Adobo Pork Chops are thick, spicy, and succulent. The rub that we use adds a lovely tangy flavor to the meat. The meat eagerly soak up the Mexican flavor of the adobo and lime rub. The grilled chops are full of flavor and the aroma will make your mouth water. We'll show you how to grill pork chops so that they are the tastiest ones you've ever eaten.
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The Inspiration
Inspiration for Adobo Pork Chops came from an unusual source and at an odd time. I was sitting on a bench, at Saint Simons Island Pier, watching my Honey fish, when I heard someone say in a whispery voice, "Reeeeeeeeed Chickn."
I turned and saw that it was Herb, one of the usuals that frequent the pier. Now, Herb, I must say, is quite a character. He seems to have been just about everywhere and tried just about everything including a stint as a chef. He and I always discussed food and recipes.
"Red Chicken?" I wasn't even sure that was exactly what he'd said.
" Yes! Reeeeeeeeed Chickn! he said enthusiastically. Just get the recipe and put it on your blog. You'll see, your readers will love it."
"But I've never heard of red chicken. Just exactly what's in it? And where did you hear about it, Herb? I just can't see anyone getting excited about eating a chicken that's red in color."
"Trust me," said Herb, smiling confidently. "You know how to use the Internet, don't you? Just get the recipe and make it. The people around Texas and the South go nuts over reeeeeeeeed chickn"
Searching for the recipe
Once we got back home I looked up red chicken and found several references to it. I printed out one recipe that sounded kind of interesting. So, we proceeded to make Red Chicken.
Perhaps it was the recipe itself but we found it so-so. Not something we'd go nuts over! Certainly not "blogworthy" as my Honey would term it.
Then, one day as I was reading a post from Eat the Love. I realized that I could very well be reading the recipe for the tasty red chicken recipe that Herb had insisted we make.
Grilled Mexican Pork Chops
Irwin Lin, the author, had posted a recipe for Meyer LemonAdobo Rubbed Roasted Chicken, a variation, I figured, of the grilled red chicken. The chicken had a beautiful red tinge to it.
Now here is where it really gets interesting. As his inspiration, Irwin had used a recipe from a June 2007 Gourmet Magazine titled "Grilled Giant Pork Chops with Adobo Paste."
As it turns out, I was working backwards.
Now it just so happened we had pork chops thawing out in the fridge! We planned on making them that evening.
- Call it a coincidence
- Call it a fluke
- Call it a chance
I believe we were meant to find that delicious adobo pork recipe and use it to make our --
Grilled Lime Adobo Rubbed Pork Chops.
The ingredients
- bone-in loin pork chops
- olive oil
- smoked paprika
- oregano,
- fresh garlic
- cumin
- hot red-pepper flakes
- fresh lime zest
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Putting it together
For the Mexican pork chops, we decided to stick with lime zest as part of the paste.
The adobo pork gets its red color comes from the paprika used in the recipe. But instead of using plain paprika, we decided to the flavor it up a notch by using smoked paprika instead.
The hot pepper flakes in the paste give the rub a nice kick. You can always adjust the heat index to your likes and use a few fewer flakes.
The rub recipe makes quite a bit so you can store the extra in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer for a couple of weeks.
It's excellent not only on grilled pork but also chicken and beef. So, next time instead of making Grilled Lime Mexican Pork Chops, try it on grilled or roast chicken.
And if you're ever on Saint Simons Island Pier, Georgia, for Herb. Everyone knows him. And if you do get to meet him just say, "Reeeeeeeeed Chickn." He'll figure out who told you.????
Here are more grilling recipes you may enjoy
Grilled Pork Kebabs - Spiedini di Maiale
Grilled Chipotle Maple Glazed Pork Chops
Grilled Pork Chops and Roasted Potatoes
If you like grilled pork chops, you'll love these recipes. Let us know which one you like the best.
Tutti a tavola è pronto!
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
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We use smoked paprika a lot! Not only do we add it to a lot of recipes, we also like to sprinkle it on top to give the dish additional color. Try Gourmet Smoked Paprika by Its Delish, 8 Oz. Medium Jar smoked paprika and see if it doesn't give your dishes additional pizzaz!!
Grilled Lime Adobo Rubbed Pork Chops
This adobo pork chops recipe is one that will become a favorite. Guarantee!! The lime adobo rub is very versatile and you can use it on any meat you like. The rub makes more than what you need for two large chops. Save it then how about making some reeeeeed chickn? ????
And if you love that Tex-Mex flavor, try our Southwest Spice Blend on your grilled meats and vegetables. You won't want to use anything else!
