Best 6 Simple Brine Grilled Chops Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Grilled pork chops are a staple of summer cookouts, but they can easily become dry and tough. Brining the chops before grilling helps to keep them moist and flavorful. This recipe for simple brine grilled chops uses a combination of salt, sugar, and herbs to create a flavorful brine that infuses the chops with moisture and flavor. The chops are then grilled over medium heat until they are cooked through.

The article also includes recipes for three different marinades that can be used to add even more flavor to the chops. The first marinade is a classic garlic and herb marinade, made with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. The second marinade is a tangy citrus marinade, made with orange juice, lemon juice, and lime juice. The third marinade is a spicy chili marinade, made with chili powder, cumin, and paprika.

No matter which marinade you choose, these simple brine grilled chops are sure to be a hit at your next cookout.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ULTIMATE GRILLED PORK CHOPS



Ultimate Grilled Pork Chops image

A little brining and a special dry rub go a long way to making the perfect pork chop. Once you've mastered how to cook thick pork chops, you'll be enjoying them all summer long. -Matthew Hass, Franklin, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups water
2 cups ice water
4 center-cut pork rib chops (1 inch thick and 8 ounces each)
2 tablespoons canola oil
BASIC RUB:
3 tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin and ground mustard
1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, combine salt, sugar and 2 cups water; cook and stir over medium heat until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from heat. Add 2 cups ice water to cool brine to room temperature., Place pork chops in a large resealable plastic bag; add cooled brine. Seal bag, pressing out as much air as possible; turn to coat chops. Place in a 13x9-in. baking dish. Refrigerate 8-12 hours., Remove chops from brine; rinse and pat dry. Discard brine. Brush both sides of chops with oil. In a small bowl, mix rub ingredients; rub over pork chops. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Grill chops on an oiled rack, covered, over medium heat 4-6 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 145°. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 300 calories, Fat 18g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 72mg cholesterol, Sodium 130mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 30g protein.

GRILLED APPLE BRINED PORK CHOPS



Grilled Apple Brined Pork Chops image

Provided by Sandra Lee

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups apple juice
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 rib end pork chops, about 1 1/2 pounds
1 tablespoon grill seasoning

Steps:

  • In a large pot over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of water, apple juice, pepper, salt, sugar and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer making sure to stir occasionally to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from heat and add to a large bowl with 2 cups of ice.
  • Once the brined has cooled add pork chops. Brine for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
  • Remove pork from brine, rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Heat grill or grill pan over medium heat. Sprinkle 1 side of the pork chops with 1/2 the grill seasoning. Place chops on hot oiled grill, seasoned side down. Sprinkle the topside with remaining grill seasoning. Grill chops for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

~ SIMPLE BRINE GRILLED CHOPS ~



~ Simple Brine Grilled Chops ~ image

Simple, tasty chops.

Provided by Cassie *

Categories     Pork

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 bone in chops
2 c water
1 1/2 Tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp garlic powder
2 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp italian seasoning
olive oil

Steps:

  • 1. Mix the brine ingredients and place in a large zip lock baggie. Add chops and refrigerate for 2 hours. flipping every once in awhile. When ready to cook, rinse chops, pat dry - drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle fresh cracked black pepper. Grill 4 - 5 minutes per side.

CIDER BRINED GRILLED STUFFED PORK CHOPS



Cider Brined Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h45m

Yield 3 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

3 bone-in, or boneless pork chops, about 2 pounds total
4 cups apple cider
2 cups oatmeal stout or other dark beer
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup raw sugar
1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 apples (Pink Lady, Honey Crisps, or Cameo) cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick, grilled, about 1 minute each side, and diced
1 tablespoon mesquite honey
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Red Chili Caramelized Pecans, recipe follows
1/2 pound white cane sugar
1/4 cup water
1 pound whole pecans
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon red chili powder

Steps:

  • For the brine:
  • Combine all ingredients in a large container with a tight fitting lid.
  • Take the pork chops and insert a fillet knife into the side of each pork chop. Create a 2-inch slice along the side moving your knife along the inside of the chop creating a pocket. Be careful not to pierce the outer sides of the chop. Place the pork chops in the brine for anywhere from 1 hour or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
  • For the reduction:
  • Add the cider to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook the cider, skimming off any scum that comes to the surface, until is becomes syrupy and is reduced to about 1/4 cup.
  • For the stuffing:
  • Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Preheat grill to high.
  • Remove the pork chops from the brine, rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Stuff the cavity with the apples and grill for about 10 minutes on each side. Remove from grill to a serving platter and let rest for about 10 minutes. Brush with the cider reduction, sprinkle with the chopped caramelized pecans and enjoy!
  • In a heavy-bottomed pot, cook the sugar and water until the temperature reaches 275 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Add the pecans and stir to coat with the sugar. Once the sugar begins to caramelize add the vanilla extract and stir gently but constantly until fully caramelized. Pour onto a silpat lined baking sheet to let cool, then sprinkle with the red chili powder.

