Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my pork chop marinade recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card. Then, you can place pork chops in a zip lock bag or a bowl, and coat in the marinade. I prefer a zip lock bag because the meat gets more evenly coated that way, plus you can massage it into the pork without any mess.
If you modify the ingredients, keep the main components. Remember that a good pork chop marinade needs an oil to lock in moisture, and both salt and an acid to tenderize. Everything else is a matter of flavor! Marinate pork chops for at least an hour, but overnight is even better. I find an hour is the bare minimum for the marinade to have an effect, but they’ll be more juicy if you give them more time. Just don’t go over 24 hours, or they’ll turn out mushy. If you marinate for longer than 2 hours, place in the fridge. You don’t want it sitting out for longer than that (source). You can also freeze pork chops in marinade. Just add everything to a freezer bag, seal, and freeze flat. I’ve done this and love it for meal prep. Just thaw them overnight and cook!
Bake – My baked pork chops do involve searing before placing in the oven, but you can also just place them in a baking dish and bake for longer. Air Fry – My air fryer pork chops are the fastest hands-off way to cook them. Pan Fry – For a perfect sear, cook the pork chops in a cast iron pan. So good! Grill – If you’re after grill marks, use this marinade for grilled pork chops.
A meat thermometer (I love this one) is the most reliable way to know they are done and still juicy. 145 degrees F is the actual target temp, but I prefer to remove them from heat when they reach 140 degrees F, because the temperature rises as they rest. (And I definitely recommend letting them rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking, to lock in the juices!)
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Tips: Check out my recipe tips if you want to customize this marinade, freezing instructions, and ways to cook the pork that will keep it juicy. How much pork to use: My pork chop marinade recipe is enough for 2 pounds of pork. Feel free to scale it up or down if you have more or less! Note on nutrition info: Only 1/4 of the marinade is included in the nutrition calculation, as a lot is discarded after marinating the pork chops. It does include the pork chops themselves.
