Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Chops
- By Amy Dong
- Published Jul. 12, 2023
- Updated Jul. 16, 2023
These Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Chops are superbly tender, savory, tangy, with a touch of honey sweetness. It’s the perfect pork chops recipe for grilling season!
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Video: Watch Us Make this Recipe
Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Chops
My mama makes the best pork chops on the skillet ever. But when it’s just too hot to stand over the indoor skillet, grilled pork chops are just the ticket.
We’ve been embracing every opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, which includes the grill. From Lemon Grilled Chicken to Thai Grilled Shrimp to Asian Sriracha Burgers, we’re taking advantage of all the summer days. .
This tantalizing pork chop recipe results in flavors that are tangy, sweet, and savory. Basic pantry spices and coarse ground mustard provide the mouthwatering zest. These grilled pork chops turn out tender yet wonderfully smoky, thanks to its time on the grill.
The honey mustard glaze is absolutely glorious and the entire dish is in the 10-ingredients-or-less category…
Key Ingredients
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cornstarch
- Pure honey
- Whole grain mustard, with seeds in it (see below)
- Onion powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Brown sugar
- Bone-in pork chops, about 1 inch thickness, 8-10oz each (you can also use boneless chops; decrease cook time if using boneless)
The Kind of Mustard Matters
We all recognize that mustard and ketchup go hand in hand with summer cookouts and picnics. Someone in the party is usually put in charge of the condiments, and a big bottle of mustard is always on the must-have list. Mustard is famous for bringing in the zesty flavors when it comes to burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches.
That humble jar of mustard in your pantry is also a staple that’s amazing to cook with. Around here, we cook with coarse ground mustard on the regular. When combined with basic salty and sweet seasonings, mustard does a stunning job of rounding out the flavors by providing zip and zest.
Add a spoonful or two of mustard to amp up marinades and dressings.
Buying Mustard
When it comes to your typical picnic menu of burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches, go with your favorite flavor profile.
Basic yellow mustard is the most mild, yet imparts tart and tangy flavors. When you’ve got a cookout gathering, basic yellow mustard will suit most palates.
Dijon mustard is richer in flavor and typically lends more zip for those who love some spiciness; it’s a favorite in creamy sandwich spreads and dressings.
If you like a more pronounced kick and stronger flavor, try spicy brown mustard, which is what many delis use in their pastrami and corned beef offerings.
When it comes to cooking, we are partial to whole grain mustard, or coarse ground mustard. These jars are sometimes labeled country style or stone ground. You’ll see plentiful chunky mustard seeds in the mustard, making it easy to differentiate. It boasts depth of flavor, zest, and great texture. We use this mustard in our Best Broccoli Apple Salad and Potato Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.
What to serve with Grilled Pork Chops
There’s no shortage of fabulous side dishes to pair with grilled pork chops. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Instant Pot Baby Potatoes
- Smashed Potatoes (Extra Crispy!)
- Caprese Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto
- Tortellini Pasta Salad with Pesto Sauce, Tomatoes, and Mozzarella
- Wild Rice Pilaf
- Easy Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms
- 20-Minute Lemon Spinach Orzo Salad
Commonly Asked Questions
The grilling time for pork chops depends on their thickness. We recommend grilling 1-inch thick pork chops for about 3-4 minutes per side over medium-high heat. However, actual cook time depends a lot on your grill temperature and the starting temperature of the meat as well.
If you’d like to use a meat thermometer, pork chops should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) followed by a 3-5 minute rest time. This ensures they are safe to eat and remain juicy.
Marinating pork chops before grilling is optional but can enhance the flavor and tenderness. You can marinate them for 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the intensity of flavor you desire. Make sure to discard any leftover marinade that has come into contact with raw meat. In our recipe below, we use glaze instead of marinating.
To prevent pork chops from drying out, avoid overcooking them. Follow the recommended grilling time and temperature. Keep in mind that cooked meat will continue to rise in temperature for a bit, even after removing from heat source. The biggest culprit to dry pork chops is overcooking.
Try This Magic Mustard Sauce
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Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 2 TB apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp cornstarch
- ½ cup pure honey
- 3 TB whole grain mustard, with seeds in it
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 pork chops, bone-in*, 1-inch thickness, 8-10 oz each
Instructions
- In a saucepan, whisk together the vinegar and cornstarch until fully dissolved and no white bits of cornstarch remain. Add honey, mustard, onion powder, cayenne, and brown sugar. Whisk to combine, simmer over medium heat and continue whisking until glaze is reduced a bit, 5 minutes. Divide and reserve half of the glaze for serving. Keep other half of glaze for basting.
- Pat chops dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 tsp kosher salt with 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle chops evenly with salt/pepper combination.
- Grease grill and preheat on medium-high. Grill chops about 3-4 min per side, or just until center is cooked. Don’t over cook. Brush chops with glaze that was reserved for basting and grill another minute per side.
- Serve with reserved glaze drizzled over cooked chops.
Notes
- You can use boneless pork chops as well, but plan on cooking for less time if using boneless.
- Serve pork chops with Peach Caprese Salad or Caprese Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto for a spectacular summer meal.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ❤️
Nutrition (per serving)
More Delicious Pork Recipes
1. Cuban Braised Pork with Mojo. Crazy good. Fork tender. Perfect for serving guests (and getting compliments.)
2. Quick ‘n Easy Maple Glazed Pork Chops. Delicious pork chops on a Monday night? Totally.
3. Carnitas – Mexican Pulled Pork. If you haven’t had a great carnitas, you haven’t had a great taco. Not kidding. This is a must-eat.
4. Parmesan ‘n Panko Crusted Pork Chops. Tender on the inside, crispy on the outside. Easily done on the skillet.
