are JUICY are easy to fall in love with.
    • The wet spice rub is delicious and perfectly compliments the grilled chops.
    • This recipe is a summer-friendly version of my crazy popular Juicy Baked Pork Chops. If you like that one then you’ll love this one, too.
    • Unlike many pork recipes, this one is 100% sugar-free. That’s right, my friends. This is a healthy pork chop recipe.
    • These chops are so tasty that all you need to make them a meal is a simple side salad. Give it up for easy summer dinners!

    Is This A Healthy Grilled Pork Chop Recipe

    Grilled Pork Chops – Honey Garlic Pork Loin Chops Recipe on the BBQ

    Yes! Pork chops are lean meat and a healthy main dish option. They are low in saturated fat and calories and high in protein. While you’ll often find sugar added to pork chop recipes, I think it’s totally unnecessary to take a healthy cut of meat and add unhealthy sugar. The paprika and onion powder in the marinade add the perfect gentle sweetness to this recipe so there is no need for sugar.

    This recipe is low-carb, gluten-free, paleo, sugar-free, and Whole30. But most importantly, it’s delicious!

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    Tip #: Spice Things Up With A Slammin Rub

    Pork chops are fine plain, but a rub will dial up the flavor. Best part? Spice blends are easy to experiment with and customize to your liking. Start with a couple tablespoons of paprika and a teaspoon of pepper, and add your favorite herbs and spices to the mix.

    Just getting started? Follow the recipe below for a step-by-step guide to grilling tender, juicy pork chops, with tips from our Test Kitchen.

    What Cut Of Pork Chops Are Best For Grilling

    When buying pork chops, there are a lot of options since chops can be cut from different areas of the loin. The section at the front of the loin near the shoulder, called the blade end, is the fattiest cut. Rib chops are leaner and have a large, smooth section of meat. Bone-in center-cut chops have both the loin and tenderloin, and the sirloin is from the back end and has lots of muscles.

    For grilling, I like rib or center-cut chops since theyre tender and dont have too many chewy muscles. While I personally like bone-in since I like nibbling on the meat attached to the bones, boneless will work too. I always buy pork chops that are at least 1-inch thick, as thinner pork chops tend to cook too quickly before they have a chance to develop a nice crust on the outside.

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    How To Grill Boneless Pork Chops

  • Preheat the grill
  • While the grill is preheating, mix the rub ingredients together.
  • Sprinkle the chops with the dry rub and massage into meat dont forget, both sides!
  • Allow the pork chops to rest for 5 minutes.
  • Place on grill and grill 6-8 minutes per side.
  • Remove from grill when pork reaches and internal temp of 145 degrees.
  • Cover with foil, let rest 5-10 minutes serve and enjoy!
  • I know youre thinking. but Julie, is it really necessary to allow the grilled pork chops to rest before serving? Yes!! If you want tender, juicy chops allow them to rest covered in foil! Allowing the meat to rest will let the fibers of the meat relax.

    This results in that juicy, tender pork chop youre hungry for!

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    How Long Do You Cook Grilled Pork Chops

    Pork Chop Center Cut Recipe : Bone

    Pork chops that are 1 1/2 inch thick, grilled over high heat, will take approximately 15 minutes per side for a total of 30 minutes of grilling time. Reverse-seared pork chops, cooked over lower heat and then finished over a hot grill, will take closer to 1 hour.

    Regardless of the cooking method, you want to cook until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3 minute rest this is considered medium, and is the recommended safe temperature for pork chops. Some cooks are comfortable cooking their pork chops to lower temperatures, like 135 degrees Fahrenheit, which can give you more tender meat.

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    How To Grill Thick Cut Pork Chops

    1 Prepare and marinate the pork chops. Pat pork chops dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Then brush them with avocado oil or olive oil lightly. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside.

    2 Prepare the grill. Heat up your gas grill to a temperature between 350-450 degrees F. Somewhere around 400F seems to work best, though the grill may fluctuate. Make sure the heat is stable before adding the pork chops.

    3 Grill the pork chops. Because you greased the pork chops, there is no need to brush the grill grates with oil. Add seasoned pork chops to the hot grill over direct heat, then brush a generous amount of BBQ sauce on one side. Let them cook for 6 minutes, then flip over and brush the other side with BBQ sauce. Cook for another 6 minutes.

    4 Tent & Serve. Remove from the grill and add a piece of foil on top. Let the pork chops rest for 5-8 minutes before slicing and serving. Top with additional BBQ sauce if desired.

    Thermal Basics Of Grilling Pork Chops

    Pork chops come from the pork loin, the pork equivalent of the beef rib eye. If you dont see much resemblance, its because American pork is bred to be exceedingly lean, eliminating all the fatty marbling that you see in a rib eye. If you can manage to find a heritage-breed pork chop, not only are you in for a treat, but youll see that it looks like a much smaller rib eye steak.So what do the leanness and location have to do with the thermal principles of grilling a pork chop? Everything. First, note that the loin is a little-used muscle on the hog, and will, therefore, have little connective tissue. Cooking pork chops is nothing like cooking pork butt or pork steaks that come from the shoulder because you dont need to dissolve any collagen to tenderize the meat. That means you can cook them relatively quickly.

