Name: Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup honey; ¼ cup 100% pineapple juice; 1 tablespoon soy sauce (reduced sodium); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1 pound pork loin chops (bone-in or boneless)

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Say good-bye to dried-out, lack luster pork chops using this easy Honey Garlic Pork Chop Recipe! Made with 5 simple ingredients, these pork chops are perfectly juicy, incredibly tender, and infused with irresistible sweet and savory flavor.

Whether paired with creamy grits, mashed potatoes, pineapple rice, or roasted potatoes and carrots, Honey Garlic Pork Chops make the ultimate easy, healthy weeknight meal.

Honey Garlic Pork Chops on wooden plate next to fresh pineapple.

No More Dried-Out Pork Chops!

When it comes to pork chops, you should NEVER settle for dried-out, tough results. This honey garlic pork chop recipe guarantees you won't have to!

The secret to success?

For this recipe, it all comes down to the marinade. Made with a combination of soy sauce, honey, garlic, and pineapple juice, the pork chop marinade works to tenderize the pork and infuse the pork chops with sweet, tangy, and savory notes.

And whether pan-fried, grilled, or baked, you truly can't go wrong with this simple pork chop recipe. And because this recipe is made with minimal effort and minimal ingredients, yet turns out so incredibly delicious, you will want to make it again and again!

Only 5 Simple Ingredients

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Pork Chops labeled.

Pork Chops: This recipe works with boneless or bone-in pork chops.
Honey Garlic Marinade: The pork chop marinade is made with soy sauce, which adds notes of umami, honey, for sweetness, garlic for bold flavor, and 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.

How to Make Honey Garlic Pork Chops

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Marinate Pork Chops

You want to marinate the pork chops in the honey garlic marinade for a minimum of 2 hours or up to 24 hours. This will give enough time for the protein of the pork chops to break down and become tender and flavorful.

Side by side picture of marinade before and after mixing together.

Marinade pouring over pork chops in freezer bag.

Don't Overcook the Pork Chops

When it comes to cooking these marinated honey garlic pork chops, you can grill, pan-fry, or bake them. The key to pork chops that stay juicy and tender is to NOT overcook them. Pork chops are juiciest when cooked to medium-rare, or 145 degrees Fahrenheit, as recommended by the Pork Council. 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.

Marinated pork chops on grill plate after cooking to 145 degrees F.

Recipe Tips & Modifications

Money-Saving Tip: Ask your butcher to cut a pork loin roast into 1-inch thick pork loin chops. This is typically cheaper than purchasing prepacked boneless pork chops.
Well-Done Pork Chops: While pork chops are best served at 145 degrees F, if desiring well-done pork chops, cook the pork chops to 160-165 degrees F.
Gluten-Free: Replace the soy sauce with Tamari, certified gluten-free soy sauce, or liquid aminos.
Soy-Free: Replace the soy sauce with liquid aminos.

Storage Instructions

Make-Ahead: 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.
Refrigerate: Allow the pork chops to cool and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: 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.

More Delicious Pork Recipes

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

Grilled Pork Chops on wooden platter next to honey.

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Made with 5 simple ingredients, these pork chops are perfectly juicy, incredibly tender, and infused with irresistible sweet and savory flavor.

5 from 14 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 12

Marinating: 2

Total Time: 17

Servings:

Calories: 255kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

▢ ¼ cup honey
▢ ¼ cup 100% pineapple juice
▢ 1 tablespoon soy sauce reduced sodium
▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic
▢ 1 pound pork loin chops bone-in or boneless

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon minced garlic until well combined.
Place the pork chops into a shallow container or storage bag. Pour the honey garlic marinade over the pork chops and toss to coat. Seal the bag or place a lid on the container and place the pork chops in the marinade into the refrigerator.
Marinate the pork chops for a minimum of 2 hours and a maximum of 24 hours in the refrigerator. For best results, turn the pork halfway through the marinating process.

Grill Pork Chops

Lightly grease the grates of a grill or a grill pan with nonstick spray. Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Remove the pork chops from the marinade, discard the marinade, and cook for 2 minutes. Flip the pork chops, and turn the heat to medium-low. Cover the grill, and continue to cook for 4-6 minutes longer, or until pork chops reach 145℉ or desired temperature. Remove from the grill and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

Bake Pork Chops

Preheat the oven to 400℉. Remove the pork chops from the marinade and place them in a 9x13 baking dish. Bake until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145℉. This will be about 16-18 minutes. Remove the pork chops from the hot pan (this stops the cooking process) and let rest on a cutting board 5-10 minutes before serving.

Pan-Fry Pork Chops

Preheat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is glistening, remove the pork chops from the marinade and wipe off any excess marinade with a paper towel. Cook until browned, about 2-3 minutes. Flip the pork chops over, cover the skillet, and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for approximately 4-6 minutes or until the pork chops reach 145℉ or desired temperature. Remove the pork chops from the pan and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

How do you know when pork is done cooking? Pork Chops are juiciest when cooked to medium, or 145 degrees F. Use a digital thermometer to determine the temperature for best results.

Money-Saving Tip: Ask your butcher to cut a pork loin roast into 1-inch thick pork loin chops. This is typically cheaper than purchasing prepacked boneless pork chops.

Gluten-Free: Replace the soy sauce with Tamari, certified gluten-free soy sauce, or liquid aminos.

Soy-Free: Replace the soy sauce with liquid aminos.

Storing Leftovers: Place cooled leftover pork chops into a storage safe container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The best way to reheat the pork chops is to heat ½ cup of chicken stock 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.

Nutrition

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

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

Comments

5 from 14 votes (5 ratings without comment)