maple loving good

Pork chops are a go to dinner for The Hubby and I. I just love how versatile it is and how EASY it is to prepare.

The other white meat…

Those commercials always made me laugh so hard. This one still makes me laugh…I don’t know that I have ever danced in excitement over pork…but these people do! I will say though after having these pork chops, I might have done a little booty shake out of shear enjoyment…I’m just saying maybe I did.

I LOVE versatility

One of the best things about pork is it’s versatility. You can grill them, roast them, marinate them, dry rub them, top with sauces, eat plain, skewer them, chop up for a salad, slow cook and pull apart for sandwiches …you can do really anything you want with pork. For The Hubby though is favorite is a pork chop wither roasted or grilled.

One of our favorite pork cuts is the center cut chop. It feels so decadent but with just a fraction of the decadent fat & calories you normally have. Even though it is thick, pork cooks so quickly that you get a juicy pork chop with a nice crust. You could use bone in chops if you prefer, just adjust cooking time as needed…again love the versatility.

Why maple?

The Hubby loves maple anything, but especially with pork. Being the awesome wife I am I decided to go with a maple glaze that had a little kick (I like a little kick) to help balance it all out. I have to admit I do love the stickiness of the glaze, it just seems so perfect for pork.

If you are not too into the sweet, cut back on the molasses, add in more chili powder and maybe a splash of sriracha to really amp it up even more. You could also throw in some lime or lemon juice with some fresh herbs to brighten it up a bit (especially for the summer).

Oven or Grill?

This is always a question in our home. The Hubby is always wanting to cook on the grill if he can. When I started to develop this recipe the intent was to cook the chops on the grill, but then the weather happened. I am talking about days and days of rain, and unfortunately we do not have a covered patio & I just couldn’t ask The Hubby to cook in the rain so inside we came.

Whether you cook inside or out make sure you get a nice sear & crust on the chops. It really helps keep the chops moist and tender.

If cooking inside preheat the pan on high and cook for a few minutes on each side and then throw everything into the oven. If using the grill, sear on the hot part of the grill and then finish cooking on the cooler part. All the specific directions are in the recipe below.

Get to cooking…

[mpprecipe-recipe:152]

Weeknight or Weekend?

The beauty of these pork chops is you can make them either during the week or for a lazy weekend meal. They come together super quick, and easy making them perfect for either.

PS…everyone is going to love them, so you might want to stock your freezer with pork chops now.