You just need five ingredients to create these sweet and savory pork chops. And, they’ll be ready in less than 20 minutes!
The combination of sweet and savory is a class one. It’s common in sweets and desserts, such as chocolate covered pretzels or salty caramel sauce. It can also be used in savory recipes, like my Roasted Salmon with Mango & Avocado Salsa. Savory, hot-out-of-the-oven salmon + the sweetness from the mangos creates a treat for the senses.
Honey and soy sauce come together again to create the sweet and savory combination in these Honey Soy Pork Chops. They’re easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but also impressive enough for entertaining. I have a friend who makes these frequently for guests, to rave reviews!
The recipe is simple: grill the pork chops, and while they are cooking, make the glaze. You’ll have a delicious main dish in less than 20 minutes!
Ingredients
- I like bone-in pork chops for this recipe. You could also use boneless pork chops.
- Honey adds sweetness.
- Soy sauce adds a savory, umami quality to the glaze.
- Lime juice lends a touch of tartness.
- Ground coriander has notes of citrus, which complements the sweetness from the honey and the richness of the soy sauce.
Tips for shopping for pork chops
When I’m shopping for pork chops, I usually choose a bone-in, thin-cut chop. The bones add more flavor to the finished product, and the thin-cut selection makes it easier to cook.
If I were cooking with a massive, 1½-inch thick pork chop, I would grill it first and then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking through.
With thin-cut pork chops (which are about ¾ of an inch thick), I can just grill it on both sides and be done. It minimizes the risk of it drying out, too, since the cooking time is shorter.
Making the glaze
There are all sorts of techniques for glazing pork chops out there. A popular one is to brush the pork chops with the glaze near the end of the cooking time.
I happen to think that creates a massive mess of the grill or grill pan (here’s the one I use
). Who wants to clean a sticky glaze off a hot grill, or worse, scrub it off a cold grill? Not me.
So I opt to cook them separately, boiling the glaze until it thickens. After the pork chops are finished cooking, I place them on a serving platter and then drizzle them with the glaze. This makes a nicer presentation, too!
FAQs
What can I use instead of lime juice?
If you’re out of limes, you could substitute red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar.
What can I use instead of coriander?
You can just leave it out. It adds a slight citrusy flavor, but it doesn’t have a comparable substitute.
Serving the pork chops
These chops are great for a summer meal. For the side, how about fresh corn on the cob? This recipe for Corn on the Cob with Herbed Compound Butter is my favorite way to serve it. Grandma’s German Potato Salad would also be really delicious on the side.
For something lighter, try a big green salad with Garlic Butter Croutons.
If you make this recipe, please leave me a rating below, or tag me on Instagram or Pinterest. I love hearing from you!
Grilled Pork Chops with Honey Soy Glaze
Ingredients
- 4 thin-cut bone-in pork chops
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- For garnish: chopped green onions (dark green parts only)
Instructions
Outdoors:
- Heat the grill to medium high heat. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Grill the pork chops for 2–3 minutes per side, or until just cooked through. Remove and place on a serving platter.
- While the pork chops are cooking, place the honey, soy sauce, lime juice, and coriander in a small skillet over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then continue cooking until the sauce comes to a maple syrup-like consistency.
- Remove from the heat and drizzle over the pork chops. If desired, garnish with green onions.
Indoors:
- Heat an indoor grill pan over medium high heat. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Grill the pork chops for 3–4 minutes per side, or until just cooked through. Remove and place on a serving platter.
- While the pork chops are cooking, place the honey, soy sauce, lime juice, and coriander in a small skillet over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then continue cooking until the sauce comes to a maple syrup-like consistency.
- Remove from the heat and drizzle over the pork chops. If desired, garnish with green onions.
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