Pork Chop Marinade

The best way to get your pork chops flavorful and tender is with a homemade pork chop marinade! This recipe uses ingredients like soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, Dijon mustard, and citrus to infuse each pork chop with the perfect savory, sweet, and tangy flavor.

Any good meat dish starts with a good marinade. And while store-bought marinade is convenient, homemade always tastes better! A few other recipes to try out this grilling season: steak marinade, shrimp marinade, and chicken marinade!

Marinade for Pork Chops

Using a marinade for pork chops enhances their taste in so many ways. Firstly, the marinade infuses the meat with flavor from the inside out. Secondly, the marinade helps to tenderize the pork chops, resulting in a more juicy and tender texture. (No dry pork chops here!) Lastly, the marinade adds moisture to the meat, preventing it from drying out during the cooking process, ensuring that each bite is moist and flavorful. I know it seems simple, but pork chop marinade is a game-changer for any pork you’ll be cooking on the grill this summer.

Let’s talk about the flavor of this marinade, though. It’s seriously out of this world. I never thought that a blend of simple things like soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, garlic, and Dijon mustard would make such an amazing combination! It’s nice and savory but also tangy from the mustard, with a hint of caramelized sweetness from the brown sugar. With a marinade this good, you’ll want to use it on everything, not just pork chops! I’ve tried it with grilled chicken and it’s absolutely delicious.

Marinade Ingredients

Elevate your pork chops with this amazing marinade. The soy sauce adds richness, the orange juice gives a citrusy kick, the brown sugar adds sweetness, while the garlic, Dijon mustard, and black pepper bring bold and delicious flavors. Prepare for a mouthwatering experience that will leave you wanting seconds!

Soy Sauce: Adding soy sauce to the marinade provides a savory and umami flavor that enhances the taste of the pork chops. If you prefer a low-sodium option, then use reduced-sodium soy sauce or even tamari sauce as a substitute.
Orange Juice: A kick of citrus is the perfect addition to any marinade. The acidity in the juice also helps to tenderize the pork chops. If you don’t have orange juice on hand, you can substitute it with pineapple juice or lemon juice for a different fruity twist.
Brown Sugar: Brown sugar provides a gentle sweetness that helps to balance the flavors in the marinade. It also contributes to the caramelization of the pork chops when cooked, resulting in a slightly glazed and flavorful exterior. Honey or maple syrup will also work.
Garlic: Fresh garlic is a must for infusing the meat with savory flavor!
Dijon Mustard: Adds a tangy and slightly spicy kick to the marinade.
Ground Black Pepper: Complements the other flavors and adds a touch of spice. Feel free to add more or less to taste.
Pork Chops: This recipe makes enough marinade for about 4 pork chops. Bone-in and boneless will both work, so use your favorite!

How to Make the Best Pork Chop Marinade

It’s so simple, all you need to do is mix a few pantry staples together! You’ll never buy store-bought marinade again.

Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together your ingredients.
Add to Plastic Bag: Pour your marinade into a sealable plastic bag and place 4 pork chops into the bag with the marinade and allow them to marinate for at least an hour.
Cook Pork Chops: Cook your marinated pork chops with your preferred method, you can grill, bake or cook them on the stovetop. Discard any used marinade

3-photo collage of pork chop marinade ingredients being mixed together.

Tips for the Best Pork Chops

Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind so your pork chops really stand out at the barbecue. Trust me, everyone will want a piece!

Give Them Time to Marinate: Let your pork chops hang out in the marinade for at least an hour. If you can, give them a few hours or even overnight for the flavors to really soak in. The longer they marinate, the more tasty and tender they’ll be!
Get Hands-On: Before sealing the bag or container, take a moment to massage the marinade into the pork chops. This will make sure every nook and cranny gets coated which helps the flavors sink in better.
Use a Marinade Injector: For an extra flavor punch, consider using a marinade injector to infuse the pork chops from the inside. Fill the injector with your pork chop marinade and inject it into several different spots. This method ensures that the flavors get deep into the pork chops, resulting in a more flavorful and juicy outcome.

Raw pork chops added to a bag of marinade.

How Long Will This Marinade Stay Good?

In an airtight bag or container, your pork chop marinade should stay good for about a week as long as it’s refrigerated. Keep in mind that this is for unused marinade, and if you’ve already used it to marinate raw meat it needs to be discarded.