Lemon Basil Grilled Pork Chops - Lemon, garlic and basil-infused pork chops - perfect for summer grilling!
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Raise your hand if you're giving your grill a workout already this summer! I am! I am! Correction. My husband is! My husband is! Our old grill, I knew how to operate. We got a new one about two years ago and I've never touched it. Sad face. That means, in the summer, Josh does most of the cooking. Happy face.
I've mentioned it before on the blog but he likes to call himself the "Grill Master." Now, while I still roll my eyes whenever I hear that, I will admit that he has gotten this grilling thing down to a science. One of his favorite meats to grill are thick cut pork chops. He sears them on the outside, sealing in the juices.
When you cut into them, they are the most tender and juicy chops you've ever tasted. I used fresh herbs, lemon juice and garlic to season these Lemon Basil Grilled Pork Chops. They turned out DIVINE and gave a fresh summer twist to the meat.
Cooking and grilling with fresh herbs in the summer is something I look forward to all winter long! During the winter I use a lot of dried herbs and seasonings and it's just not the same. This basil is from my little herb garden on the deck. I'm absolutely in love with it.
What I actually put together for the chops was a wet rub. I'm a garlic lover as you can see here in the bowl. Garlic is definitely one of the stars in this dish. I used minced. If you have time to use fresh and crush or mince your own, more power to you.
I had about 35-40 minutes to prepare dinner, which is typical for week nights, so I need simple, fast and delicious recipes. That's why you're here, too, right?
The most difficult part of the entire preparation was finding enough patience to allow the wet rub to infuse the chops. I let the rub set on the chops for about 20 minutes before Josh threw them on the grill.
And let me tell you, that 20 minutes was well worth it! These chops were seasoned perfectly. I tasted the basil, the lemon and the garlic in each and every bite. YUM! Kudos to the "Grill Master." He's done it once again!
Lemon Basil Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 thick-cut (boneless pork loin chops)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves (minced)
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add olive oil, basil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a bowl and mix well.
- Spread both sides of the pork chops with the mixture and let the chops set for about 20 minutes.
- Grill chops over direct heat for about 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Marinating Time Matters: While a 20-minute marination can infuse some flavor, for more intense flavor penetration, consider marinating the pork chops for longer, ideally for at least 1-2 hours or even overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the flavors of the olive oil, basil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to thoroughly permeate the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender grilled pork chop.
- Grilling Temperature Control: Ensure your grill is preheated to the correct temperature before cooking the pork chops. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (around 375–400°F) for optimal grilling. This temperature allows for a nice sear on the outside while ensuring the pork cooks evenly and retains its juices, resulting in juicy and succulent pork chops.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: To ensure perfectly cooked pork chops, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The USDA recommends cooking pork chops to an internal temperature of at least 145°F (63°C) with a 3-minute rest time. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chop to ensure accuracy. Letting the chops rest for 5 minutes after grilling allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist and flavorful result when served.
Dawn
Hi Sara! This is my first time to your page and Wow! These pork chops were amazing...I am new to Paleo and 12weeks in just finding my groove. Love adding new recipes and really enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing!
Sara
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Dawn! Welcome to our little community. I hope you choose to subscribe to the newsletter and stick around! 🙂
Gerri McCarthy
Made the lemon basil pink chops, they were wonderful.
Sara
I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Jessica carroll
I made these last night and they were very good, not too much of any flavor just a nice yumminess. The fresh basil was a great addition and something ild never though to do on chops, Thanks for a new weekday staple 🙂
Sara
Glad you enjoyed them, Jessica!
Marybel castillo
Sooo easy to make! But I used the oven
Tim
Leaving the pork in the marinade too long and with too much lemon juice will lead to tough chops.
I grill the same pork chops from our farmers market every time, and they are always tender, but this time, I let them marinate for 30 minutes (a little over what was in the recipe). This made them really tough.
After doing some research (http://www.finecooking.com/articles/marinades-flavor-tenderize.aspx), I learned that acidic marinades can cause toughness. You can either reduce the time of marination or reduce the amount of lemon juice.
In fact, it might be better to remove the lemon juice from the marinade and use the other ingredients. After removing from the grill, you can douse the pork chops with lemon juice. Adding the acid at the end will still add the flavor while bringing out the flavor of the pork. I learned this from a class with chef Tim Love. This tip also works for any other grilled meats.
Kathryn
WOW! This is now my new fav way to make pork chops. I love them and am always looking for a new way to prepare them. I just knew by the ingredients I was going to love these and boy was I right. Can't wait to try other recipes on your blog. Thank you so much!!!!!! Don't and wouldn't change a thing!
Sara
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Sandee
Hi! I just made this last nite and it was really good!?? Thanks for the recipe.
Sara
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Sandee!
Tiffany
Made exactly as written and these chops were delicious as well as quick! Definitely a keeper.
Sara
I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Tiffany!
Emily @ mommysnotperfect.com
These look delicious and so light! Pinning for sure!
Rachelle
This looks so yummy!! The calories information, is that per serving?
Sara
The calorie information is off, Rachelle. I just switched over to a different recipe plug-in and some of the information did not transfer correctly. Until I can get things in order, I don't have exact numbers to share with you, but I can tell you that the number that's there is way too high!
Kamie
Hi, if I'm not able to grill them and need to cook them in a pan on the stove how long do you think they need to cook for and what temp? Med or med-high? These sound so yummy and I want to try them, but have never cooked pork chops so just want to make sure I do it right! Thanks 🙂
Sara
If you're not grilling the chops you could always try broiling them on top of a broiler pan in the oven. I'm not quite sure they would turn out the same in a pan on the stove.
lilia garcia
Do ypu think these will work on a george forman? I guess searing would be a problem.
Sara
Yes, I'm not sure a George Foreman will be able to get hot enough for a proper sear!
Mario @ MC2 Creative Living
These pork chop looks absolutely yummy! A must try for sure!
Sara
I hope you try them. They really are delicious!
Kim
We made these tonight and they are SO GOOD! I had to use a combo of fresh lemon and lime as that is what I had. I also had to use half fresh and half dried basil. I let them sit in the mixture for a couple of hours as well... even the kids liked them.
Sara
I'm so happy to hear that, Kim. This recipe is one of our family favorites, too!
Lynne
This was very tasty! I used some lemon basil that I had in my garden. The timing was just perfect on the grill too! Very moist and juicy! Served with veggies and a crisp white wine=perfect summer dinner! Thanks!!
Sara
Lynne, your dinner sounds so perfect! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!