Pork chops worth getting… excited about? Yes! Trust and believe, Honey Garlic Pork Chops are here to change the way you feel about this much-maligned weeknight staple. These pork chops are juicy, tender, and full of big flavors. You! Will! Love! Them!
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Why You’ll Love This Easy Honey Garlic Pork Chop Recipe
- Pork Chops, But Not Boring. Like my Smothered Pork Chops, Air Fryer Pork Chops, and Breaded Pork Chops, these honey garlic pork chops are nothing like the bland, boring pork chops you grew up with!
- A Most Versatile Main Dish. You can pair your easy honey garlic pork chops with traditional pork chop sides like Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Sautéed Green Beans, but their sweet-and-savory flavor also works with Asian-inspired sides.
- Fail-Proof Pork Chops. I’ve got all the tips you need to make the most tender pork chops that never disappoint. Once you know the secrets to making perfect baked pork chops, you’ll be able to apply them to other pork chop recipes too.
- Sweet, Savory, and Just a Little Bit Tangy. In my humble opinion, the best sauces and marinades have contrasting flavors—if you need some evidence, look no further than Barbecue Sauce. The combination of honey, garlic (lots of garlic!), and apple cider vinegar makes these pork chops absolutely mouthwatering. Pork Chops with Apples is also a sweet and savory classic.
5 Star Review
“This was such a quick and easy meal to make on a busy weeknight. The pork chops were done in no time, and the sauce was incredible! My family loved it, and I will definitely be adding this recipe to my regular rotation.”
— Jodi —
How to Make Honey Garlic Pork Chops
The Ingredients
- Bone-In Pork Loin Chops. Not only are you less likely to over-cook bone-in pork chops, they’re also more flavorful. If you happened to pick up boneless, try my Baked Pork Chops.
- Garlic. We go all in here with six whole garlic cloves. I like using fresh garlic because it has more bite and a cleaner taste than garlic powder.
- Honey. Use a runny, pourable honey—not the thick creamed varieties.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. Just a bit to balance the honey and add a little tang.
- Fresh Herbs. Parsley, basil, or any other herbs you like or have on hand. These are optional, for garnish.
The Directions
- Prepare. Season with salt and garlic, then rest for an hour at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.
- Make the Sauce. Whisk it together in a small bowl.
- Glaze and Cook. Brush half of the honey mixture onto the pork chops. Grill or broil the pork chops for about 5 minutes.
- Glaze and Continue Cooking. Brush the other side with the remaining honey mixture and continue grilling or broiling until the pork reaches 135 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Rest. Place the honey garlic pork chops on a plate. Cover and rest for 10 minutes, then serve and ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- Make It Spicy. Whisk red pepper flakes into the honey mixture to add some heat to the sweet and savory flavors in this recipe. You can also swap the honey for hot honey.
- Use a Different Vinegar. Red wine or rice wine vinegar would work in this recipe, or use one of those fancy flavored vinegars you buy at gourmet shops.
- Double the Honey Garlic Sauce. Then, use the extra to glaze Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Roasted Carrots for serving with your pork chops.
Leftover Ideas
Add leftover Honey Garlic Pork Chops to Pork Fried Rice, or use it in Apple Walnut Salad or Asian Noodle Salad for some extra protein!
What to Serve with Honey Garlic Pork Chops
- Potatoes. Go with classic Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or Oven Roasted Potatoes for something even simpler.
- Rice. Make cauliflower rice (or Cauliflower Fried Rice!) or Instant Pot Brown Rice to serve alongside your honey garlic pork chops.
- Vegetable Sides. A large skillet of Sautéed Broccoli with soy sauce or a squeeze of lemon juice, or a batch of Air Fryer Zucchini make light sides for this recipe.
- Salad. Speaking of light sides! Asian Cabbage Salad and Arugula Salad round out your dinner without making it heavy.
- Applesauce. Another classic pairing: Instant Pot Applesauce or Crockpot Applesauce would both be delectable with these pork chops.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Make Sure Your Chops Are Thick. I always use pork chops that are 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inches thick, which is key to the juiciest meat. If they’re thinner, cut down on the cooking time by several minutes.
- Season Well. The salt, pepper, and garlic combo isn’t just for seasoning—it will also tenderize the pork chops and help them retain water during the cooking process.
