Marinated Brined Pork Chops

This recipe for pork loin chops brined in a salt-and-sugar spice marinade enhances the chops' flavor, moisture, and tenderness. Serve with applesauce.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 207 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon dried sage
• 10 cups cold water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed, divided
• 0.5 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup salt
• 2.5 pounds pork loin chops

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a large saucepan; add salt, sugar, sage, and garlic powder. Remove from heat; stir until mostly dissolved. Add 10 cups cold water to cool brine. Place pork chops in a resealable plastic freezer bag or other airtight container. Add brine, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Brine in the refrigerator for 6 hours.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a baking dish with 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil.

Step 3

Remove pork chops from brine; discard brine. Place chops in the prepared dish; brush lightly with remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until chops are no longer pink in the centers and the juices run clear, about 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into centers should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).