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These spice-rubbed pork chops are so easy to make and turn out super flavorful thanks to the dry rub. You can whip up this delicious dinner in 20 minutes or less!

Spice-Rubbed Pork Chop on white plate with salad

I love grilling when I want something easy and delicious. The grill always adds that wonderful smoky flavor. And if the food I’m cooking has a dry rub, it’s even better.

That’s why I love these spice-rubbed pork chops!

You can make them on the grill or use a grill pan depending on what you prefer. Either way, the whole process takes less than 20 minutes.

This recipe is a bit high in saturated fat — that’s to be expected with pork. However, it’s also low in sodium, low in carbs, and a good source of protein and vitamins.

So the next time you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner that everyone will love, you have to give these flavorful chops a try!

How to make spice-rubbed pork chops

Ready to see how easy it is to whip up this tasty dish?

Ingredients laid out on marble surface

Step 1: Mix the chili powder, cumin, Hot Shot! (or ground black and red peppers), and salt in a small bowl.

Step 2: Place the pork chops on a cutting board and spread about half of the seasoning mixture on the exposed surface.

4 pork chops with seasoning on cutting board

Step 3: Lightly pound the chops with a meat-tenderizing mallet to help the seasonings stick. If you don’t have a mallet, anything heavy will do.

The pork chops after being flattened with hammer

Step 4: Turn the chops over and repeat with the remaining seasoning mixture.

Step 5: Preheat the grill or grill pan. If using the pan, add olive oil and use a silicone pastry brush to distribute evenly across the ridges of the pan.

Grilling pan being coated with oil

Step 6: Place the pork chops on the hot grill or pan and cook for about 5 minutes on the first side without lifting or turning.

Step 7: Flip the chops and cook an additional 4-5 minutes or until the pork is fully cooked through.

Fully cooked pork chops on a grilling pan

Your chops are ready to enjoy!

Tenderizing the meat

When pounding the chops with the meat-tenderizing mallet, it’s important not to pound them too hard. Otherwise, the chops will be too thin and at risk of overcooking.

The goal of using the meat tenderizer is to help the seasonings stick to the surface of the chops. That’s why I recommend a light touch!

What to serve with this dish

Grilling simple dishes like pork chops always makes me want local corn on the cob. If you enjoy corn, that would be my first recommendation.

Roasted potatoes and grilled veggies are always great options. A simple salad would be a delicious side as well!

The flavor from the spice rub will complement most dishes, so really, it just depends on what sounds good to you.

Slice of meat held on fork above plate with pork cop and salad

Storage

These chops make great leftovers. You can enjoy them as is, or slice them up to go over salads or in tacos!

Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

4 spice-rubbed pork chops on a white plates

Other easy pork recipes

Pork is such a versatile protein. It’s a little higher in fat, but it also adds so much flavor to your meal. If you enjoy cooking with pork, here are a few recipes I know you’ll love:

Looking for more tasty meal inspiration? Check out this round-up of my favorite low-carb dinner recipes for diabetics!

When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Spice-Rubbed Pulled Pork

5 from 2 votes
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These spice-rubbed pork chops are so easy to make and turn out super flavorful thanks to the dry rub. You can whip up this delicious dinner in 20 minutes or less!
Author: Diabetic Foodie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • ½ tablespoon chili powder
  • ½ tablespoon ground cumin
  • ½ tablespoon Hot Shot pepper blend, (or combination of ground black and red peppers)
  • dash sea salt
  • 4 boneless pork center loin chops, (about 4 oz each)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Mix the chili powder, cumin, Hot Shot! (or ground black and red peppers), and salt in small bowl.
    ½ tablespoon chili powder, ½ tablespoon ground cumin, ½ tablespoon Hot Shot pepper blend, dash sea salt
  • Place the pork chops on a cutting board and spread about half of the seasoning mixture on the exposed surface.
    4 boneless pork center loin chops
  • Lightly pound the chops with a meat tenderizing mallet to help the seasonings stick.
  • Turn the chops over and repeat with the remaining seasoning mixture.
  • Preheat the grill or grill pan. If using the pan, add olive oil and use a silicone pastry brush to distribute evenly across the ridges of the pan.
    1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Place the pork chops on the hot grill or pan and cook about 5 minutes on the first side without lifting or turning.
  • Flip the chops and cook an additional 4-5 minutes or until the pork is fully cooked through.

Notes

This recipe is for 4 servings. Each serving is 1 pork chop.
Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Spice-Rubbed Pulled Pork
Serving Size
 
1 pork chop
Amount per Serving
Calories
236
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
15.4
g
24
%
Saturated Fat
 
5.2
g
26
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
75
mg
25
%
Sodium
 
167
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
32.5
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
0.8
g
0
%
Fiber
 
0.4
g
2
%
Sugar
 
0.1
g
0
%
Protein
 
23.4
g
47
%
Net carbs
 
0.4
g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.