These grilled pork chops will spice up any weeknight dinner! This recipe offers a tangy and
slightly fruity flavor balanced with the subtleness of heat. I often serve with buttered rice and my Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas.
Yield: 4 Servings
My family loves having tender, juicy pork chops for dinner. I love that I can get dinner on the
table in under an hour! Because of its versatility, pork is a great option for busy weeknights and this one-pan meal is no exception. What better way to serve pork chops than with a bright, tangy, homemade Asian Plum Sauce?
For this recipe, you'll need:
A cast iron grill pan
Cast iron can withstand high temperatures and allows the meat to obtain a perfect sear. Cast iron will also retain its heat once removed from the stove. I use this one.
If you don’t have a cast iron grill pan, you can use a stainless steel skillet. However, you'll want to use medium heat and allow a little extra time for it to become hot enough to give a good sear.
4 bone-in center-cut pork chops, 1-inch thick
Choose chops that offer a pinkish-red color with some marbling in the meat. Fat is ok, as it will add flavor and keep the pork from drying out. You'll want to avoid pork chops with a dark bone color and meat that is pale in color. Measuring internal temperature with a
probe thermometer is the best way to test the doneness of pork chops. Cooked to 145°F, the meat is tender, juicy, and just a touch pink.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Kosher Sea Salt & Sugar
Brining pork chops before cooking enhances the flavor and tenderizes the meat. Once your pork has completed the brining process, you'll want to dry it well with paper towels before adding any dry seasonings.
Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Chili Powder
This seasoning combination is where you will find your subtle heat. Feel free to adjust to your desired taste level. I tend to go on the low side for the kiddos.
Oil for cooking
You’ll want to use a neutral oil that has a high smoking point. Avocado or vegetable oil both
work great.
Asian Plum Sauce
For this recipe, I use my home-canned Asian Plum Sauce. If you aren’t a canner, you can simply reduce the ingredients by two-thirds and make your sauce in a small saucepan while your pork cooks. Or, this store-bought version is pretty good!
Let’s get started!
Ingredients
4 bone-in center-cut pork chops, 1-inch thick
Brine:
4 ½ cups cold water
1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
¼ cup kosher sea salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Seasonings:
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons cooking oil, such as avocado or vegetable
1 cup Asian Plum Sauce
Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together cold water, vinegar, salt, and sugar. Marinate pork chops in brine for 30-45 minutes.
Remove the chops from the brine. Pat the chops very dry with paper towels. Season all over with 1 teaspoon black pepper or spice rub.
Heat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat. When your grill pan is piping hot, add pork
chops to pan and allow to cook for approximately 4 minutes per side or until the internal
temperature of the thickest portion of the chop registers 145 degrees.
Pour Asian Plum Sauce over cooked pork chops and allow to rest at least 5 minutes prior to
serving.
If you made this recipe, we’d love to know how it turned out. Leave us a comment down below!
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