The BEST Molasses Marinade for Grilled Pork Chops is thick and sweet from molasses and zesty from cider vinegar and spices! Use this popular recipe for boneless or bone-in pork chops at your next backyard bbq.
This versatile sauce is truly one of the best grilling marinades around and a favorite cookout recipe. It leaves a tasty glaze on the meat.
Freeze uncooked meat in the sauce for no-fuss grilling.
Don't want to pull out the grill? See the directions for baking pork chops. It's also fantastic with pork tenderloin or chicken.
No matter what you cook, it's sure to become your signature sauce!
Molasses Marinade
Molasses? Yes, that super thick, dark syrup you may have used when baking cookies at Grandma's house is also the secret ingredient in this tasty sauce.
This by-product of sugar processing is the star of the show. I typically buy the jar below. But, you'll find many options:
- light vs. dark vs. blackstrap - with each boiling of the sugar syrup, the molasses becomes darker, thicker and has a deeper flavor.
- sulphered vs. unsulphered - refers to whether sulpher dioxide has been added to clarify and lighten the color.
I use the entire 12-ounce jar of unsulphered, light-colored molasses shown below and double the recipe. Each batch makes more than enough to marinate 6 pork chops.
To make it, combine molasses, brown sugar, cider vinegar, allspice, red pepper flakes, dried onion, salt, and pepper. That's it!
Pork chops turn are moist and juicy with a thin coating of glaze.
Looking for a substitute for molasses? Check out Molasses Substitutes by Food 52 and start experimenting.
How to Freeze Pork Chops
If you want to make the recipe ahead of time and freeze it, place the desired number of uncooked pork chops in a bag that seals, pour in the marinade and turn to coat the meat.
The chops will freeze nicely and the marinade infuses beautifully as it undergoes the freezing and defrosting process. It's the same process we use for The Best London Broil Marinade.
Another method is to freeze the molasses marinade without the meat. Add to containers for lots of flexibility. This marinade is great on pork tenderloin and chicken too.
Cooking Tips
Marinate meat for 2 - 24 hours for a nice deep flavor.
Grill pork chops over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes, depending upon the thickness of the chop.
Or, use the broiler for about the same length of time with the rack about 3-4 inches from the heating element.
Tip: When raw meat is removed from the molasses marinade, discard it. Alternatively, the leftover marinade can be brought to a full boil for at least 1 minute and then used as a finishing glaze.
More Marinade Recipes
All of these marinades are perfect on pork too!
Please rate this recipe if you make it and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We love to see and SHARE what you are cooking up!
Recipe
Molasses Marinade for Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup molasses
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons dried onion
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 30 ounces Pork chops approximately ¾ inch thick, each
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients, except for the pork chops, in a bag that seals.
- Add pork chops to bag and turn to coat all sides. Alternatively, marinate pork chops in glass baking dish.
- Marinate pork chops for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Remove pork chops from marinade and discard excess.
- Grill for approximately 4-5 minutes on each side, depending upon the thickness of the meat. Or broil for about the same amount of time with rack about 3-4 inches from the heating element.
Notes
Nutrition
Laura Burns
I worked for you and John back in your melbourne store when you guys first opened it, and I was so sad when it was gone because I loved loved loved these pork chops....Ive been trying to repeat the recipe on my own for years and Im so happy I found not only the recipe but you!
Hope all is doing well!
BEST PORK CHOPS EVER!!
Laura
Marjory
Hi Laura! It is wonderful to hear from you and hope you are super fantastic!!! This is one of my favorites too!
Lizzy
Made this at your Meal Assembly Store! It's the best!
Renee
You wouldn't need to ask me twice when it comes to these molasses marinade grilled pork chops. I love the sweet tang that these chops have.
Denay
Oh my goodness, this marinade was super scrumptious! Your recipe is the secret for making yummy grilled pork chops.
Diann
Would this work for a roast pork then make it into pulled pork?
Marjory
It is nice on roast pork too! The sauce is on the thick side, but you should be able to shred the pork as well. Great idea!
Renée
Excellent marinade! We grilled thick chops tonight....very tasty. Flavor was thru out the meat...meat was tender and not dry. Will be my go to pork chop marinade for now on!
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting!