What’s a little smokey, a little sweet, and a lot delicious? This super easy homemade pork chop seasoning! A blend of savory spices and a touch of brown sugar come together for the best dry seasoning for pork chops that you’ll ever try.
What Makes This Pork Chop Seasoning So Good
- This incredible pork chop seasoning can be used for any cut of pork (even bacon!) and any cooking method. Grilled pork, air fryer pork tenderloin or pork chops, Instant Pot pork, sous vide pork ribs – whatever! Honestly, you could use this blend on salmon or chicken, too.
- Homemade seasonings like this will stay good a long time, as long as you store them properly. Don’t be afraid to double or triple this recipe to make enough dry rub to keep on hand for the future! Store the pork chop seasoning in an airtight container, in a cool, dry, dark place, and it will keep up to 6 months.
- You can really make this spice blend your own! The ratio of spices is terrific as-is, but you can adjust each ingredient as desired based on your personal preferences. Not a fan of spicy? Cut back on the cayenne. Want to avoid the added sugar? Use a sugar substitute instead of brown sugar. You could also use a little cinnamon, crushed red pepper flakes, or cumin if you want.
Key Ingredients for This Pork Chop Seasoning
Smoked Paprika – Regular paprika will work, but smoked paprika really puts the pork chop seasoning over the top. It gives the dry rub that amazing smoky flavor, without having to fire up the grill.
Brown Sugar – I love, love the rich, deep, sweet flavor that brown sugar gives to pork chops. Blended in with all the other spices in the pork chop seasoning, it’s the perfect amount of sweet that won’t overpower the rest of your meal.
Cayenne – Just ½ teaspoon, to give it a little kick. If you love cayenne, feel free to dial it up to ¾ or 1 teaspoon. If heat’s not your thing, walk it back to ¼ or ⅛ teaspoon.
Chef’s Tips
- When you’re ready to use your pork chop seasoning, you can coat the pork chop lightly with olive oil then add your spice blend. You can also rub the seasoning directly onto every side of the pork, then let it sit at least 10 minutes, to give the meat time to soak up those flavors. Cook as desired!
- Remember when you’re cooking pork that you want to aim for an internal temperature of 145° Fahrenheit for food safety purposes. Use an internal meat thermometer so you know exactly when it’s ready!
- The sugar in the pork chop seasoning will give the meat a slight caramelization. Keep an eye on it while you’re cooking to make sure the sugar doesn’t burn!
Other Seasonings, Sauces, and Brines You’ll Enjoy
- Whole30 Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Mango Habanero Sauce
- How to Brine Chicken Wings
- Pork Chop Brine
- Homemade Taco Sauce
- Quick Chicken Brine for Perfect Chicken Every Time
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Easy Pork Chop Seasoning
Equipment
- Small bowl
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar see Notes
- ½ tablespoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ tablespoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to small bowl and stir until thoroughly distributed. Use immediately or transfer to airtight container.
Notes
- Make it Keto/Sugar Free: Use Brown Swerve in place of the brown sugar.
- Make it Paleo: Use coconut sugar in place of the brown sugar.
Nutrition
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Jasmine Comer is a food photographer and recipe developer from North Carolina. She grew up in the kitchen watching her mom cook all types of delicious meals. In 2016 she established Lively Meals, a food blog where she creates healthy recipes. This led to creating recipes for other blogs as well. In her free time she enjoys exploring new places and spending time in nature. Ultimately she’s grateful to be doing work she loves—cooking good food and sharing it with people.
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