BEST EVER Pork Chop Marinade
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclosure policy.
The Best Ever Pork Chop Marinade produces tender and flavorful pork chops every time! It’s an easy pork marinade recipe made with soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, and ketchup. These marinated pork chops are perfect for grilling, pan frying, or baking.
Pork chops have a mild flavor and are prone to overcooking. This homemade pork chop marinade helps to tenderize the meat while also adding sweet, salty and tangy flavors. Unlike lemon juice-based marinades, this recipe enhances the natural flavor of pork chops without being overpowering.
You can make it with pantry ingredients in less than 15 minutes. I usually whip up the marinade the night before and let the pork chops soak overnight in the sauce. The next day, they need just a few minutes to sear on the grill. A stunning grilled pork chop dinner is ready in minutes, so say good-bye to tough and dry pork chops!
This recipe works for both bone-in and boneless pork chops, in addition, you can also use it for pork loin, tenderloin, pork steak, and even sliced pork!
What Ingredients Go Into Pork Chop Marinade?
- Soy Sauce – it’s the secret to a delicious pork chop marinade, acting as a brine to tenderize the meat while adding depth of flavor. (Use a low-sodium light soy sauce for a healthier version).
- Apple Cider Vinegar – acid in the vinegar helps to “break down” proteins, making the meat extra tender. You can substitute white vinegar, rice vinegar, or use pineapple juice for a Hawaiian style marinade.
- Brown Sugar – another key ingredient that enhances the natural flavor of pork chops while balancing out the acidity of the vinegar. It also helps create a caramelized crust. You can substitute honey or white sugar if you prefer.
- Ketchup – as the basis for many barbecue sauces, ketchup helps the chops to brown nicely. In addition, it contributes stickiness allowing the sauce to adhere better to the chops.
- Olive Oil – don’t use extra virgin olive oil because it has a low smoke point. Regular refined olive oil works best!
- Garlic– use freshly minced garlic for the best taste.
All of the ingredients above work together in harmony to make the perfect pork marinade!
How to Make Pork Chop Marinade
- Combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, olive oil, garlic and apple cider vinegar in a medium bowl. Whisk until blended.
- Pierce the pork chops with a fork all over, and then place in a large resealable plastic bag.
- Pour the marinade over the pork chops, squeeze out excess air and seal the bag.
- Massage the bag so the pork chops get coated thoroughly with the marinade. Let marinate in the refrigerator.
How Long Do You Marinate Pork Chops?
Here are the ideal marinating times for pork chops:
- 1-3 hours for thin-cut pork chops (up to 1 inch thick)
- 2-6 hours for thick-cut pork chops (more than 1 inch thick)
The key is to let the pork chops marinate for at least one hour. However, if you’re short of time, even 30 minutes of marinating will make a difference. If you want to make it ahead of time, store the marinated pork chops for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
How to Grill Marinated Pork Chops?
Remove the pork chops from the fridge 15-20 minutes so they reach room temperature before cooking. Preheat your grill to medium-high (400°F / 204°C) and oil the grill grates. For 1-inch (2.5cm) thick pork chops, grill for about 4-5 minutes per side. Pork chop grill time will vary by thickness and temperature.
How Can I Tell When Pork Chops are Done?
Pork chops should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) according to the USDA. The best way to measure this is by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chop. If you’re cooking bone-in chops, make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone for an accurate reading. Remove the chops from the grill when the thermometer reads 140°F / 60°C, as the temperature will climb several degrees more afterward. Then let it rest covered with foil for 5 minutes.
Can I Fry Marinated Pork Chops on the Stove?
Yes. Place a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and fry the pork chops using the same approach as grilling, about 4-5 minutes per side for a 1-inch thickness.
Other options include baking pork chops at 400°F / 204°C for about 20 minutes, or using an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!
Tips for Making the Best Pork Chop Marinade
- Choose thick chops for the most tender meat.
- Pierce pork chops with a fork all over to allow the marinade to penetrate into the meat.
- Always marinate your pork chops in the refrigerator, but bring them to room temperature about 15-20 minutes before cooking to promote even cooking and get tender meat.
- Don’t overcook the pork chops! Remove them from the heat as soon as the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C), as the temperature will rise a few degrees afterward.
- Flip the chops using kitchen tongs instead of a fork, as puncturing them will cause juices to leak and the meat to dry out.
What to Serve with Marinated Pork Chops
Other Marinade Recipes:
- Lime and Soy Sauce Flank Steak Marinade
- Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak
- Balsamic Honey Marinated Sirloin Tip Steak
- Teriyaki Marinade
BEST EVER Pork Chop Marinade (+Video)
Ingredients
Marinade Sauce for Pork Chops
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Chops
- 4 pork chops, boneless or bone-in (1 inch thick)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Pork Chop Marinade
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and olive oil. Whisk until blended.
- Pierce pork chops all over with a fork. Then place in a large resealable plastic bag.
- Pour the marinade over pork chops, squeeze out excess air and seal the bag. Massage the bag to coat evenly.
- Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight*.
Grill Marinated Pork Chops
- Remove the pork chops from the fridge 15-20 minutes before cooking to let them come to room temperature.
- Heat your grill on medium-high (400°F / 204°C). Grease the cooking grates with oil to prevent sticking.
- When hot, add the pork chops and sear for 4-5 minutes**.
- Flip the pork chops using kitchen tongs and grill the other side for about 4 minutes more until the internal temperature reaches 140°F / 60°C. (Note that the temperature will rise to about 145°F / 63°C during resting.)
- Remove to a plate and let rest covered with foil for about 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with potatoes, pasta and green vegetables.
Notes
- *To make it ahead of time, you can leave the pork chops in the marinade for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- **Grilling time will vary depending on the thickness of the pork chops. For thicker pork chops (over 1 inch/2.5cm thick), you will need to use indirect heat.
- Residual marinade: most studies warn against reusing residual marinade because it can contain harmful bacteria. If you’d like to use the marinade for basting or as a dipping sauce, just double the recipe and reserve the extra amount.
- Make it spicy: add red pepper flakes to the marinade.
Please read our nutrition disclaimer.
More Pork Chop Recipes:
View all pork chop recipes
Editor note: Originally published June 27, 2018 and updated September 6, 2019.
© TIPBUZZ. Images and text on this website are copyright protected. Please do not post or republish without permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please link back to this post. This post may contain affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.
I’ve used this marinade twice now. However, I bake my pork chops. This is the best marinade I’ve found. Can’t say enough good things about it. The flavor is great. Am thinking about using it on chicken.
Hi Susan, So great to hear that and many thanks for your review.
This recipe is a keeper! I marinated for 2.5 hrs and used no sugar added ketchup and Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener (instead of the brown sugar) along with the rest of the ingredients and it was absolutely delish! Will definitely make again!
Hi Lori, many thanks for your feedback and glad you enjoyed. Great point about the sweetener too.
THE BEST PORK CHOP MARINADE EVER. It has me craving pork chops now..whereas prior to this i’ve never really been a big Pork chop Fan…BIG THANKS for this recipe.
Hi Ravi, Wow thanks for such a kind review! Glad you enjoyed and congrats!
Amazing depth of flavor. Not like anything we have ever tasted. Smoky, savory, sweet!
I marinated for an hour in the fridge, and let them come to room temperature while I let the oven heat up to 425. Cooked them for 6 minutes then broiled on high on the second rack 5 minutes a side to really caramelize the meat! WONDERFUL!
will make this again over and over, will try it this summer with chicken on the grill.
Hi Susan, Thank you so much for your feedback and I’m glad it turned out so well!
Holy smokes! We had inch+ pork chops that I was using in a ‘smothered in onion gravy’ recipe. Wanted to be sure they’d be tender. This marinade is a KEEPER! Truly a wonderful recipe. Thank you.
Hi there, Great to hear and thanks for your comment!
Have made this marinade several times and is always good! Easy, and it’s nice that the ingredients are common items found in a pantry. Glad I found it!
Yummy! I wanted to grill, but it wss storming.. I marinated overnight and cooked in a cast iron skillet. They were delicious!
I made for first time tonight using boneless chops. I am on a smoked paprika kick and I added a little to the recipe. It was so good! I’ve shared it with my sisters and daughter in law already!
Hi Peg, That’s great to hear and congratulations! Thanks for your comment.
I made this the other night. I used it on pork tenderloin that I cut into chunks first and cooked on screwers. My very picky son loved it. It is very delicious.
Hi Angela, Great to hear that and thanks for your comment!
This recipe is out of bounds good, marinated over night then broiled to med, so good
Hi Bonnie, Wow thanks for the compliment! So glad to hear it worked out well and happy holidays!
I am on a sodium restricted diet. My husband and I made these tonight with very low sodium soy sauce (180 mg. pay Tbsp.) and no salt ketchup. We both loved them easy to make and all ingredients on hand!! Will make them again. Four thumbs up!!!!
Hi Ronda, Awesome! Thanks for your comment and feedback on the sodium-reduced approach. So glad you enjoyed!!
Made a couple of fine pork chops today. Didn’t take much work and the results were tender and tasty. Marinated them for 6 hours. .Cooked them on the stove in a grill pan.
Served with brown rice, Caesar salad, and a baguette. Awesome bachelor meal.
Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Ron, Nothing wrong with a bachelor meal, right? Glad to hear and thanks for your feedback!
Excellent flavor! I never would’ve guess it could taste so good! I tried it on chicken,too! Fantastic!
Hi Bill, Thanks so much for your feedback and glad you enjoyed it (on chicken too!)
Best marinade for chops…evah! The ketchup part bothered me when I read it but it was oh so good! It is the only marinade I will ever use again for my pork chops. I buy center cut bone-in chops. About 3/4 inch thick. This recipe is perfect for them. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Mary, Awesome and thanks so much for your feedback. Nothing like a center cut bone-in!!
