Grilled Pork Chops Adobo + VIDEO

Grilled Pork Chops Adobo (or in Spanish, “Chuletas Adobadas”) are full of lick-smacking flavor. Consider this recipe for your next backyard BBQ or family dinner. It’s sure to please any crowd.

When you go to a Mexican restaurant, you might see a big, vertical spit with meat cooking. Thin slices of meat are cut (usually with a machete) to make Tacos Al Pastor. That spit is called a “trompo.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a trompo at home, or a machete…. at least not one I can admit to … (wink, wink). I can, however, recreate those amazing flavors as in these yummy Grilled Pork Chops Adobo.

Tacos Al Pastor are usually made with a fatty cut of pork. However, I’m using lean pork chops with very little fat. Don’t worry. We will still get all the flavors with this lean cut of meat. It’s all in the sauce, boss… Start by charring up the onion and garlic.

Rehydrate the ancho chile and guajillo chile. Add them to a blender.

This is salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, and bay leaves. They also go into the blender.

This adobo sauce is so good. The flavors are robust and slightly tangy.

In a large dish, add the adobo sauce. Individually add the pork chops to the dish. Make sure they are well covered with the sauce.

You have to let the meat marinade for a minimum of 4 hours in the refrigerator. However, overnight is best. You really want the flavors to penetrate.

Cook the pork chops on the grill or a grill pan. It’ll make all the difference. The grill helps to develop that smokey flavor that Tacos Al Pastor have, and that’s exactly what makes this dish.

Grill the pork chops for 4-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of your meat. You can also grill some pineapple or onion slices to go with your Grilled Pork Chops Adobo. If you like it saucy: Cook the marinate and top the cooked pork chops with the sauce. YUM! Hope you enjoy!

Watch How to Make Grilled Pork Chops Adobo

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Grilled Pork Chops Adobo (Chuletas Adobadas)

Grilled Pork Chops Adobo (or in Spanish, “Chuletas Adobadas”) are full of lick-smacking flavor. Consider this recipe for your next backyard BBQ or family dinner. 

Prep Time5 hrs

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time6 hrs

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 12

Calories: 204kcal

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

• 6 Guajillo Chiles deveined and seeds removed
• 2 Ancho Chiles deveined and seeds removed
• 5 garlic roasted
• ¼ onion roasted
• 1 Chile Chipotle in adobo sauce
• 5 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Pepper
• ¼ teaspoon whole oregano
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 5 cloves
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon achiote paste
• 1 tablespoon salt
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• 12 boneless pork chops

Instructions

• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan.
• Turn the heat off.
• Add the guajillo chiles and ancho chiles to the sauce pan.
• Cover with a lid.
• Let sit for 5 minutes, or until chile is soft.
• Meanwhile, char the garlic and onion.
• (This will only take 1-2 minutes).
• Watch carefully so as not to burn.
• To a blender, add the garlic, onion, chipotle, bay leaves, pepper, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, apple cider vinegar, water, achiote paste, salt, pineapple juice, and reconstituted chile.
• (Do not add the liquid from the reconsituted chiles).
• Blend until smooth.
• Pour the adobo sauce in a large container.
• Cover each pork chop individually with adobo sauce.
• (Make sure to add marinade to both sides).
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Marinade in the refrigerator for 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• Heat the grill.
• Cook each pork chop for 4-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of your chop.
• Optional: In a small saucepan, cook the marinade and pour over the cooked pork chop.

Notes

To make this dish faster, make the marinate ahead of time. 

You can even freeze the marinate for up to 6 months in an airtight plastic bag. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Pork Chops Adobo (Chuletas Adobadas)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 204 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 88mg29%

Sodium 656mg29%

Potassium 679mg19%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 2009IU40%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 12mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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