• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Food Blogger Resources
  • Contact Me
My Account
Member Dashboard
40 Aprons Premium (Ad Free!)

40 Aprons

Healthy, Easy Recipes Your Family Will Love

  • All Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Meal Prep
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Baking
    • Crockpot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
  • Dietary Needs
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican & Latin
    • Southern
Home Blog Course Main Course

Pork Chop Brine

Sam Guarnieri
Sam Guarnieri Posted: 03/09/21 Updated: 01/27/22
5
/5
3 Comments
Jump to Recipe
P Paleo

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Pin graphic for pork chop brine
Pin graphic for pork chop brine
Pin graphic for pork chop brine
Pin graphic for pork chop brine
Pin graphic for pork chop brine
Pin graphic for pork chop brine

This pork chop brine creates incredibly juicy and flavorful pork chops! It’s the easiest way to add moisture and intense flavor to a lean cut of meat. Spicy peppercorns, fresh thyme, and brown sugar create a perfect, well-rounded brine.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

  • Brine helps pork chops draw in as much moisture as possible. An otherwise dry cut of meat is instantly loaded with flavor the second it’s brined!
  • A combination of brown sugar and salt create a savory pork chop with just a touch of sweetness. These sweet and savory ingredients also create a nice crust around the pork chops when cooked.
  • It takes just 5 minutes to prep! Mix up your brine, add it to a bag with the pork chops, and let it work its magic in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Key Ingredients

Brown Sugar – Adds a deep caramel color and flavor to your pork chops. Also contributes a touch of sweetness to an otherwise savory dish. If you’d like to make this paleo, use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar.

Bay Leaf – When left in this pork chop brine for at least 8 hours, the bay leaf releases a subtle herb flavor. Just one bay leaf is enough to enhance the taste of your pork chops.

Kosher Salt – Salt is the base of any and all brines. In this recipe, it breaks down the protein in the pork chops, allowing the meat to absorb a ton more moisture and flavor!

Chef’s Tips

  • Allow the brine to cool completely, then add it to the pork chops. If it’s too hot, it will begin to cook your pork chops. If the pork starts to cook, then the science behind the brine simply won’t work.
  • The black peppercorns, bay leaf, thyme, and garlic amounts can all be adjusted. The amounts listed in the recipe below yield delicious pork chops. Though if you’re not a fan of any of those ingredients, simply leave them out of your brine.
  • Cook your pork chops however you’d like once they’re done brining. My favorite cooking method is pan-searing them in a little bit of olive oil. I heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, then sear each pork chop for 3-5 minutes per side. The end result is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, delicious pork chops.
Pork Chop Brine Cooked

More Delicious Pork Recipes

  • Air Fryer Pork Chop
  • Crockpot Carnitas with Pork Tenderloin
  • Pork Chops with Apples
  • Instant Pot Pulled Pork
  • Pork Adobo
  • Homemade Pork Chop Seasoning

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

5 from 1 vote

Pork Chop Brine

Prep:5 minutes
Resting Time:8 hours
Total:8 hours 5 minutes
This pork chop brine creates incredibly juicy and flavorful pork chops! It's the easiest way to add moisture and intense flavor to a lean cut of meat. Spicy peppercorns, fresh thyme, and brown sugar create a perfect, well-rounded brine.
Print Save Saved! Go Premium – Ad Free + Meal Plans!
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar see Notes
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic smashed
  • ¼ cup kosher salt
  • 4 pork chops

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Resealable plastic bag

Instructions 

  • Add 1 cup of water, brown sugar, black peppercorns, bay leaf, thyme, garlic, and salt to a saucepan over low heat. Simmer until brown sugar and salt have dissolved.
    Pork Chop Brine Process Photo 1
  • Remove from heat. Add in remaining 3 cups of water. Let brine cool completely before moving to the next step.
  • Once the brine has cooled, add it to a large resealable plastic bag. Add pork chops and refrigerate at least 6 hours, up to 24 hours.
  • Remove pork chops from the brine. Pat completely dry and cook as desired.

Notes

  • Make it Paleo: Use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1pork chop, Calories: 247kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 90mg, Sodium: 7153mg, Potassium: 537mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 37IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 1mg, Net Carbs: 9g

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

 

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

 

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

© Author: Sam Guarnieri

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @40aprons on social and be sure to leave a review on the blog post!

Rate Recipe Tag Me on Instagram
Sam Guarnieri

Meet Sam Guarnieri

Hi! I’m Sam, a travel, food and fitness enthusiast from the New York metro area. I love creating new and inventive recipes, and my favorite part is sharing them with others. My love of food goes all the way back to my early childhood, I grew up cooking alongside my mom and Nonna – the two best cooks I know! When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m either planning my next vacation, spending time outdoors (preferably on a beach), or bingeing Netflix’s latest docu-series. My passion for eating and living well led me to create the blog and Instagram account, Sam Does Her Best, where I health-ify my favorite comfort foods. I’m a big believer that good-for-you food can still be exploding with flavor and (most importantly) easy to make. I’m thrilled to be here at 40 Aprons doing what I do best – creating, photographing, and sharing delicious recipes with you all!

Read more...

You may also like...

  • pork chop being lifted out of pork chop casserole
    Pork Chop Casserole
  • Pork chop seasoning in a small jar with a spoon
    Homemade Pork Chop Seasoning
  • Sliced pork chop cooked in the air fryer with a bed of green veggies on a white plate
    Air Fryer Pork Chop

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Julie Malone says

    Posted on 3/10/21 at 12:08 pm

    I have to tell you — I was a vegetarian for 22 (!!!!!) years and just started eating (local, regenerative agricultural / Audubon certified pastured – I am insufferable!) meat about a month ago. Your recipes have been THE way I have learned how to cook various cuts of meats that come in my meat subscription. I have found a few blogs but, time and time again, you happen to be cooking what I already want to be eating. THANK YOU!

    Reply
  2. Debbie says

    Posted on 3/9/21 at 2:06 pm

    Can this brine be used on a pork loin roast? Or would you need to modify it?

    Reply
    • Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 3/10/21 at 10:11 am

      It should work for a pork loin roast 🙂5 stars

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Reader Faves

Overhead view of marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet

Marry Me Chicken (Chicken in a Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce)

Overhead view of Whole30 fish taco bowl.

Whole30 Fish Taco Bowl with Mango Salsa and Chipotle Aioli (Paleo, Low Carb)

Overhead, closeup photo of various styles of frozen french fries on an oval shaped platter with a ramekin of ketchup

Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

Overhead view of a platter of sliced flank steak coated in chimichurri.

Chimichurri Flank Steak

In Season

Four chicken tacos in a row

Shredded Chicken Tacos

A single blackened shrimp being dipped into a small bowl of remoulade

Blackened Shrimp with Remoulade Sauce

Overhead view of a casserole dish full of ham and potato casserole, with one scoop transferred to a plate.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

7 layer salad in a trifle bowl in front of white subway tile

Easy 7 Layer Salad with Homemade Dressing

As seen on:

More Goodies + NO Ads!

Become a 40 Aprons Premium Member!

All the 40 Aprons content you love - now even better.

  • Member-Exclusive Recipes
  • Meal Plans & Grocery Lists
  • eBooks
  • NO ADS!
Join now

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2022 40 Aprons
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
352 shares