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korean pork chop marinade

Easy Korean Pork Chop Marinade

Delicious Easy Korean Pork Chop Marinade recipe with step-by-step instructions.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 1025
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the marinade:
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 4 garlic cloves (freshly minced)
  • 1 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp gochujang
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
For the pork:
  • 4 pork chops (about 1-inch thick)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Method
 

  1. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, gochujang, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until the gochujang is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the freshly minced garlic and ginger. I find that whisking rather than just stirring helps incorporate the gochujang more evenly, preventing any clumpy paste from forming in the marinade.
  2. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and season both sides with black pepper. Place them in a shallow dish or resealable bag and pour the marinade from Step 1 over them, making sure each chop is well coated. Let them marinate for 20 minutes at room temperature. This allows the flavors to penetrate without over-tenderizing the meat.
  3. While the pork marinates, preheat your oven to 400°F. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Remove the pork chops from the marinade, reserving the excess marinade in a bowl, and carefully place them in the hot skillet. Sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and caramelized—this develops deep, savory flavors that are essential to this dish.
  4. Pour the reserved marinade from Step 2 over the seared pork chops in the skillet, making sure to coat them evenly. Transfer the skillet to the preheated 400°F oven and bake for 5-10 minutes until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F and the sauce reduces slightly. I like to let the pork rest in the pan for 2 minutes after removing it from the oven—this helps keep the meat juicy and allows the flavors to settle.
  5. Transfer the pork chops to serving plates and spoon the reduced sauce over the top. Finish with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for texture and visual appeal. Serve immediately while the pork is still warm.