This recipe was absolutely amazing. I used red wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
Hi Glendora, Thanks for your comment and glad you enjoyed! Great point about the red wine vinegar – will make a note.
I am using the marinade for the first time tonight. I am using it for 4lbs of pork loin but I am unsure of how to cook it tomorrow. We dont have a grill, but we do have an instant pot and crock pot. Any helpful hints on how to cook the pork loin in one of those? Thanks in advance
Hi Shannon, Thanks for your question and review. For a 4 lb pork loin, you can roast it in the oven at 300°F for about 2 hours, or cook in the crock pot on LOW for 4-5 hours. It’s done at 145°F. Hope that helps – it’ll be delicious!
This is my go-to pork chop marinade. The pork is always moist and flavorful.
Hi CJ, It’s so great to hear that and thanks for your review!
Ahh help I’m super time crunched and only have EVOO, what else can I use? Veg oil? Canola? This not my first time using this amazing recipe, its not my last either
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for your question. Canola, sunflower, vegetable oil will all great. We’ll make a note in the recipe for future reference.
Yum! We loved it. Definitely will make this again.
Hi Deanna, Thanks for your review and glad you enjoyed!
OMG if I could post a happy dance I would. Made this today and used on thick cut, bone in chops. My dinner guest and I were both happy. Thank you for posting this.
Hi Patti, So happy to hear that it was a hit, and thanks for your review!
While preparing, I decided that I wanted less of a barbecue sauce & more of a marinade. Omitted the ketchup. Provided an excellent alternative that the whole family liked.
Send for me new update in kitchen
Hi Gilbert, Thanks although not quite sure what you’re looking for? Could you please clarify.
Great marinade, very tender and tasty pork chops!!! Will use this recipe again for sure!!!
Hi Alexa, Thanks for your feedback and thrilled to hear you enjoyed them! 🙂
Yum these marinades look great and I intend to try all of them.
Hi Cheryl, Thanks for your review and please let me know how they turn out! 🙂
Best marinade for pork! We grilled ours and they were so tender. Even the picky 4 year old ate all his.
Hi Colleen, You made my day, so happy to hear that! Thanks for your review 🙂
Hiya..Don’t got garlic gloves so much garlic powder do I use to substitute for it? Thanks
How much garlic powder? Sry
Hi Sandra, Thanks for your question. Substitute 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder for each garlic clove, slightly more if you prefer. Enjoy! 🙂
OMG! Thank you for this fabulous recipe! We enjoyed our lunch so much. I added some mushrooms and carrots on the side together with plane white rice and it was just marvelous, really satisfying.
This marinade was AWESOME! Made the pork chops in the instapot and they were incredible. Smelled great and the flavor was a hit with everyone in the house. Thanks for this!
Hi Samantha, Thanks for your review and feedback, awesome to hear! 🙂
Awesome Recipe as we were mixing it was discovered that we were out of ketchup so what did we do substitute with Mango Habanero BBQ Sauce— I can see us using this recipe a lot!
Thank you!
Hi Barry, Amazing idea and glad to hear it worked out too! Thanks for your feedback 😉
Aaaaahhh…It’s all that you said it would be! LOOOOOOVE IT!!! Thank you!
(I subbed the vinegar with Sauvignon Blanc – plus a little extra dash for luck / love 😉 – I guess any white wine would do) and added a teaspoon of prepared mild mustard and a bit of chopped sage.
Hi Sherene, You made my day! Thanks so much for your feedback and glad it worked out so well! Love the idea of adding sage too 🙂
Simply HAD to message you again! Listen, this marinade RULES! I had some pork belly which I sliced through to match the cooking time of the pork chops. 2 chops and some of the pork belly were left over. They rewarmed PERFECTLY in the microwave (covered) the day after and were as juicy, fabulous and succulent as they were when I originally baked them in the oven! This is a winner in my house now! Nice to know that I can actually do this a day ahead if I need to! Thank you! x
Hi Sherene, You really made my day – that’s so awesome to hear!! 🙂 🙂
This is an awesome recipe. The pork chops disappeared in no time. I followed recipe to the t and grilled chops. This is definitely going to be a regular on my grill!! THANK YOU!!
Hi David, Thanks for your review and so glad everyone enjoyed it! 🙂
Amazing pork chop recipie. It was a big hit in my house. But the question is, could you use this on chicken?
Hi Alyisa, you could definitely use this on chicken, white or dark meat! It would be amazing! I intend to do that in the future myself!
Made today very good. Thanks
Thanks Peggy – glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Great go to bbq sauce and perfect for the chops.
Thanks for your review and hope you enjoy!
lol, as soon as I had it all mixed up and ready to put in a zipper bag, I was like damn, smells like bbq sauce. Not a bad thing mind you, just wasn’t expecting it even tho, looking at the recipe now is like duh! Added a bit of liquid smoke. They were tasty.
I love finding recipes like this! There’s just something about plain pork chops that drives me crazy, this marinade fixes them right up so I can be happy AND my family can have one of their favorites! Yum!
Thanks Meagen. Glad that you like it!