How Long to Grill Pork Chops
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Learn how long to grill pork chops and get tender and juicy results every time! We provide all the tips and secrets to grilling boneless and bone-in pork chops of any thickness and grill temperature.
With warmer weather arriving, it’s time to break out the grill and make some perfectly grilled pork chops! This meal is delicious and budget-friendly, whether your pork chops are thick or thin, boneless or bone in.
Many of you asked for grilling times after our how long to bake pork chops post. The key factors for grilling time are still the same:
- Pork chop thickness: thicker chops take significantly longer than thin chops
- Pork chop type: bone in pork chops generally take a few minutes longer than boneless pork chops
- Grill temperature: grilling at higher temperatures will shorten grilling times
Professional chefs favor 1-2 inch thick, bone in pork chops grilled at high heat. However, this setup may not be feasible especially if you’ve got other items on the grill that require lower heat. We’ve covered every scenario below to get you the best chops possible every time!
HOW LONG TO COOK PORK CHOPS ON THE GRILL
There are several rules of thumb for how long to cook pork chops on the grill:
- Boneless pork chops: At 400°F (204°C), count on 7 minutes of grill time at per half-inch or centimeter of thickness.
- Bone-in pork chops: Add 5 more minutes to the baking times for boneless pork chops.
- Searing: Since you’ll be searing the chops for 2 minutes per side to start, deduct 4 minutes from the total grilling times on the chart.
TIPS FOR GRILLING PORK CHOPS
Grilling pork chops is a two-step process:
- Searing: Sear the chops for 2 minutes per side at high heat or 450°F (232°C) to lock in the juices. If you want an X or diamond grill marks, rotate the chop 90 degrees after 60-90 seconds of searing.
- Indirect heat: Move the chops to the grilling rack to finish cooking under indirect heat, which will prevent them from drying out or charring excessively.
Follow these tips to get the best grilled pork chops:
- The thicker the better: Thicker pork chops retain their juices better for more flavor and tenderness, so target 1-2 inches whenever possible.
- Salt the chops: Salt tenderizes the meat for juicy chops, and optionally you can brine them in salt water for 20-30 minutes too.
- Pat dry: Grilling wet chops will interfere with the searing process, so remove excess moisture by patting dry with paper towels or a tea towel before grilling.
- Use a thermometer: Check doneness accurately using an instant-read thermometer; once it reads 145°F (63°C), remove the pork chops from the grill (it’ll rise a few more degrees while resting).
- Let the pork chops rest: After baking, they should rest for 3-5 minutes to let the juices retreat back into the meat for maximum flavor. Resist the urge to cut into them right away!
Since there’s wide variation among grills, including gas and charcoal grills, pay attention to the grill thermometer to know what kind of heat you’ve got.
HOW LONG TO GRILL BONELESS PORK CHOPS
For how long to grill boneless pork chops, follow the grill time chart below.
| Pork Chop Grill Temp |
Boneless Pork Chop Grill Time |
||
| ½ in / 1 cm thick | 1 in / 2½ cm thick | 1½ in / 4 cm thick | |
| 350°F (177°C) | 8-10 min | 16-20 min | 22-25 min |
| 400°F (204°C) | 7-8 min | 12-15 min | 17-20 min |
| 450°F (232°C) | 5-6 min | 10-12 min | 14-16 min |
Note: These times are for cold pork chops. Reduce by 2-3 minutes for pork chops at room temperature. If breading or stuffing chops, add a few extra minutes.
HOW LONG TO GRILL BONE IN PORK CHOPS
Bone in pork chops are the most flavorful and there are two types: rib chops and loin chops. Follow the grill time chart below to determine how long to grill bone in pork chops:
| Pork Chop Grill Temp |
Bone In Pork Chop Grill Time |
||
| ½ in / 1cm thick | 1 in / 2½ cm thick | 1½ in / 4 cm thick | |
| 350°F (177°C) | 10-12 min | 20-22 min | 24-28 min |
| 400°F (204°C) | 9-10 min | 15-18 min | 18-22 min |
| 450°F (232°C) | 7-8 min | 12-14 min | 16-18 min |
Note: These times are for cold pork chops. Reduce by 2-3 minutes for pork chops at room temperature. If breading or stuffing chops, add a few extra minutes.
For bone in pork chops, there’s some variation depending on the size of the bone. Larger bones taking more time to cook through!
Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops, boneless or bone-in, thick-cut recommended
- 1/3 cup soy sauce, reduced sodium recommended
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp mustard powder, or dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground black pepper, optional
Instructions
- Preheat an outdoor grill to high heat or 450°F (232°C).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, mustard and olive oil.
- Add the pork chops to the bowl and turn to coat completely. (Optional: Reserve at room temperature for 15-30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)
- Remove the chops from the sauce and place on the grill. Discard the leftover sauce.
- Place the pork chops on the grill.
- Close the lid and cook for 2-3 minutes (to get grill marks, see note). Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes.
- Move the chops to the upper rack to cook on indirect heat for 8-15 minutes longer (see note) until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F / 63°C.
- Remove the chops to a plate and allow to rest covered with foil or a plate for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- To get X- or diamond marks on the chops, use tongs to rotate 90 degrees after 90 seconds of grilling on each side.
- Cooking time depends on thickness, and I recommend using an instant-read meat thermometer to check doneness. Once the internal temperature reaches the 145°F / 63°C, remove from heat.
| Thickness | Bone-in pork chops | Boneless pork chops |
| ¾ inch | 8-10 min | 6-8 min |
| 1 inch | 12-14 min | 8-10 min |
| 1 ¼ inch | 16-18 min | 12-14 min |
| 1 ½ inch | 18-22 min | 14-18 min |
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These came out so tender off the grill omg. Everyone loved them and I looked like a grilling pro. thanks for sharing
Hi Louise, Wow great to hear and congrats! Always appreciate your feedback.
Wish me luck!
I just placed the bone in pork chops in the zip lock bag to marinade!
P.S. I forgot to pierce the chops with a fork! I will take them out of the bag and do it!! Messy!!
I am definitely not a chef! More like a bottle washer!!
Hi Vickie, That’s what we’re here for. All bottle washers welcome! Thanks for your feedback.
I love the tip for searing the pork chop! Definitely helps keep the moisture in the meat.
Hi Ashley, Glad to hear it worked out and thanks for your comment!