Grilled Pork Chops {Just 15 Minutes!}

This is truly the perfect 15-minute grilled pork chops recipe! A simple seasoning and a few minutes on the grill yields juicy, tender meat for an easy dinner any night of the week. Serve the pork chops with mac and cheese, biscuits, cornbread, pasta salad, Caesar salad, or collard greens for a delicious and simple family meal.

How to Grill Pork Chops | 1-Minute Video

Grilled Pork Chop Recipes

There are a handful of grilled pork chop recipes that the whole family loves — and that we therefore serve on repeat. These delicious 15-minute grilled pork chops are one of those great meals that comes together quickly with just a few very basic ingredients. They always get rave reviews (even from picky little kids)!

The Best Pork Chops for Grilling

Pork chops are a loin cut perpendicularly to the spine of the pig and usually containing a rib or part of a vertebra. There are four major sections where pork chops come from:

• Shoulder Chops (also called Blade Chops): This dark-colored meat has a lot of fat and connective tissues, and some blade bone. This cut has a lot of flavor, but it also contains a lot of tough gristle, so the meat does best when it’s tenderized or braised in slow, moist heat. Shoulder chops are well suited for the slow cooker.
• Rib Chops (also called Center-Cut Rib Chops): These come from the rib section of the loin, and have a bone running along one side and sometimes a layer of fat on the outside. Rib chops from the blade end have more fat and connective tissue than chops from the shoulder end. These chops are very tender and have a mild flavor. Since the meat is lean, rib chops do best with quick cooking like grilling, broiling, or sear-roasting.
• Loin Chops (also called Center-Cut Loin Chops): This cut comes from the hip and loin toward the back of the animal. Loin chops cut toward the center of the loin will have a T-shaped bone that has loin on one side and tenderloin on the other. Sometimes the more tenderloin present, the higher the cost. Top loin chops will have no tenderloin. Like rib chops, they should be cooked quickly, so grill, broil, or sear-roast these chops.
• Boneless Chops (also called Pork Loin Filets): These chops come from the head of the loin above the loin chops. Boneless pork chops are basically top loin or rib chops with the bones removed. Cook boneless pork chops the same way as rib or loin chops — grilling, broiling, or sear-roasting.

In short, you can use this easy grilled pork chops recipe with rib chops, loin chops, or boneless chops. Our preference is always a 1-2 inch “thick-cut” chop. The chops shown here each weighed about 8 ounces and measured about 1 ½-inches thick.

Ingredients

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for our favorite grilled pork chops. As always, specific measurements and complete step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

• Pork chops: our preference is always a 1-2 inch “thick-cut” chop. The boneless pork chops shown here each weighed about 8 ounces and measured about 1 ½-inches thick. You can use bone-in chops or thinner chops if you like.
• Olive oil: adds flavor to the meat, helps the chops brown on the outside, and prevents the meat from sticking to the grill.
• Seasoning blend: our favorite all-purpose or “house” seasoning blend includes garlic powder, kosher salt, dried parsley, dried minced onion, and dried basil.

How to Grill Pork Chops

You only need a few pantry staples and about 5 minutes to prepare these pork chops for the grill. Let’s get started!

1. Prepare the Seasoning. We’re using our favorite all-purpose or “house seasoning” on these chops, which is a simple blend of equal parts garlic powder, kosher salt, dried parsley, dried minced onion, and dried basil. We use this seasoning on everything from pork to salmon, chicken to steaks, pasta, salads, and roasted veggies. It’s truly an all-purpose mixture that makes almost anything taste better, so feel free to mix it up in bulk in a big bowl or jar and keep it in your pantry for any variety of other uses!
2. Season the Pork Chops. Pat the pork dry, rub the meat with olive oil, and then sprinkle with the seasoning. I typically use about 1 teaspoon of olive oil per chop and about ¼ teaspoon of seasoning on each side. You can obviously adjust these amounts to suit your personal taste, though.
3. Grill the Pork Chops. Heat the coals on a charcoal grill, gas grill, or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush the grill grates with oil to prevent sticking, and then grill the chops for about 5-6 minutes per side. The pork is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.

