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GET IT NOWThese honey garlic pork chops are sweet, garlicky, and a little sticky, in the best kind of way. They start out like my pan seared pork chops, but this time I glazed them with this makes-me-want-to-lick-the-pan sauce — and now they feel totally different. Not to mention, I can prep them fast, they cook just as fast, and they have major flavor going on. There’s so much to love about them. For those nights that you need a healthy dinner in a flash but are bored with the same basic proteins, make these pork chops with me!
Why You Need My Honey Garlic Pork Chops
- Tender pork chops with sweet-and-savory flavor – This irresistible sauce has a balance of sweet honey, umami coconut aminos, tangy vinegar, and punchy garlic, but it also leaves the pork so juicy. And I’ve got more tips to keep it that way. If you like my honey garlic chicken or honey garlic shrimp, you’ll love this recipe.
- So easy to make – Some recipes have a long ingredient list, but my honey garlic pork chops have a super simple 4-ingredient glaze and are ready in just 15 minutes.
- Versatile and family-friendly – I make these as a weeknight win most often, but they work for a relaxed Sunday dinner, too. Your whole family will love them — even my kids do!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my honey garlic pork chops, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Pork Chops – You can use boneless or bone-in pork chops, but I chose boneless. Either way, I recommend ones that are 1-inch thick.
- Honey – My go-to is natural sugar-free honey, but regular is fine, too. I like these fairly sweet, so used 3 tablespoons of the honey, but feel free to use 2 tablespoons for milder sweetness.
- Garlic – I highly recommend fresh minced garlic here, as it’s a main flavor in this dish! I did swap in a teaspoon of jarred minced garlic once though, and the pork chops were still quite good.
- Coconut Aminos – I use this as a soy sauce alternative to get umami flavor and a little extra sweetness. Reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari works if you have those.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – This ingredient does a lot for these honey garlic pork chops! It adds a subtle tangy kick, balances the sweetness of the honey, and helps to tenderize the meat (read: tender and juicy results!). Feel free to substitute white wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar for a similar effect.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, cayenne pepper, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Olive Oil – For searing. Avocado oil or any oil you’ve got is fine.
- Butter – Adds richness. I like to use unsalted, so that I can control the salt separately. You can also just use more olive oil if you need to keep this recipe dairy-free.
- Garnish – I garnish these with green onions, but sesame seeds or even parsley is great, too.
How To Make Honey Garlic Pork Chops
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Prep and season the pork. Pat dry with a paper towel, then season both sides of the pork with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
- Sear until golden. In a hot cast iron skillet with olive oil, sear the pork chops for on each side until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic. Reduce the heat to medium, melt the butter, and sauté the garlic until fragrant.
- Make the sauce. Add the honey, coconut aminos, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk together and cook until the sauce starts to thicken.
- Bring it all together. Return the chops to the pan, coat in sauce, and heat until cooked through. Let your honey garlic pork chops rest before serving, and garnish with green onions.
My Recipe Tips
- Bring the pork to room temperature before cooking if you can. It’s not required, but they definitely turn out more juicy when I do, because they cook more evenly that way.
- A cast iron skillet gives the best sear and fastest cook time. This material retains heat well, so it’s my recommendation for searing just about anything.
- Make sure the pan is very hot before searing. This ensures a perfectly golden-brown crust, prevents sticking, and again, helps with even cooking. I watch for the oil to shimmer, and add a drop of water to the pan when it seems ready — it should sizzle.
- Use a meat thermometer for juicy results. The target internal temperature for pork is 145 degrees F, but I remove them a few degrees early because the temp rises a bit more while resting on a plate.
- Options for other cooking methods: I cook these honey garlic pork chops on the stovetop, but you can make the honey garlic sauce and cook the pork chops any other way you like. For example, I’ve also made the sauce and poured it over my baked pork chops or air fried pork chops!
- Want extra heat and flavor? Add gochujang, my latest obsession. Check out the glaze in my sockeye salmon recipe — it’s perfect for these pork chops, too.
Serving Ideas
These honey garlic pork chops have an Asian vibe to me, so I usually serve them with other Asian-inspired dishes. Try my bok choy, fried rice, cabbage salad, or Asian salad. My personal favorite with this dish is cauliflower fried rice!
If you’re not feeling rice, I do recommend something else to soak up the sauce, like roasted potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, or even my cauliflower mash for a lighter option.
Honey Garlic Pork Chops
These honey garlic pork chops are juicy, sweet, and savory, with an irresistible glaze and simple ingredients. An easy 15-minute recipe!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, sea salt, and black pepper.
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In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Add the pork chops in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes on each side, without moving except to flip, until golden brown on both sides. Remove the chops from the pan.
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Reduce the temperature to medium heat. Add the butter to the pan and melt. Add the garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds, until fragrant.
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Add the honey, coconut aminos, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk together and cook for 2 minutes, until the sauce starts to thicken.
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Add the pork chops back to the pan in a single layer and baste in the sauce. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes on each side for boneless pork chops or 4-5 minutes on each side for bone-in pork chops, or until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
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Transfer the honey garlic pork chops to a plate and rest for 5 minutes before serving. (The internal temperature should rise to 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) during resting.)
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 pork chop
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you make the juiciest pork chops with a golden brown crust, plus variations for other cooking options or extra flavor.
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
- Reheat: You can bake these at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, or heat them in a pan again along with the sauce.
- Freeze: These honey garlic pork chops keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months, right in the sauce. Just thaw in the refrigerator overnight before heating.
- Note on nutrition info: The optional ingredients are not included, and I calculated it using my natural Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Honey. Sugar content will obviously be higher if you use regular.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Honey Garlic Pork Chops
10 Comments
Debra Clayton
0I just happened to come across this recipe today. So glad I did. Delicious and very few dishes.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m glad you liked it, Debra! Fewer dishes is always a win in my book.
Mary
0Had this tonight was delicious, thank you
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Mary! Enjoy!
Jeannette
0Super delicious! Really easy to make. I will be making this again.
Kellie
0A home run with the whole family. We doubled the sauce recipe because we like things extra saucy.
Kristen
0These pork chops were the best I have ever had, the honey garlic sauce just added so much flavor.
Melissa
0The most perfect weeknight dinner! Everyone loved this!
Kelli Palumbo
0This was perfect for a quick weeknight dinner! Very yummy and super easy…we paired it with a side of cauliflower rice. Will definitely make again.
ddbatema
0Very easy and delicious recipe!