The Best Pork Chop Seasoning for Perfectly Juicy and Flavorful Chops

Pork chops are an affordable cut of meat that are great for an easy weeknight dinner. Because they are lean, they have little inherent flavor.

The key to a flavorful pork chop is to use a good seasoning blend that complements the pork flavor. This is my go-to seasoning when I’m grilling or smoking a batch of pork chops. 

Why I love this recipe

This recipe makes enough seasoning for eight thick-cut pork chops. If you are meal prepping or making a batch to keep on hand, the recipe can be easily doubled or tripled evenly with no adjustments. 

• Common pantry ingredients – This rub uses a few ingredients that you probably already have hanging around your spice cabinet
• Simple and quick. Five minutes of prep are all you need for a bold, flavorful seasoning.
• Perfectly balanced. The mix of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors enhances pork chops without overpowering them.
• Works on anything. While it’s made for pork chops, this seasoning is just as delicious on chicken, ribs, and even roasted veggies.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Coarse black pepper – black pepper adds a nice kick of heat and balanced flavor. I recommend using a coarser ground pepper, like 16 mesh. 
• Kosher salt – I like to use Kosher salt when making seasoning blends, but any coarse-grain sea salt will work great for this recipe. Avoid fine-grain salts, as they will make the blend too salty. 
• Brown sugar – adds a touch of sweetness that tastes wonderful on smoked or grilled pork. 
• Dried mustard – adds a tangy kick. 
• Smoked paprika – gives you a nice smoky flavor. You can use regular or sweet paprika instead, but I find that the smoked adds a great flavor. 
• Garlic and onion powder – these two help round out the other bold flavors and bring a good aromatic flavor to the blend. 

How to make pork chop seasoning

1. Combine 

This recipe is foolproof. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar. Then, use a spoon to mix everything together until it’s well combined. 

If you use a mason jar, add the lid and give it all a good shake for a few seconds. 

For applying any seasoning or rub, I prefer to use an adjustable rub shaker as you get a much more even application.

Storage instructions

• If you want to make a bigger batch to keep on hand for busy weeknights, you can store it at room temperature in an airtight container for up to six weeks. 
• While it will still be edible after six weeks, I find that I run into issues with flavor potency and clumping around that time, so I like to try to use it up before then. 

More BBQ rub recipes to try

This sweet and smoky pork chop seasoning guarantees juicy, flavor-packed chops every time! If you love it, leave a rating. Your feedback helps us create more great recipes and lets others know just how good this seasoning is.