    But the leanness coupled with the lack of connective tissue means that there is not moisture reserve in the meat if you overcook it. This makes it even more critical that you hit your target temperatures, or you may be eating dry pork that will have you reaching for the jar of applesauce in your cupboard.

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    What Temperature Should Pork Be Cooked To

    Pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. This temperature will make sure the meat is safe to eat while keeping the pork moist and tender. The best way to gauge whether your pork is done is to use a thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat for the most accurate reading.

    I make these pork chops year round, theyre just that good. I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine does!

    The Taste Of Home Test Kitchen Shares Their Expert Tips For How To Grill Juicy Flavor

    How to Grill Pork Chops the Right Way | Grilling Fridays | Serious Eats

    When Im dreaming up my dinner menus, pork chops always fall to the bottom of the list. They take the back seat to favorites like flaky baked salmon or juicy grilled chicken. The reason? No matter what I do, I tend to overcook themleaving my meal dull, dry and desperate to be drenched in applesauce.

    This is a shame, because I know pork chops can make a delicious dinner thats easy on the wallet. Its time to make a change. Expert food editor James Schend agreed to share his best tips for cooking moist, tender and flavor-packed pork chops.

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    Storage & Reheating Tips

    To keep your pork chops fresh for up to a week, store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. When youre ready to reheat them, cover them in foil and pop them back on the grill until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the air fryer or the microwave just be sure to watch them closely so they dont overcook!

    How Long To Grill Pork Chops

    Boneless or bone-in pork chops that are about 1 inch thick will cook for 8-10 minutes. If you are grilling extremely thick chops, the bone will start to affect the timing of your cook. 1 1/2 inch thick boneless pork chops typically cook through in 14-18 minutes and bone-in chops at that thickness can take up to 20 minutes or more.

    Although time is a nice guideline for a recipe, the absolute most important factor when cooking pork chops on the grill is to pay attention to internal temperature.

    Pork is perfectly cooked through, juicy, and safe to eat at 145 degrees F. Get yourself a good instant-read thermometer to avoid over or undercooking your grilled pork chops. I recommend ThermoWorks products. Theyve always produced a fast and reliable result.

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    How To Cook Pork Chops

    Serve tender and flavourful pork chops every time with our tips and recipe ideas. This meat is delicious when griddled, pan-fried, roasted or grilled.

    Pork chops, like steak, are versatile and easy to cook. Taken from the loin of the pig, they have a generous fat layer on one side and sometimes have a small piece of bone left in. Served with vegetables and mustard or a simple sauce, they make a great speedy meal however, they can easily become tough and dry if youre not careful with the temperature or timings.

    The key with chops is to maximise the flavour by cooking the fat on the outside really well over a high heat. This should be done quickly so as not to dry out the meat inside. You can help to keep the chops nice and tender by doing one of the following:

    • Resting them after cooking
    • Finishing them in a low oven
    • Cooling the pan of seared chops by adding a liquid like cider
    • Roasting them on top of vegetables so as to protect one side from the intense heat

    The quickest way to cook pork chops is to pan-fry or griddle them. As the chops can be quite large this method is best when serving one or two people. If youre cooking for more you might want to try roasting or grilling.

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    What Is The Best Cut Of Meat For Grilling Pork Chops

    Pork Chop Center Cut Recipe : The Best Baked Pork Chops Recipe Juicy ...

    There are five different cuts of pork chops.

    • Rib Chops: This is a tender cut from the rib section, mild tasting with some fat and with a bone running along one side. Other names are center-cut rib chops, rib pork chop, pork chop end cut.
    • Loin Chop: Very lean, mild flavor with a t-bone in the middle. Each chop has two different types of meat which cook at different rates. For this reason, these pork chops are a bit difficult to cook. Other names are center-cut loin chops, pork loin end chop, top loin chop, porterhouse.
    • Shoulder Chop: These are flavorful with a fair amount of fat, gristle and bone. They are best for braising. Other names are blade chops, blade steaks, blade-end pork loin chops, pork shoulder steaks, pork loin blade chops.
    • Boneless Chop:These are very lean and boneless pork chops. This is a very popular cut. Due to the lack of fat and bone these chops are easy to overcook. Its best to marinate them or brine them. Its also wise to buy thick boneless chops as thinner ones are even easier to overcook and dry up. Other names are Americas cut, pork loin filets.
    • Sirloin Chop: Lots of pork flavor, lots of bone and tough. These chops require long cooking times. Not a great pork chop for grilling.

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    Grilled Pork Chop Recipes Faqs

    Should you season pork chops before grilling?

    Pork chops can be seasoned right before cooking, or you can use a dry brine to enhance the flavor. To dry brine the pork chops, salt them thoroughly, then place them on a wire rack and leave them in the fridge for 4-12 hours. When seasoning after dry brining, do not add more salt.

    How do you keep pork from drying out on the grill?

    So long as you do not overcook the pork chops, they will not dry out when grilling by following this recipe. At around the 15 minute mark, check your pork chops with a meat thermometer. If they are at the 145 mark for internal temperature, they are ready to take off the grill.

    How long can I keep seasoned pork chops in the fridge?

    Fresh, uncooked pork chops last in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. If you want to season them beforehand, I recommend seasoning them for 4-12 hours before cooking them, using only salt, and no more than that. This is called a dry brine. Add the remaining seasoning when ready to cook.

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