Difficulty: Intermediate
Pork
Apple Cider Brined Pork Chops
Chef Curtis
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Difficulty: Intermediate
These apple cider brined pork chops are juicy, tender, and perfectly balanced with a touch of sweetness from Ray’s Warm Apple Pie Rub, grilled to golden perfection on the recteq.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a stock pot, add 2 cups of water with the apple cider, kosher salt, brown sugar, and peppercorns and bring to a boil. After the salt and brown sugar are melted and it's at a low boil, pull the pot from the heat. Add the 3 cups of ice to cool down the brine.
- Step 2: Place the pork chops in an air-tight container, pour the brine over the pork chops, seal with the lid, and place in the fridge for 4-24 hours.
- Step 3: Start the recteq and set the grill to 375ºF. While the grill preheats, take the pork chops out of the brine and set on a paper towel to dry. Season both sides of the pork chops with the Ray's Warm Apple Pie Rub.
- Step 4: Place the chops on the grill and let them cook for 5 minutes, flip the pork chop, and let it cook for 5 more minutes. The pork chop is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145ºF. Once they hit 145ºF, take the chops off the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes and enjoy.
Ingredients
Serving Sizes
- 8 Bone-In Pork Chops
- 3 ounce(s) Ice
- 4 cup(s) Apple Cider
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 3/4 cup(s) Brown Sugar
- 6 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Orange, sliced
- 1 Lemon, sliced
- 4 tablespoon(s) Ray's Warm Apple Pie Rub
Tools Needed
- Stock Pot
- Ice
- Air Tight Storage Container
- Paper Towels
- Spatula
- Step 1: In a stock pot, add 2 cups of water with the apple cider, kosher salt, brown sugar, and peppercorns and bring to a boil. After the salt and brown sugar are melted and it's at a low boil, pull the pot from the heat. Add the 3 cups of ice to cool down the brine.
- Step 2: Place the pork chops in an air-tight container, pour the brine over the pork chops, seal with the lid, and place in the fridge for 4-24 hours.
- Step 3: Start the recteq and set the grill to 375ºF. While the grill preheats, take the pork chops out of the brine and set on a paper towel to dry. Season both sides of the pork chops with the Ray's Warm Apple Pie Rub.
- Step 4: Place the chops on the grill and let them cook for 5 minutes, flip the pork chop, and let it cook for 5 more minutes. The pork chop is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145ºF. Once they hit 145ºF, take the chops off the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes and enjoy.
Chef Pairings
Serve with roasted sweet potatoes or a crisp apple slaw for a comforting, flavor-packed meal that highlights the best of smoky and sweet.