Recipe

Tyler Florence’s Grilled Pork Chops with Herb Butter

Name: Tyler Florence’s Grilled Pork Chops with Herb Butter
Ingredients: ¾ cups brown sugar; ¾ cups kosher salt; 1 tsp. black peppercorns; 1 tsp. coriander seeds; 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme; 4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled; 1 lemon, sliced; 4–6 bone-in pork chops (12–16 oz. each, about 1½ inches thick); Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 4 tbsp. unsalted butter; 1 bunch fresh chives, minced; ¼ bunch fresh parsley, minced; Juice of ½ lemon; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Banish tough, tasteless chops with a quick brine and your new go-to compound butter

Recipe by Tyler Florence

May 21, 2024

Photo: Jason Perry

Brine these thicker pork chops to keep them from drying out—even though it feels like an extra step, I promise it’s worth the effort. A lemon-herb compound butter adds an extra layer of moisture and flavor. Make the butter ahead of time and keep it in the fridge to top not only these chops but any steak or seafood in the book. We like serving these with the Campfire Potatoes. —Tyler Florence, American Grill: 125 Recipes for Mastering Live Fire

Read our recent interview with Florence here, and get his recipes for grilled spinach artichoke dip and campfire potatoes with tomatoes, bacon, and blue cheese.

Tyler Florence’s Grilled Pork Chops with Herb Butter

For the brined pork chops

- ¾ cups brown sugar
- ¾ cups kosher salt
- 1 tsp. black peppercorns
- 1 tsp. coriander seeds
- 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 4–6 bone-in pork chops (12–16 oz. each, about 1½ inches thick)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the herb butter

- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 bunch fresh chives, minced
- ¼ bunch fresh parsley, minced
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Brine the pork chops: In a large bowl, combine 4 cups lukewarm water, brown sugar, and salt and whisk until completely dissolved. Add the peppercorns, coriander seeds, thyme, garlic, and lemon slices. Add the pork chops to the bowl, making sure they are completely covered by the liquid. Set aside for 1 hour.
Set up the grill: Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high heat, and set it up with two zones: a hot side and cold (less hot) side, for direct and indirect cooking. You want the temperature to hover around 400°F.
Grill the pork chops: Remove the pork chops from the brine. Place them on a tray or plate lined with paper towels and dry completely. Season with salt and pepper and place onto the hot side of the grill. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, getting some good-looking grill marks on them. Transfer the chops to the cooler side of the grill and continue to cook, rotating every minute or so, until they come to an internal temperature of 135°F, 3 to 4 minutes per side more.
Make the herb butter: Place a small grill-safe pot over the hot side of the grill. Add the butter into the pot just until melted. Remove the pot from the grill and fold in the chives, parsley, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Serve: Once the chops are fully cooked, remove from the grill and top them with the herb butter. Let rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Excerpt from the new book American Grill: 125 Recipes for Mastering Live Fire by Tyler Florence. Text copyright (c) 2024 by Tyler Florence. Photos copyright (c) 2024 by Jason Perry. Published by Abrams.

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