Tropical flavors of pineapple, coconut & rum flavor these moist & deliciously grilled pineapple pork chops. Top each with a slice of grilled pineapple for the tastiest island-inspired pork chops ever. Serve with a side of rice for one quick and easy dinner.
Grilling in the summertime is a great way to keep the heat out of the kitchen, It's also a great way to add flavor to the meal and keep cleanup to a minimum.
Grilling and marinating meats is one of the easiest things to do and lends the most incredible flavor and moistness to the end result. Recipes like Korean BBQ Kabobs, Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken, Grilled Rosemary Lamb Chops, and these Pineapple Pork Chops are just a few great examples.
You will need to plan ahead when making this pineapple pork chop recipe as the pork chops will need to marinate for at least 8 hours. However, it is just a matter of dropping them into a pina colada-flavored mixture and letting them chill.
Believe me, it will be well worth the wait when all those island flavors land on your dinner plate!
Why You'll Love This Pineapple Pork Chop Recipe
- Super easy to make
- Plenty of island flavor
- Moist and tender
- No need to heat up the kitchen
Pineapple Pork Chops Marinade
This pineapple juice marinade smells so good you might actually think about drinking it rather than marinating the pork. lol Needless to say, don't do that because it really makes these grilled pineapple pork chops over the top delicious.
It's a simple marinade, think of it like a pina colada for pork chops. It's a mixture of coconut milk, pineapple juice, lime juice, and dark rum. See, pina colada all the way!
Recipe Ingredients
- Boneless Pork Chops - purchase thick-cut pork chops as thin-cut will dry out too easily
- Pineapple Juice - the canned variety is fine to use
- Coconut Milk - helps to tenderize the pork chops. For the best flavor make sure to use coconut milk not cream of coconut or light coconut milk
- Dark Rum - provides the most flavor but white rum can be used as well
- Lime Juice - fresh or bottled is fine
- Pineapple - Fresh is best but canned pineapple rings can be used in a pinch
How to Make Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops
Pineapple Pork Chops Marinade
- Place pineapple juice in a bowl. Pour in lime juice.
- Add dark rum.
- Whisk in coconut milk.
- Pour marinade into a large resealable plastic bag.
- Add pork chops.
- Seal and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours but preferable 8 hours to overnight.
Grilling Pork Chops and Pineapple
- Remove pork chops from the marinade about 30 minutes prior to grilling and let them come to room temperature.
- Preheat the grill to a moderate-high heat, 375-400 degrees. Place pork chops on the grill and cook for 12-14 minutes, depending on thickness.
- Turn halfway through.
- With 4 minutes remaining on pork chops, place pineapple rings on the grill and cook 2 minutes per side.
Pork chops are done when a digital thermometer in the center reads 145 degrees. Cover them with foil and let them rest for 5-10 minutes then serve with grilled pineapple rings and a side of pineapple rice.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Use thick pork chops, about 1-inch thick.
- Marinate for 8 hours but not more than 12 hours or the pork chops can become mushy.
- Take the pork chops out of the fridge about 30 minutes prior to grilling to bring the pork chops to room temperature.
- Grill the pork chops at medium-high heat, about 375°-400°F.
- Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The pork chops are done when the internal temp is 145°F.
- Use tongs to place and flip the pork chops on the grill. Poking or stabbing them will cause the juices to come out and make them dry.
- After grilling the pork chops, cover them with foil and allow them to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
What To Serve with Pineapple Pork Chops
Combining these pork chops with a pina colada would be like sitting at a luau on a tropical island. OK, I'm getting carried away aren't I? But it would be delish!
Topping the pork chops with pineapple salsa adds even more fruity deliciousness.
While grilling the pork chops, make some rice, quinoa, or a vegetable like Skillet Green Beans from Two Pink Peonies for healthy side dishes to complete the dinner.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Storing - these pork chops with pineapple will keep 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Reheating leftovers - To keep the pork chops from drying out, place them in an oven-safe dish with about 2 tablespoons of water or chicken broth. Cover with foil and reheat in a 350-degree oven for about 10-15 minutes.
Freezing - pork chops will keep for 3 months. They can be frozen for longer but will begin to lose their flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Pineapple juice is a natural tenderizer. The bromelain enzyme in pineapple helps to dissolve or degrade the connective tissues (collagen and elastin).
The marinating time for meat in pineapple juice should not exceed 12 hours. The acidic properties of pineapple juice will cause the meat to cook in the marinade.
Pineapple will only make pork mushy if the pork is marinated with pineapple for too long (over 12 hours).
Pork chops are a great source of protein and have important nutrients including iron, selenium, and zinc.
Pork chops are lean cuts and low in fat. A 3-ounce portion of boneless loin chop has 6.2 grams of fat which meet the USDA guidelines for lean (less than 10 grams).
Pork loin comes from the back part of a pig's rib cage. Pork chops are taken from the meat around the pig's spine.
Love pork chops? Try these recipes:
Air Fryer Pork Chops are flavored deliciously with a homemade spice mix.
Easy Pork Chop Casserole with cream of mushroom soup and topped with cauliflower tots.
Honey Glazed Grilled Pork Chops with garlic and soy sauce.
Pork Chop Potato Casserole with scalloped potatoes and cheesy sauce.
Find lots more easy main dish recipes here on 2CM!
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Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 boneless pork chops, about 1" thick
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 1 ⅔ cup coconut milk
- 3 Tablespoons dark rum
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice or juice from 1 lime
- 4 pineapple rings
Instructions
- Combine pineapple juice, coconut milk, rum and lime juice in a large gallon ziploc bag. Place pork chops in marinade and seal. Allow to marinate in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat, 375-400 degrees.
- Remove pork chops from marinade and discard marinade. Let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Grill pork chops for 12-14 minutes, depending on thickness, turning halfway through cooking time. Digital thermometer should read 140-145 when done.
- With 4 minutes remaining for pork chops, lay 4 pineapple rings on the grill and cook 2 minutes per side just to sear.
- Remove all from the grill and allow pork chops to rest, covered with foil, for 5-10 minutes. Serve with a side a pineapple rice.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and step-by-step directions. It was first published on August 8, 2016.
