These pellet grill pork chops with a Korean-style marinade are a little sweet, made with a bit of heat, and a whole lot of juicy!
Never make pork chops the same with this easy Korean pork chop recipe featuring incredible flavor and a kiss of smoke.
Whether you are preparing these pellet grill pork chops for a weekday or weeknight meal or a special ocassion, this is one easy meal that will earn you the highest star rating!
Looking for other pork recipes to enjoy? Check out Grilled Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples, Easy Overnight Smoked Pork Shoulder, Smoked Pork Loin cut into Pork Chops, and BBQ Dry Rub Seasoning for Pork Loin!
Best Smoked Pork Chops
This is not your mom's or grandmas boring pork chop dinner recipe! This is a delicious dish inspired by Korean cuisine and made with a somewhat underrated cut of meat.
No lie, these pork chops rank amongst some of the best pork chops I have ever eaten.
They are easy to make, the marinade does all the work, and they are full of juicy and smoky flavor with a perfectly tender bite every time.
Ingredients needed for a delicious Pork Chop Recipe
Meat: For this recipe, you are going to need 6 eight oz boneless pork chops. If you are preparing for a crowd or looking to have leftovers to use in other meals thoughout the week, double accordingly.
Seasoning: We are going to season with the basics, 2 tsp of kosher salt, 2 tbsp of coarse black pepper, and 1 tbsp of black & white sesame seeds (optional).
Pork Chop Marinade: To achieve flavorful pork chops, you need an irresistible marinade. So, while you are at the grocery store picking up pork chops, make sure you have 2 tbsp of avocado oil, 1 tsp of sesame oil, 2 tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tbsp of ketchup, 1 tbsp of sriracha, 1 tbsp of minced garlic, 2 tsp of grated ginger, ¼ cup of smashed scallions (the white parts (save green part), 2 tsp of Korean chili flakes, 2 limes to use for the juice and zest, 1 tbsp of honey, and finally, ½ tsp of 5 spice.
Garnish: Garnish with ¼ cup of thinly sliced scallions (the green parts) before serving.
How to Make Pellet Grill Pork Chops
Make the marinade. Prepare marinade by whisking the ingredients in a large bowl.
Season pork chops. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper
Allow meat to marinate. Place the pork chops in the marinade for at least an hour, but overnight would be even better.
Preheat the pellet grill. Set the pellet grill to 400 degrees F. remove the pork chops from the marinade and pat dry. Reserve the marinade for basting.
Cook. Grill the pork chops for about 5 minutes per side until they reach an internal temp of about 125 degrees F.
Baste the meat. Baste the reserved marinade onto the pork chops on both sides until the marinade caramelizes. The final internal temperature of the pork should be between 145-155 degrees F. depending on how you prefer.
Rest the meat. Let the pork chops rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Pork Chop Thickness: A thick-cut pork chop will take longer to cook versus a thin pork chop, so be mindful of the size and internal temperature when checking for doneness.
Wood Chips: The question about wood chunks, chips, or pellets comes up constantly, so if you don't know me or follow me, I like to use a blend of wood pellets, so I'm not constantly changing them out with each recipe. However, if you are looking for a particular flavor recommendation, I recommend using apple wood pellets when making pork chops.
Thick Cut Bone-In Pork Chops: If you are looking to make these pork chops fancy for a romantic meal or special occasion, you can make a thick cut bone in version to elevate the meal.
Sauce: Because this recipe features a super tasty Korean style marinade, I don't think these pork chops need to be served alongside anything. However, if you are looking to pass on the marinade and just smoke some pork chops, you can never go wrong in serving them with some barbecue sauce.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Smoker: Whether you have a Traeger pellet smoker, Trager pellet grill, or some other smoker, pull it out because you are going to need it to make this recipe!
Grill: If you don't have a smoker, you can make this same recipe on a charcoal grill or whatever kind of grill you have handy. The only difference is, you won't need wood chips, so you won't get that smokey infusion in your meat.
Air-tight container: Go leftovers or cooking to have meat for the week? Grab an air-tight container and store whatever meat you have left in the fridge.
Meat Thermometer: This is one of the most important tools you can have on hand when smoking or grilling. A meat probe is going to ensure your meat is cooked to its desired temperature at its thickest part.
Different Types of Pork Chop Cuts
When making pork chops, there are actually many different cuts you can choose from.
The most popular cuts of pork you are likely to come across is pork loin chops and pork rib chops.
Pork loin, loin chops, or pork loin chops that come from the back of the pig and have the least amount of fat on them in comparison to a beautifully marbled and juicy rib chop.
Pork rib chops or rib chops come from the ribs near the spine of the pig and are fattier. I find that the rib chop also has a more robust and richer flavor.
How long do I cook pork chops on a pellet grill?
I don't love giving super exact timing when it comes to smoking or grilling because some people take it as the gospel truth.
The truth is and the biggest pro tip I can give you is this...
The size and thickness of your pork chops will determine your cook time!
You are going to want to smoke your pork chops until they reach an internal temperature of 145-155 degrees F at its thickest part.
Do you flip pork chops on a pellet grill?
Yes, for this recipe, place pork chops on the grill and split your cook time in half.
At the halfway mark, baste and flip your pork chops. Keep cooking your pork chops until they have reached the correct internal temperature.
How long do pork chops take to smoke at 225?
When cooking pork chops, it's essential to remember that the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the pork chops. For a ½ inch to ¾ inch thick chop, it will take about 10-12 minutes per side at 225 degrees F. always use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature.
How long does it take pork chops to smoke at 250?
When cooking pork chops, it's essential to remember that the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the pork chops. For a ½ inch to ¾ inch thick chop, it will take about 7-9 minutes per side at 250 degrees F. always use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Other Easy Smoker Recipes You'll Enjoy
Looking for more recipes to try in your smoker? Try these out for size:
- Smoked Chicken Wings (0-400 method)
- Smoked St. Louis Ribs on the Pellet Grill
- Smoked Beef Shank on a Pellet Grill
- Pellet Grill Smoked Baked Beans
- Pellet Grill Butterflied Chicken Legs
- Pellet Grill Corn On The Cob
Pellet Grill Pork Chops with Korean Style Marinade
Ingredients
- 48 oz Pork Chops six 8oz boneless pork chops
- 2 tbsp Kosher Salt
- 2 tbsp Coarse Black Pepper
- ¼ cup Scallions thinly sliced (green parts)
- 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds black & white optional
Marinade
- 2 tbsp Avocado Oil
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Sriracha
- 1 tbsp Garlic Minced
- 2 tsp Ginger Grated
- ¼ cup Scallions 1 inch pieces (white parts)
- 1 tbsp Korean Chili Flakes
- 2 limes Juice and zest
- 1 tbsp Honey
- ½ tsp 5 Spice
Instructions
- Prepare marinade by whisking the ingredients in a large bowl.
- Season the pork chops with salt and pepper
- Place the pork chops in the marinade for at least an hour, but overnight would be even better.
- Set the pellet grill to 400 degrees F. remove the pork chops from the marinade and pat dry. Reserve the marinade for basting. Grill the pork chops for about 5 minutes per side until they reach an internal temp of about 125 degrees F.
- Baste the reserved marinate onto the pork chops on both sides until the marinade caramelizes. The final internal temperature of the pork should be between 145-155 degrees F. depending on how you prefer. Let the pork chops rest for 5 minutes before slicing
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