Honey Garlic Pork Chops (Baked, Grilled, or Pan-Fried)

Honey Garlic Pork Chops are one of the easiest, tastiest ways to prepare boneless pork chops. Made with only 5 ingredients, this recipe for pork chops results in tender, juicy, pork chops that are kissed with sweet and tangy flavor.

Pork chops can have the reputation of being dried-out or flavorless. But this recipe for Honey Garlic Pork Chops proves that does not need to be the case. My recipe shows you exactly how to prepare this lean cut of meat so that your pork chops turn out juicy, tender, and full of flavor.

There are two key elements to remember to ensure that your pork chops turn out perfect.

• Add Flavor.
• Cook to Temperature.

Just like chicken breasts or chicken thighs, pork chops have a fairly bland flavor on their own and need to be flavored. This recipe features a Honey Garlic Marinade, that is sweet, tangy, and a little spicy. It infuses the pork with incredible flavor and works to really tenderize the meat.

When it comes to cooking pork chops, you can grill, pan-fry, or bake the pork chops and have delicious results, as long as you don’t overcook the pork. Overcooking lean pork loin chops will result in dried-out, tough, leathery meat. Pork chops are juiciest when cooked to medium-rare, or 145 degrees Fahrenheit, as recommended by the Pork Council.

This recipe for Honey Garlic Pork Chops keeps in mind the two elements for perfectly cooked pork chops and the results are spectacular! The pork chops are incredibly flavorful and incredibly tender. And because this recipe is made with minimal effort and minimal ingredients, you will want to make it again and again!

Notes on Ingredients

There are only 5 key ingredients needed for this recipe, and most are ones you likely have on hand at all times.

• Pork Chops: This recipe works with boneless or bone-in pork chops. Money-Saving Tip: Ask your butcher to cut a pork loin roast into 1-inch pork loin chops. This is typically cheaper than purchasing pork chops in a package.
• Pineapple Juice: While the pineapple juice may seem like an odd addition, trust me on this one. Just like my Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe, and Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, pineapple juice is my secret weapon in the marinade to help make delicious, slightly sweet pork without adding processed sugars. Not only does the pineapple juice work to season the pork chops, but it also acts as a natural tenderizer.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce adds a delicious umami flavor to the marinade. Use low-sodium soy sauce to control the sodium content. To keep this recipe soy-free, omit the soy sauce and replace it with 1 teaspoon kosher salt or Braggs Amino Acids.
• Honey: The honey works with the added pineapple juice to sweeten and flavor the pork. It is the perfect sweetener for pork. 
• Garlic: Use freshly minced or jarred minced garlic for the best results, rather than garlic powder.

How to Make Honey Garlic Pork Chops

• Whisk together the honey, garlic, soy sauce, and pineapple juice in a small bowl or glass measuring cup. 

• Season the pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper and place the pork into a shallow container or storage bag. 

• Toss the pork chops with the marinade to evenly coat the pork with the honey garlic mixture. 
• Place the pork into the refrigerator to marinate for a minimum of 2 hours or up to a maximum of 24 hours. Any longer than 24 hours, the protein fibers of the pork will begin to break down and make the pork mushy.
• Once the pork has been marinated, preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. 
• Once the grill is heated, remove the pork chops from the marinade, discarding the marinade. 
• Place marinated pork chops on the heated grill for 2 minutes per side, or until the pork chops have sear marks and are able to flip easily. If the pork is resisting being turned, give it a minute longer before flipping.
• Once you flip the pork chops, lower the heat to medium-low, cover the grill, and cook for 4-6 minutes longer, or until pork chops reach 145 degrees F.
• Remove the pork chops from the heat and let rest for 10-15 minutes. This will give the juices time to redistribute through the pork and keep the chops juicy.

Alternative Cooking Methods for Pork Chops

While I personally love the flavor that grilling imparts to the pork chops, you can opt to bake or pan-fry these marinated pork chops instead.

Pan-Fried Pork Chops

• Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add in 1 tablespoon of neutral oil and heat until the oil glistens.
• Remove the pork from the marinade and wipe off excess marinade using a paper towel.
• Cook the pork chops until browned on one side, about 2-3 minutes, and then flip.
• Reduce the heat to medium and cook for approximately 4-6 more minutes or until the pork loin chop reaches 145 degrees F, or desired temperature.
• Remove the pork chops from the skillet and let them rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

Baked Pork Chops

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the marinated pork chops from the marinade and place them into a 9×13 baking dish.
• Bake until the pork reaches the desired temperature. This is about 15-18 minutes for 145 degrees F.
• Once baked, rest the pork chops for 10-15 minutes before serving.

What is the Best Temperature for Pork Chops?

To keep the pork super juicy, it is best to only cook the pork to a medium-rare degree of doneness. More specifically, 145 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to determine that the pork chops have reached the correct temperature is to rely on a meat thermometer. This will ensure your pork chops are perfectly cooked.

If you would prefer to have well-done pork chops, you will need to cook the pork chops to 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Serving Suggestions

This easy recipe for pork chops is ANYTHING but boring. Filled with sweet and savory notes and cooked to the perfect temperature, these Honey Garlic Pork Chops are absolutely delicious. They pair well with Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes, Pineapple Rice, Succotash, or an Asian Noodle Salad, for an easy, healthy meal.

Storage Instructions

Pork chops are best served immediately, as they can dry out when reheated. If you do happen to have leftover pork chops, place them into a storage safe container once cooled. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The best way to reheat the pork chops is to heat ½ cup of chicken broth in a nonstick skillet until boiling. Turn off the heat and place the cold chops in the hot stock. Let it sit for 5 minutes. This will warm up the pork chops and add a bit of moisture to the pork.

Make-Ahead Instructions

If you want to get a jump start on meal prep (and don’t we all?!) you can freeze pork chops right in the honey garlic marinade and defrost and cook as desired. 

To do this, prepare the marinade as directed. Place one pound of pork chops in a freezer-safe bag and pour the marinade over the pork chops. Seal the bag tightly, and place the marinated pork chops into the freezer immediately. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to make Honey Garlic Pork Chops, place the frozen bag of marinated pork in the fridge to defrost overnight. As the pork chops defrost, the marinade works to flavor the pork. Once fully defrosted, grill, bake, or pan-fry the pork chops as the recipe directs.

More Delicious Pork Recipes

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If you tried these Honey Garlic Pork Chops, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

This post was originally published in 2018 but was updated in 2022 with a new video and tips.