Grilled Pork Loin Chops with Caramelized Apples and Onions
On May 04, 2022 (Updated October 24, 2023)
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These grilled pork loin chops are seasoned to perfection and topped with decadent caramelized apples and onions. Simple, yet sophisticated, they make a delicious weeknight dinner or awesome entree for a special occasion.
What is a Pork Loin Chop?
Contrary to popular belief, there are actually different types of pork chops! So what is a pork LOIN chop, anyway?
A pork loin chop (AKA center loin chop, porterhouse, or top-loin chop) is cut from the hip and loin toward the back portion of the pig. A pork loin chop is very lean with a very mild pork flavor.
These pork loin chops are great when cooked on the grill, and placing them into a brine beforehand will keep them nice and juicy to ensure they don’t overcook or go dry.
Pork loin chop is thicker and larger with a low level of fat, giving you a big hunk of meat to cook that is nice and filling.
Grilled Pork Loin Chops
This grilled pork loin chop recipe helps you get the most out of your loin chop.
To begin, they’re placed in an apple juice brine for flavor and added moisture. Next, they’re cooked over indirect heat and finished with a nice sear to keep things juicy and moist while retaining flavor.
I like to add a bit of zhuzh to my recipes, so these chops get an added wow factor with a heaping scoop of caramelized apples and onions on top. It’s hard for me to pass up apples or applesauce with my chops, and these make the whole pork loin chop feel like a fancy meal.
How to Grill Pork Loin Chops
As soon as you’re ready to make these delicious chops, Hey Grill Hey is here and waiting to help you make it a success. Here’s how to grill pork loin chops.
- Brine. Make the brine using the instructions in the recipe card below. Add the pork loin chops to the brine and place it in the fridge for 4 hours.
- Season. Remove the pork loin chops from the brine and pat dry. Drizzle with olive oil and season liberally with Sweet Rub. You can make this from scratch using my recipe for Sweet Pork Rub or purchase a bottle of Sweet Rub from the Hey Grill Hey Store.
- Grill. With your grill preheated to 400 degrees F for two-zone cooking, place the chops on the indirect heat side of the grill. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F.
- Make the apples and onions. While the pork cooks over the indirect heat, make the grilled cinnamon apples and onions in a cast-iron skillet on the direct heat side of the grill and set aside.
- Sear. Transfer the chops to the direct heat side of the grill and sear each side for 2-3 minutes or until the final temperature reads 145 degrees F.
- Enjoy. Remove the grilled pork loin chops from the heat. Allow the meat to rest for 5-10 minutes then top them with the caramelized apples and onions and serve.
How Long to Grill Pork Loin Chops
With your grill preheated to degrees F, it should take around 30 minutes to grill pork loin chops. This time will vary from person to person and from chop to chop. Make sure to gauge the doneness based on temperature and not on time.
This 30-minute timeframe may be more or less depending on the consistency of the heat on your grill and the thickness of your pork loin chops. Rather than watching the clock while these are cooking, use an instant-read thermometer and remove them when they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (in the thickest part of the meat).
More Grilled Pork Recipes
Looking for more ways to cook up some delicious pork? These are our most popular grilled pork recipes on the site. Check them out today!
- Grilled Pork Chops with Homemade Sweet Rub
- Bacon Wrapped Grilled Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Apples
- Grilled Pork Loin
Grilled Pork Loin Chop Recipe
Here’s hoping your dinner was a success with this grilled pork loin recipe? Be sure to let us know how it turned out in the comments below (and leave us a 5-star rating while you’re at it!). We greatly appreciate your support!
Grilled Pork Loin Chops with Grilled Cinnamon Apples
Ingredients
- 4 center cut pork loin chops around 1 1/2 inches thick
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons Sweet Rub recipe in notes
Apple Juice Brine
- 4 cups apple juice
- 4 Tablespoons kosher salt
Grilled Apple Topping
- 2 Honeycrisp apples chopped
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Brine the pork. In a medium pot, mix 4 Tablespoons kosher salt and 4 cups apple juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat and allow salt to dissolve. Remove the brine from the heat and let it cool completely. Fully submerge the pork chops in the brine and allow them to brine for 4 hours in the refrigerator.
- Season. Remove the pork chops from the brine and pat dry. Drizzle with olive oil and season on all sides with Sweet Rub.
- Preheat. Preheat your grill to 400 degrees F using two-zone heat. You can also add apple wood chunks to your charcoal or a foil pack of wood chips to your gas grill if you want additional smoke flair.
- Grill the pork loin chops. Place the seasoned pork chops on the indirect side of your grill, close the lid, and cook for approximately 30 minutes. Grill until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the meat reaches 135 degrees F.
- Make the cinnamon apple topping. While the pork chops cook on the indirect side of the grill, place a cast-iron skillet on the direct heat side of your grill. Add butter, chopped apples, onions, cinnamon, and brown sugar to the cast iron skillet and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes. Set aside.
- Sear. Transfer the pork chops over to the direct heat side of the grill and sear on each side for 2-3 minutes until145 degrees F internal temperature.
- Enjoy. Remove from the grill and top with the cooked apples and onions. Serve while still hot.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I did 2 large center cut chops did not brine did put your sweet pork /chicken rub on. Cooked the chops on the warming rack of my grill Used 1 large apple 1/2 sweet vedalia onion all diced, 1/8 cup brown sugar i1/2 teaspoon cinnamon Same amount of butter.Then at the end I flambéed 2 shots of apple brandy and when all was done, I turned off the grill and put the chops in the pan and smothered it with apple and onions.Thanks for the recipe this is a KEEPER
I cut the chops to about 1 1/4. Chops were done in 20 minutes. Loved the apples and onions. I’ll back the heat off to 350 and check at 15 minutes and flip once once I cook it again.
Made this for dinner tonight and my husband said “This should be the official recipe for Washington State apple growers! This is delicious!” Guess you could say he approves. Thanks Susie for another winner winner pork and apple dinner!!!