- Watch That Temperature. Because pork chops are a lean cut, they’ll become tough and dry if you over-cook them (unlike Slow Cooker Pulled Pork which is nearly impossible to overcook). The best way to know when your pork chops are done is to use an instant-read thermometer. At 135 degrees F, you can pull pork chops off of the grill or out of the oven and let the carry-over cooking bring them to a safe internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
- Or Know the Visual Signs of Doneness. I highly recommend using a meat thermometer, but failing that, you’ll want to know other signs that your pork chops are done. They will feel just firm to the touch, the juices will run slightly pink, and the meat will be rosy in the center.
- Don’t Skip the Rest. As with turkey, you’ll need to let the honey garlic pork chops rest before you cut into them. During this time, the juices reincorporate into the meat. Cut too soon and they’ll seep out, leaving you with dry chops!
Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
Total: 1 hour 23 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Meet your new favorite weeknight dinner! Honey garlic pork chops are juicy, tender, and flavorful—and they only need 13 minutes in the oven!
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Ingredients
- 4 bone-in pork loin chops 1 ¼- to 1 ½-inches thick
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 cloves minced garlic about 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Chopped fresh parsley basil, or herbs of choice (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Pat the pork dry on both sides and place in a 9×13-inch or similar dish. Sprinkle on both sides with salt and pepper. Rub all over with the garlic. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour or cover and refrigerate up to overnight. (Let come to room temperature prior to cooking).
- When ready to cook, in a small bowl, whisk together the honey, oil, and apple cider. Spoon half of it over the pork and brush to coat; reserve the rest.
- To cook: Heat your grill over medium-high heat, or place a rack 6 inches from the oven, turn the oven the broil, and line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Grill on the first, unbrushed side for 5 minutes, until the pork chop easily releases from the grill; if broiling, broil for 5 minutes.
- Flip the pork and brush on the other side with the remaining honey mixture. If grilling, continue cooking for 4 to 8 minutes more; if broiling, check the pork’s temperature and cook for 2 to 6 minutes more, until the pork reaches 135°F on an instant read thermometer (it will continue to cook and the temperature will keep rising as it rests). The cooking time will vary based upon your grill/oven temperature and the thickness of your pork. When the pork chops are done, they will feel just firm to the touch, the juices will run slightly pink, and the meat will look rosy in the center.
- Transfer the meat to a plate, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently reheat honey garlic pork chops in the oven at 350 degrees F, in the microwave, or in a skillet on the stove.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.
Nutrition
Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 389kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 50gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 156mgPotassium: 849mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 2mg
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DELICIOUS ! I made this for my husband and he loved it. I followed the recipe exactly as you have it. We loved it and will be making it again and again and again. Wish I could have uploaded a picture of it because I took plenty of them. I will probably tag you on Instagram.
Great to hear, thank you Sandra!
The pork chops were so good that they tasted like they came from a fancy restaurant! The flavors were amazing, and the pork chops were cooked perfectly. I’m so impressed with this recipe!
Thank you Korina!
I made this for my husband tonight and he enjoyed it. Great flavor. Made it with mixed vegetables and teriyaki noodles. This is a keeper!! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes. Thank you.
So happy to hear that, Coleen! Thank you!
Was looking for something different for dinner tonight. Found this recipe and I am so thrilled that I made it! Everyone absolutely loved it. The sauce is delicious! This is definitely a keeper. Thanks for publishing it!
So glad you found it! Thank you Bea!
This was such a quick and easy meal to make on a busy weeknight. The pork chops were done in no time, and the sauce was incredible! My family loved it, and I will definitely be adding this recipe to my regular rotation.
Yay! Thank you Jodi!
I made these for my grandmother, first time ever cooking pork chops, and she said they were so delicious she was sucking on the bone! Recipe was super easy and she’s already requesting them again!
That makes me so happy to hear, thank you Coreen!
This recipe was easy and flavorful. I typically bread and bake my pork chops but was looking for some different but just as easy. I will definitely use this recipe again.
Glad you enjoyed it, Brenda!
Super simple and very delicious. Standard items on hand so no running to the store getting ingredients that you rarely use. Will try this recipe on chicken next time.