How Long to Grill Pork Chops {Time Chart}

The total cooking time for your pork chops will depend on the size and thickness of your meat, as well as the temperature of your grill, and whether you’re using bone-in or boneless chops. Here’s a handy chart that provides a closer approximation for your reference:

Again, the best way to know when your meat is done is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. Pork chops should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F.

How to Serve Juicy Grilled Pork Chops

This versatile meat pairs nicely with almost any of your favorite sides. Here are some of our favorite side dishes that go with grilled pork chops:

• Hush Puppies
• Coleslaw or Vinegar Coleslaw
• Hoe Cakes
• Baked Potato Wedges
• Charleston Red Rice, Risotto, or Rice Pilaf
• Skillet Cornbread, Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn, Bakery-Style Corn Muffins, Honey Cornbread, Old-Fashioned Corn Sticks, Sweet Cornbread Muffins
• Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, Stovetop Shells and Cheese, or No-Boil Easy Mac and Cheese
• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, Easy Drop Biscuits
• Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin Muffins
• 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins, Farmhouse Blackberry Muffins, One-Bowl Zucchini Muffins, Blueberry Muffins, or Old-Fashioned Cranberry Muffins
• Wedge Salad, Classic Caesar Salad, House Salad with Candied Pecans, or a Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Easy Potato Salad
• Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon, Roasted Green Beans, or Southern-Style Green Beans
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
• Fried Apples or Baked Apple Slices
• Southern Succotash
• Sauteed Zucchini
• Carrot Raisin Salad
• Southern Collard Greens
• Fried Okra
• Broccoli and Cheese
• Easy Pasta Salad or Southern Macaroni Salad
• Jiffy Corn Casserole, Fried Corn, Corn Salad, or Corn on the Cob
• Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon
• Charleston Red Rice or Rice Pilaf
• Okra and Tomatoes
• Southern Squash Casserole
• Cheese Grits
• Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onion, Braised Red Cabbage, or Roasted Cabbage

Wines that pair well with Savory Grilled Pork Chops

Pork chops are a pretty neutral white meat, so they pair nicely with acidic, fruity white wines. Good options include:

• Riesling
• Pinot Grigio
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay

Preparation and Storage Tips

• Prepare a batch of the seasoning blend in advance, so that the pork chops only require a few minutes of actual hands-on prep before they go on the grill.
• Store leftover grilled pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Wrapped tightly, the leftovers will last in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• You can grill raw pork chops from frozen, but you will need to increase the cooking time by about 50 percent. Again, use a meat thermometer to know when the pork is done.

How to Reheat

Place the pork chops in a dish and cover with foil. Warm in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, or just until heated through. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will become tough and dry.

Recipe Variations

• This recipe works well with bone-in or boneless pork chops. Just adjust the cooking time according to the size and thickness of your meat (refer to the chart above).
• Adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. You can use a prepared all-purpose seasoning, barbecue seasoning, cumin, paprika, onion powder, ground red pepper (for spice), any combination of your favorite herbs, or just keep it simple with salt and black pepper.
• Baste the pork chops with bbq sauce during the final few minutes.

Tips for the Best Grilled Pork Chop Recipe

• Get the grill nice and hot. Similar to pork tenderloin, pork chops are a lean meat, so they stay juiciest when cooked quickly over medium-high or high heat.
• The total grilling time will vary depending on a number of different factors, such as the temperature of your grill, the temperature of your chops when they go on the grill, and the size and thickness of your meat. As a result, it’s always best to use a meat thermometer to know exactly when your pork is done. You’re looking for an internal temperature of 145°F.
• Allow the meat to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. The juices will redistribute throughout the meat so that the pork chops stay nice and juicy.
• Health Benefits of Pork Chops: Grilling pork chops can be a healthy way to prepare this lean cut of meat. Pork chops have 24 grams of protein in a 3-ounce portion and offers a good source of zinc. A 6-ounce grilled pork chop seasoned with olive oil and all-purpose seasoning has about 250 calories, 13 grams of fat, zero carbohydrates, and 31 grams of protein. This is a Keto-friendly and low-carb option.

More Grilled Pork Chop Recipes to Try

• Quick Marinade for Pork Chops on the Grill
• Grilled BBQ Pork Chops
• Garlic and Rosemary Pork Chops