Simple Honey Mustard Pork Chops: A BBQ Recipe

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Honey Mustard Pork Chops. Boneless pork chops marinated in a honey mustard cinnamon sauce and then grilled to perfection.

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Whenever I can, I love to substitute pork into a dish that was originally intended for chicken. This recipe, honey mustard pork chops, I originally made with chicken. I really enjoy pork, and all of its wonderful cuts. Some of them includes; center cut chops, boneless chops, loin, tenderloin, shoulder, ground, ham, and of course bacon.

But my absolute favorite way to make pork is boneless pork chops. And my reason for this? Because they can be surprisingly challenging to cook well. They can easily be overcooked, they can turn out tough and dry, and many people have had an overbaked, tough, hard, dry, and tasteless thin boneless pork chop as a vivid memory from being a child.

It is the challenge of introducing and sometimes converting people back to trying, and in most cases, enjoying perfectly cooked, juicy, and tender boneless pork chops that is the reason this cut of pork is my favorite to cook. The steps to making great boneless pork chops are simple; first, cut or buy the pork chops at least 1 inch thick, second, season or marinate the meat before cooking, third, cook the pork to an internal temperature of 145 degrees, and fourth, let the pork rest for about 3 minutes before serving. The steps are simple but the challenge is with the nuances in some of the steps.

Step one is straight forward. Make sure the boneless pork chops are not too thin, at least 1 inch thick is a good starting point. Remember, the thicker the boneless pork chop, the longer the cooking time.

Step two can further dictate how long the cooking time will be. If you are just seasoning the boneless pork chops with salt, pepper, and some other herbs, the cooking time will be quicker than if you marinated the boneless pork chops. Marinating the boneless pork chops tends to add a few more minutes of cooking, at least that is the case in my experience.

Step three is the most challenging of the steps to learn and to be comfortable with. It is also the step where the style of cooking you choose will increase or decrease the cooking time and difficulty.

How to Cook Pork Chops

• Baking: to me, this is the most straight forward and easiest to learn. Season the pork, place on a baking sheet, bake for about 20-30 minutes, then check the temperature to make sure the pork is ready.
  • Example: Start by cutting or buying at least 1 inch thick boneless pork chops. Season the pork chops with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Place the pork chops on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Check the internal temperature and bake longer if needed. As you prepare the pork like this a few more times you will become familiar and comfortable with your oven, and the time it takes to perfectly cook the boneless pork chops.
  • Here is a baking sheet that I use and recommend. It gets the job done.

• Grilling: the level of difficulty increases for this cooking method. The main reason: the grill. Learning to cook on the grill, or better yet, learning the hot and cold spots of your grill takes some time and practice. However, once you are comfortable with grilling, this method may become your favorite. This is my favorite way to make boneless pork chops. The chops are just so juicy and delicious with this method.
  • Example: This recipe, Honey Mustard Pork Chops. See the instructions below.

• Pan Searing: in my opinion, this is the most difficult and complicated of the 3 cooking methods. It is the method that took me the longest to be comfortable with, and to perfect. This method requires a skillet, high heat, and some kind of fat, usually oil or butter. It is the most complicated in my opinion because you are dealing with high heat, potential splatter from oil or butter, and you can easily overcook the meat. When pan searing I do not recommend marinating the pork chops. I always season the meat with herbs, then pan sear. Marinating will lower the cooking temperature when the marinade meets the hot fat and this will not create the affect of searing that you want.
  • Example: Start by cutting or buying at least 1 inch thick boneless pork chops. Season the pork chops with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano. In a large skillet add enough oil to coat the skillet in a very thin layer. Bring the skillet to high heat. Add the pork chops and sear for 2 minutes, then rotate the pork 90 degrees. Sear for 2 more minutes, then flip the pork chops over. Sear for 2 more minutes, then rotate 90 degrees and sear for 2 more minutes. For one inch thick boneless pork chops about 8 minutes total or searing will get the job done. For thicker pork chops more time will be needed, or the pork will have to be finished in the over. But that is a whole different approach.
  • Here is an example of an oven safe skillet you can use. I have not tried this one, but this would work.

Step four is straight forward. When the pork is done cooking, let is rest for a few minutes before serving.

How to Make Honey Mustard Pork Chops

Marinating the Pork:

• Ensure you are using pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. Place the pork into a large mixing bowl or a sealable plastic bag.
• Next, add the remaining ingredients. Mix well and marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Cooking the Pork:

• On a preheated grill, place the honey mustard pork chops evenly apart and cook for about 12-14 minutes, or until the pork reaches and internal temperature of 145 degrees.

Recommended Grilling Method for the Pork Chops:

• Rotate the honey mustard pork chops 3 minutes into cooking, flip the pork after 6 minutes of cooking, and rotate the pork a final time after 9 minutes of cooking.
• Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the honey mustard pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees

How To Serve Honey Mustard Pork Chops:

• Let the honey mustard pork chops rest for a few minutes, about 3-5 minutes, before servings.
• Serve this honey mustard pork with a vegetable, such as, sautéed zucchini with garlic or green beans with garlic and onions.

Invent Your Recipe

This recipe for honey mustard pork chops, uses a straight-forward marinade for the pork chops. I have a very similar recipe for honey mustard chicken. The marinade is basically the same, except for some garlic and onion powder. 

When using the cinnamon in the recipe be careful to only use 1/4 tsp or less. The cinnamon can easily overtake the dish and become the main flavor. Well, if you enjoy cinnamon you can use more, however, I would recommend only the 1/4 tsp or less.

For additional ingredients for the marinade you could add some, just be careful because depending what you add you could lose the honey mustard flavor. For instance, if you like lemon or lime juice in your marinades, then just add a little bit to this recipe, taking care not to drown out the honey or mustard flavor.

For more pork inspired dished like this honey mustard pork recipe, check out our pork recipes page.

For even more ideas like this honey mustard pork dish check out our pinterest page.