Our Best Grilled Pork Recipes: Get Ideas for Chops, Ribs, Tenderloin, and More

honey-glazed pork tenderloin with grilled apricots served on a white platter
Photo: Elizabeth Cecil

If you're in a grilled chicken rut, may we suggest…pork? High heat and smoke wonderfully complement everything from pork chops or tenderloin to ribs and burgers. As these grilled pork recipes prove, perfectly charred, juicy meat is well within reach, whether you're looking for an easy weeknight supper or a slam dunk to serve guests.

Pork might just be the most versatile meat you can cook, and grilling tops the list. There are a few good rules of thumb to follow, which will help guard against dried out, tough pork. First, if you're grilling pork chops, the thicker, the better. Most of the recipes in this gallery call for at least 1-inch-thick rib chops, as these yield excellent results when exposed to higher heat and are more forgiving than thinner cuts, which can go from just right to overdone in less than a minute. Thicker, heartier cuts of pork—such as chops, tenderloins, and racks of rib—lend themselves beautifully to a serious sear without overcooking, and their fat gives the meat great flavor. Second, cuts of bone-in pork also have more flavor, and the bone can insulate the meat itself while it cooks on the grill.

Still wondering if you can pull off grilled pork? You absolutely can, try any of these recipes and we're sure you'll be smitten.

01 of 23

Grilled Pork-and-Pineapple Tacos

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Sidney Bensimon

Our take on the Mexican classic, tacos al pastor, pairs spicy pork tenderloin with sweet pineapple on the grill.

02 of 23

Grilled Pork Chops with Rosemary Gremolata

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Con Poulos

Summer on a plate! Thick pork chops flavored with garlic and rosemary are served with fresh figs, crisp roasted potatoes, and citrusy rosemary gremolata.

03 of 23

Pork Tenderloin with Summer-Squash Couscous

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Bryan Gardner

Juicy pork, succulent summer squash, nutty couscous, and tangy scallion-mint relish make a perfectly balanced dish. Plus, it's quick enough for a weeknight supper and nutritious to boot.

04 of 23

Red Onion, Pork, and Pineapple with Sriracha-Pineapple Marinade

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Andrew Purcell

Pork tenderloin, onions, and pineapple all benefit from a quick turn on the grill. Even more so if they're brushed with an addictive Sriracha-pineapple sauce.

05 of 23

Grilled Pork Cutlets with Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

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We would happily eat this easy, breezy main all summer. Watermelon, cucumber, jalapeño, basil, fish sauce, coriander, and lime juice make a most refreshing salad to top with grilled pork.

06 of 23

Grilled Ribs

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Ribs are cooked low and slow in the oven until tender and finished on the grill, caramelizing the barbecue sauce and giving them the perfect amount of char.

07 of 23

Pork Burgers with Peppers

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We turn the classic Italian sausage-and-peppers pairing into a burger. Slices of fresh mozzarella complete the dish.

08 of 23

Grilled Pork Chops with Spice Paste

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A generous dose of paprika and cayenne punch up these pork loin chops. Serve with your favorite summer sides.

09 of 23

Mojo Pork Kebabs

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Cuban mojo sauce typically calls for garlic, olive oil, and orange juice. Our version gets an extra kick from red-pepper flakes and lime juice and makes a delectable marinade for pork tenderloin, orange, and cucumber skewers.

10 of 23

Lemongrass Pork Burgers

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These burgers incorporate all the Southeast Asian ingredients we love: lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, cilantro, mint, and Thai chiles. Bonus: Using lettuce wraps instead of buns make them carb-free!

11 of 23

Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Relish and Herb Rice

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Marcus Nilsson

Ripe peaches and fluffy parsley-flecked rice are a great pairing for pork, and one you're going to want to repeat all summer.

12 of 23

Chili-Lime Pork with Corn Salad

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Johnny Miller

Grilled pork tenderloins rubbed with chili powder and finished with lime juice would be delicious on their own, but a summer salad of corn, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro, and scallions really takes them to the next level.

13 of 23

Pork Souvlaki

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Go Greek with your pork shoulder kebabs—give them fresh flavor with lemon, garlic, and oregano. Serve with a cooling yogurt sauce and more lemon.

14 of 23

Orange-Glazed Pork Kebabs with Zucchini

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Marcus Nilsson

Another use for marmalade besides toast! It makes a deliciously sticky-sweet glaze for cubes of pork tenderloin; just thin with water and mix with fiery red chiles.

15 of 23

Grilled Pork and Noodle Salad with Basil, Cilantro, and Mint

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Katie Quinn Davies

A great spicy make-ahead recipe—the pork can be marinated in sambal oelek and fish sauce up to two days in advance, and the salad can be refrigerated for up to three hours. Garnish with sprigs of cilantro, mint, and basil just before serving.

16 of 23

Honey-Soy Grilled Pork Chops with Crunchy Bok Choy

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Soy sauce, ginger, and honey make an irresistible glaze for pork rib chops. Serve with lightly charred bok choy and rice seasoned with vinegar and red-pepper flakes.

17 of 23

Pepper-Jack Pork Burgers

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JOHNNY MILER

Juicy pork burgers are a surefire crowd-pleaser, especially when topped with grilled vegetables and gooey pepper Jack cheese.

18 of 23

Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops with Grilled Zucchini

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Ground coriander and cumin give these bone-in loin chops lots of spice flavor. Flame-kissed zucchini brightened with lime zest and feta is the perfect accompaniment.

19 of 23

Grilled Cedar-Plank Pork Loin

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Cedar planks aren't just for salmon! They're surprisingly easy to use and imbue pork with an inimitable smoky flavor.

20 of 23

Chili-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

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Chili powder, sesame seeds, and garlic give this pork tenderloin amazing flavor. Sear it on the grill then transfer to indirect heat to finish.

21 of 23

Mustard-Coated Pork Chops and Onions

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Mustard-lovers, this one's for you! Grilled boneless pork chops and onions both get smothered in grainy Dijon.

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Coriander-and-Oregano-Brined Pork Loin

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Another day, another brine—this one's got coriander seeds and fresh oregano. Bathe boneless pork loin in it for up to eight hours and then hit the grill.

23 of 23

Grilled Pork Chops with Peach-Tomato Barbecue Sauce

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Petrina Tinslay

Simmer together tomato sauce, peach jam, and ripe peaches, and the result will blow any store-bought barbecue sauce you've had out of the water. Baste these chops with it and serve it on the side—you're going to want extra.

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