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!
Table of Contents
Watch How to Make Grilled Pork Chops Adobo
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Grilled Pork Chops Adobo (Chuletas Adobadas)
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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.
I’m not familiar with these chilies or this sauce. It looks wonderful. Is this a very spicy dish? Is there a way to make it less spicy?
It’s not spicy, but it is flavorful. You can make it spicy by adding sauce. To make it less spicy, add a tomato to the sauce, or add a tablespoon of ketchup for sweetness.
Love the look of this recipe. Will have to give it a try. x
I haven’t cooked with adobo, but it sounds like this is an amazing dish. This would be a great summertime recipe for when we entertain.
Saving this to a Pinterest board to use for future family meals. Thanks for the idea to include some Adobe in there.
Our family loves when we make pork chops. This recipe sounds like something we’ll be adding to our menu
Thanks for sharing about this interesting recipe and such an attractive dish to cheer ourselves after so many pulls and pressures of the day.
Wow that looks so delicious! I could eat the whole thing by myself lol will make this during the weekend and see how the kids enjoy it
Oh my goodness, just reading this made me super hungry! This looks like an amazing dinner, and I would love to make it soon! -Sondra Barker @cuisineandtravel.com
i love a good grilled prok chop recipe. thanks for this!
That looks delicious! I will have to try it, thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Yum I love adobo sauce. Looks delicious. Can’t wait to try
This looks so good and flavorful! I’m hoping I can find these chiles at the grocery store because I’d love to make these this weekend!
That looks so good and this recipe sounds like something I could whip up right away. I may have to add this to our weekly rotation because it just sounds so good. I need to make it right away!
I’m not a huge fan of pork chops but, I would definitely eat these! They look so delicious!
Yummy!!! Excited to make this for my family. Thanks a Million!