These herb grilled pork chops are a simple and tasty meal that tastes amazing and comes together easily. Made with a marinade of lemons, spices, and honey, it is an easy-to-make main course that is perfect for the grill.
There is one thing that is important to me when it comes to grilling and that is simplicity. This recipe is exactly that. Since almost all of the ingredients and probably already in your kitchen this can easily become one of those go-to recipes when you want to make something simple and tasty with very little fuss. This is also one of those recipes that if you need to make something in a pinch there isn’t a lot of effort that goes into making it. The best part is that it makes great tasting leftovers for those that love to meal prep.
Table of Contents
In this recipe
There isn’t a lot going on here which fits the motto simpler is better. Almost everything will already be in your kitchen and if not when you grab the pork chops you can easily grab everything else.
Pork chops: bone-in or boneless work for this recipe however you will want a nice thick cut.
Dried herbs: the high heat helps draw out the flavors of the herbs, this recipe uses thyme and oregano.
Lemon juice: adds acid to the marinade which will help keep the meat tender while marinating.
Honey: adds some sweetness as well as acidity to the marinade to tenderize the meat.
How long should I marinate pork chops?
One of the biggest factors in how long you can marinate pork chops will be how much acid there is in the marinade. Acids will include ingredients like lemon juice, vinegars, honey, and pineapple juice. The higher the amount of acid in the marinade the less time you will be able to marinate. For this marinade I would not go for more than 4 hours since there is both lemon juice and honey in it. If you do go over that time the meat will start to break down and get gummy.
Direct versus indirect heat
Many times, when I grill what type of heat that I use is important. However, if you want those oh so glorious grill lines on the pork chops you will want to use the direct heat to sear the sides first. It is important to get the sear and that beginning than trying to do so at the end as this will lead to dry pork chops. One of the most important points is to leave the pork chops alone for 3 minutes. This will get those nice clear lines. If you move the pork chops around a lot, then you will only get faint marks.
Making herb grilled pork chops like a pro
Once you have a nice sear on each side then you will want to move them over to the indirect heat side of the grill and close the lid. This will help retain the heat as well as cook the pork chops evenly. By leaving the pork chop over direct heat the fat that drips off of the pork chops will land in the coals and cause flare ups which will scorch the pork chop while the inside does not completely cook. You want the pork chops to reach 145F or 63C. The easiest way to check this is with a meat thermometer. If you have some wireless ones place them in the two thickest pork chops.
Looking for other grilled recipes?
Herb Grilled Pork Chops
Equipment
- Sealable plastic bag or other airtight container
- Mixing Bowl
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
- Sheet pan or tray
Ingredients
- 6 pork chops
Marinade
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ tablespoon thyme
- ½ tablespoon oregano
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl combine all of the marinade ingredients and mix well.⅓ cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, ½ tablespoon thyme, ½ tablespoon oregano, ½ tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Place the pork in a sealable plastic bag or airtight container and add the marinade. Seal and make sure all of the pork chops are coated and refrigerate for 1-4 hours.6 pork chops
- Preheat your grill using indirect heat to 400F or 200C.
- Place the pork chops over the direct heat, close the lid, and sear for 3 minutes. Flip and repeat.
- Then move the pork chops to indirect heat and cook until internal temperature reaches 145F or 63C, about 7-10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow the pork chops to rest for 5-7 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition
So simple and easy to make and it tastes great. You can never go wrong with a good pork chop.