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Stop making boring pork chops. You NEED this pork chop marinade, with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, Dijon, and citrus! It all comes together for the most juicy, tender, flavor-packed pork chop you’ve ever had!
The Secrets to Juicy, Flavor-Packed Pork Chops
- The Secret Ingredient? Orange juice! It isn’t just for flavor; it’s acidity that tenderizes the meat, giving you melt in your mouth juicy pork chops.
- No More Dry Pork Chops: This marinade locks in moisture so every chop turns out tender and flavorful, no matter how you cook it.
- Versatile & Family-Friendly: Not just for pork! Use it on chicken or veggies for easy, delicious dinners everyone will love.
Pork Chop Marinade Ingredients
- Soy sauce as brine: Soy sauce adds savory umami and helps brine the meat. Substitute with tamari (gluten free) or coconut aminos (soy free) if needed.
- Citrus: Citrus juice not only brightens flavor but also tenderizes the meat. Orange juice is preferred, but pineapple or lemon juice works.
- Pork chops: The marinade works for about 4 pork chops. Both bone-in and boneless cuts are great! You can choose your favorite.
How to Make Pork Chop Marinade
It’s so simple, all you need to do is mix a few pantry staples together! You’ll never buy store bought marinade again. Other must try marinades include my steak, chicken, and salmon marinades.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. *Set aside a little marinade before adding raw pork. Then, brush it over the pork chops in the last few minutes of cooking for extra flavor and juiciness.
- Marinate: Pour your marinade into a sealable plastic bag, then add the pork chopsand allow them to marinate for at least an hour.*Marinating for a few hours or even overnight will make the pork chops extra tender and flavorful. Cook your pork chops with your preferred method. You can grill, air fry, or cook them on the stovetop. Discard any used marinade.
Alyssa’s Pro Tips
- Cooking Options: This recipe works great on the grill, skillet, or in the air fryer. Each method gives a slightly different texture and flavor.
- Don’t Overcook: Pork is perfectly done at 145°F. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing so the juices can settle back into the meat.
Pork Chop Marinade
Bright, zesty, and full of flavor, this Pork Chop Marinade transforms pork chops into tender, juicy perfection, with a secret citrus twist!
Course pantry stapleCuisine AmericanKeyword easy pork chop marinade, pork chop marinade, pork chop marinade recipe, pork marinade
Prep Time 5 minutes minutesTotal Time 5 minutes minutes
Servings 4 pork chops
Calories 252kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers
Ingredients
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 pork chops
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Pour your marinade into a sealable plastic bag and place 4 pork chops into the bag with the marinade and allow them to marinate for at least an hour.
- Cook your pork chops with your preferred method, you can grill, bake or cook them on the stovetop.
- Discard any used marinade.
Video
Notes
Storing Unused Marinade
Unused pork chop marinade can be stored in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If the marinade has already been used on raw meat, discard it; don’t reuse it.
Nutrition
Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 918mg | Potassium: 588mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
My Favorite Pork Chop Recipes
Pork chops were a staple dinner growing up, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t love them. They’ve always had a reputation for being boring or dry. Oh, how I wish I had these recipes back then!
Dinner
Smothered Pork Chops
30 minutes
Dinner
Baked Stuffed Pork Chops
35 minutes
Pork
Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops
50 minutes
Grilling
Grilled BBQ Pork Chops
1 hour 15 minutes
