Pork chops are an affordable cut of meat that are great for an easy weeknight dinner. Because they are lean, they have little inherent flavor.

The key to a flavorful pork chop is to use a good seasoning blend that complements the pork flavor. This is my go-to seasoning when I’m grilling or smoking a batch of pork chops. 

Why I love this recipe

This recipe makes enough seasoning for eight thick-cut pork chops. If you are meal prepping or making a batch to keep on hand, the recipe can be easily doubled or tripled evenly with no adjustments. 

• Common pantry ingredients – This rub uses a few ingredients that you probably already have hanging around your spice cabinet
• Simple and quick. Five minutes of prep are all you need for a bold, flavorful seasoning.
• Perfectly balanced. The mix of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors enhances pork chops without overpowering them.
• Works on anything. While it’s made for pork chops, this seasoning is just as delicious on chicken, ribs, and even roasted veggies.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Coarse black pepper – black pepper adds a nice kick of heat and balanced flavor. I recommend using a coarser ground pepper, like 16 mesh.
• Kosher salt – I like to use Kosher salt when making seasoning blends, but any coarse-grain sea salt will work great for this recipe. Avoid fine-grain salts, as they will make the blend too salty.
• Brown sugar – adds a touch of sweetness that tastes wonderful on smoked or grilled pork.
• Dried mustard – adds a tangy kick.
• Smoked paprika – gives you a nice smoky flavor. You can use regular or sweet paprika instead, but I find that the smoked adds a great flavor.
• Garlic and onion powder – these two help round out the other bold flavors and bring a good aromatic flavor to the blend.

How to make pork chop seasoning

1. Combine

This recipe is foolproof. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar. Then, use a spoon to mix everything together until it’s well combined.

If you use a mason jar, add the lid and give it all a good shake for a few seconds.

For applying any seasoning or rub, I prefer to use an adjustable rub shaker as you get a much more even application.

Storage instructions

• If you want to make a bigger batch to keep on hand for busy weeknights, you can store it at room temperature in an airtight container for up to six weeks. 
• While it will still be edible after six weeks, I find that I run into issues with flavor potency and clumping around that time, so I like to try to use it up before then. 

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Print

Easy & Delicious Pork Chop Seasoning

An easy sweet and smoky pork chop seasoning.

Course Rub/Seasoning

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8 pork chops

Calories 21kcal

Author Breanna Stark

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp course ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp Kosher salt
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp dried mustard
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or mason jar.
• Mix well until thoroughly combined.
• Use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 6 weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 875mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 435IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.4mg