BEER-BRINED GRILLED PORK CHOPS



Beer-Brined Grilled Pork Chops image

Categories     Beer     Fourth of July     Pork Chop     Summer     Brine     Grill/Barbecue     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups water
2 cups dark lager beer
1/4 cup coarse salt
3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons mild-flavored (light) molasses
1 cup ice cubes
6 1- to 1 1/4-inch-thick center-cut bone-in pork chops
7 large garlic cloves, minced
3 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons dried sage leaves

Steps:

  • Combine 2 cups water, beer, 1/4 cup coarse salt, sugar, and molasses in large bowl. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Stir in ice. Place pork chops in large resealable plastic bag. Pour beer brine over pork chops; seal bag. Refrigerate 4 hours, turning bag occasionally.
  • Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Remove pork chops from beer brine; pat dry. Mix garlic, pepper, 2 teaspoons salt, and sage in small bowl. Rub garlic mixture over both sides of pork chops. Grill pork chops until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of chops registers 145°F to 150°F, about 10 minutes per side, occasionally moving chops to cooler part of rack if burning. Transfer chops to platter; cover with foil, and let stand 5 minutes. Serve.

GRILLED MAPLE-BRINED PORK CHOPS



Grilled Maple-Brined Pork Chops image

Twelve hours is the optimal time for brining the chops, so plan on making the brine and marinating the chops the night before you intend to grill them. Once brined, they can be refrigerated for several days before cooking.

Provided by Jody Adams

Categories     Garlic     Pork     Summer     Tailgating     Brine     Grill/Barbecue     Maple Syrup

Yield Makes 4 entrée servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup Grade B maple syrup
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons juniper berries
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
1/4 cup fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
12 garlic cloves, smashed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
8 cups water
For the pork chops and grilling:
4 center-cut loin pork chops, 1 1/2 inches thick
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil for grilling
Roasted Pear Chutney (optional)

Steps:

  • 1. Mix all of the brine ingredients together in a nonreactive pot and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and stir the brine to ensure that the salt, sugar, and maple syrup have dissolved. Let the brine cool, then put it in a large nonreactive container and add the pork chops. Cover and refrigerate for no more than 12 hours.
  • 2. Remove the pork from the brine and pat dry (without rinsing).
  • 3. Prepare a grill with hot and medium cooking areas. A grill is hot when you can't hold your hand near the grill surface for longer than 2 seconds without pulling it away; it's medium when you can't hold your hand there for longer than 4 seconds.
  • 4. Season the chops with pepper (not salt - remember, the brining solution is salty) and brush with the oil. Sear the chops directly over the hottest part of the open grill for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Then move the chops to the medium area of the grill, cover the grill, and cook to the desired doneness. Use an instant-read digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chops. A reading of 145° to 150°F will give you a pink, moist chop, 160°F is well-done. Serve immediately, accompanied by the chutney, if using.

Tips:

  • Use a flavorful brine: The brine is what gives the pork chops their delicious flavor, so make sure to use a brine that is packed with flavor. The recipe in the article uses a simple brine made with water, salt, garlic, and thyme, but you can also use a more complex brine if you like.
  • Brine the pork chops for at least 4 hours: The longer you brine the pork chops, the more flavor they will absorb. If you can, brine the pork chops overnight for the best results.
  • Cook the pork chops over medium heat: Cooking the pork chops over medium heat will help to prevent them from drying out. If you cook the pork chops over high heat, they will be more likely to burn on the outside and be undercooked on the inside.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure the pork chops are cooked through: The best way to ensure that the pork chops are cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the pork chops should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let the pork chops rest before serving: Letting the pork chops rest before serving will help them to retain their juices and will make them more tender.

Conclusion:

Grilled pork chops are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. By following the tips above, you can make sure that your grilled pork chops are juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection.

Related Topics