A homemade marinade is so incredibly easy to make. It greatly enhances the flavor of the meat. And yet I know so few people who bother to make marinades. Why is this?

Let’s hope this super simple recipe will change your mind.

Growing up I was never much of a fan of pork chops. I can’t even really say why. Maybe it was texture, maybe flavor. Who knows! It all changed when my mom started using her best friend’s marinade recipe.

For years I used the same marinade recipe. In my recipe book I even called it “Carol’s Marinde”. It never had another name. This recipe is based on her recipe with a few tweaks. It is good for a good amount of meat too, you may need to turn it over more often though if you have a lot. Josh loves this recipe, as do all the kids. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Marinated Pork Chops
1/4 c. canola oil
1/4 c. soy sauce
2 Tbs. ketchup
1 Tbs. vinegar
1/4 tsp. chipotle chili pepper powder
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 pounds pork chops (thick or thin, cut doesn’t matter)

Whisk all ingredients together, or put all in a jar, cover and shake well. Pour over pork chops, try to cover all the meat. Marinate for about two hours, flipping the chops a few times to ensure even coverage.

Grill the pork chops to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Yields about 3/4 cups marinade for 1-2 pounds pork chops