Spicy Grilled BBQ Pork Chops

There’s nothing better than perfectly grilled pork, packed with tons of flavor! These Spicy Grilled BBQ Pork Chops make an easy, delicious meal for any night of the week!

Thank you, National Pork Board, for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are truly my own.

Lately, we’ve been embracing “No Oven Summer” by spending more time grilling and enjoying time outdoors. During these hot Summer months in Alabama, the last thing I want to do is turn on my oven! While I normally reach for chicken or salmon, pork chops have been making a frequent appearance at our cookouts. I love that it’s delicious, affordable, and a good source of protein!

Choosing the Right Cut

There are so many different cuts of pork to choose from. The most familiar cuts of pork for grilling are chops, loin roasts, tenderloin, ribs and shoulder.

Whether you’re in the mood for a lean cut or something a bit more indulgent, there’s a cut of pork for every appetite and any recipe. For this recipe, I went with center cut pork chops.

How to Prep Your Pork

The right marinade or dry rub will bring out the best flavors in your pork.  I wanted my pork chops to have traditional, smokey barbecue flavors with a hint of fresh citrus.

To achieve this flavor profile, I combined barbecue sauce, garlic, fresh lemon juice, oil, and spices in a large bowl. I let my pork chops sit in the mixture for a few hours to allows those flavors to soak in.

How to Grill the Best Pork Chops Ever

Preheat grill or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat. Place the marinated pork chops on the grill, and allow them to cook for about 3 minutes on each side, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the thickest part of the pork chop reaches between 145 degrees (medium-rare) and 160 degrees (well done).  

Because pork cuts will cook differently depending on their size and thickness, it’s important to monitor temperature with a digital thermometer when grilling. Once your thermometer reads 145 degrees F, remove from the heat and let the meat rest for 3 minutes before serving. Pork will be a light blush color when cooked to this temperature.

These Spicy Grilled BBQ Pork Chops turned out perfectly! They were tender, juicy, and extremely flavorful! The fresh lemon juice paired perfectly with the smokey barbecue flavors. Marinating these pork chops made every bite taste incredible! They were a huge hit with my family that we barely had any leftovers! And speaking of leftovers….

Planned Overs

The great thing about this recipe is that you can incorporate any leftover pork chops into a few healthy meals throughout the week. You can make pulled pork sandwiches served on whole wheat buns, pork fried quinoa, or a barbecue pineapple summer salad! The possibilities are endless! Happy Grilling!

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Spicy Grilled BBQ Pork Chops

Servings 8

Author Beautiful Eats & Things

Ingredients

• 8 bone-in center cut pork chops about 6 oz each
• ½ cup barbecue sauce
• ¼ cup oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt to taste

Instructions

• In a large bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, thyme, cayenne pepper, and salt.
• Place the pork chops in the bowl and marinate for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
• Preheat grill or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat. Place the marinated pork chops on the grill, and allow them to cook for about 3 minutes per side, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the thickest part of the pork chop reaches between 145 degrees (medium-rare) and 160 degrees (well done).
• Let pork chops rest for 3 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!