If you like this recipe please consider giving it a 5-star rating. This helps others to decide whether to try the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Lime Adobo Rubbed Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 2 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 ½ tablespoons dried oregano crumbles
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoons cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried hot red-pepper flakes
- 1 ½ teaspoons finely grated fresh lime zest
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1 ½-inch-thick bone-in loin pork chops (about ¾ pound each) ***
- a disposable aluminum pan around 17X12X3 for covering chops midway through grilling
- and instant read thermometer
Instructions
- Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking with medium-hot charcoal placing the charcoal on one side of the grill.
- Stir together all ingredients except pork chops in a bowl to form spice paste, then rub paste all over pork chops.
- Cover pork chops with plastic wrap and allow them to marinate, covered and chilled for two hours. 20 minutes before grilling take chops out of the refrigerator.
- Light the grill and once it is ready oil the grill rack. Grill the chops over coals, turning over occasionally and moving them around if flare-ups occur, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes total.
- Move chops to area with no coals underneath then cover with inverted roasting pan and grill, turning chops over once, until thermometer inserted horizontally into center of a chop (do not touch bone) registers 145F, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a platter and let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- *** rub will make enough for 4 chops
- Pork can be grilled on a gas grill. Preheat all burners on high covered, 10 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately high and brown chops, covered, turning over occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off 1 burner (middle one if there are 3) and put chops above shut-off burner, then grill, covered, without turning, until thermometer registers 145F, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Pork Chops, rubbed with spice paste, can marinate covered up to 4 hours before grilling.
- Spice paste keeps, covered and chilled, up to a week in refrigerator and frozen for several weeks.
- Adapted from Gourmet Magazine's "Grilled Giant Pork Chops with Adobo Paste"
Nutrition
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Joseph
Bongiorno. Y'all , ya gota try using a Pork Rib Eye roast ,they come boneless here in Texas. just slice to desired thickness at home. Same cut of Pork as Beef Rib Eye. so tender try it you will be pleased.
Wendy
This recipe was absolutely delicious!! I had thawed out a couple chops and wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them but was in the mood for Mexican flavors and, happily, ran across your recipe! The rub was a total flavor bomb and complimented the pork beautifully.
Loved your story behind how you discovered the recipe (reeeed chicken!) and am grateful you tracked it down! Thank you for sharing this (and also thanks for including gas grill instructions!). I’ll be making it often and will try the leftover rub on chicken soon.
Marisa Franca
Thank you for your sweet comment, Wendy! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe. xoxo.
Shobelyn Maria Dayrit
Love this rub you hot here. Simple and all of its ingredient is easily available. This is perfect for weekday dinner menu .
Marisa Franca
Thank you, Shobelyn! We enjoy using rubs on our meats.
Frank
That chop has a great char on it, just like I like it. And yes, I think I'd try this on chicken, too.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
Your thick pork chops sound absolutely delicious with the spicy rub.
Grammy Dee | Grammy's Grid
Looks so good! Shared your post ♥
Marisa Franca
Thank you, Dee! I really appreciate it. ????
Marisa Franca
Thank you, Dee!! That is so sweet of you. Have a nice weekend.
Natalie
Oh this looks sooo good Marisa. SO GOOD. We love a good meat for dinner in our house and this is beyond delicious to try. I know my hubby will love me when I make him this hehe 😉
Marisa Franca
Men do like their meat, don't they Natalie? This really is a tasty recipe.
Karyl Henry
Oh my goodness these chops look so amazing! I absolutely love all the char from the grill. I would devour these in no time
Eileen Kelly
I love pork chops. These lime adobo rubbed pork chops are wonderful. Using smoked paprika is a great way to add a nice extra layer of smoky flavor to the chops. Call it fate for my lucky family, pork chops are defrosted in the fridge and I was not sure how I was going to cook them today. Bingo, we have the winning dish!
Wajeeha
Love the rub you used for these pork chops...looks delicious!
Jovina
These chops look fantastic. Love the seasoning you used.
Gloria
I am so glad grilling season it here. As ambassador for Ontario Pork...this is right up my alley. We are off to the meat market this morning. I think I just might have to pick some chops up and hubby and cook them up for dinner. I will watch, sitting in the backyard with my glass of wine!!
Pavani
Such a flavor packed and delicious looking pork chop recipe. All those spices must have made the dish taste absolutely amazing.
Nicole
Those pork chops look so succulent! Love the rub, I'm sure it's great n other meats as well.
Marisa Franca
It's great, Nicole. We use it on chicken too.
Lauren
The spice mixture for this recipe is amazing! I love that these ingredients are always on hand....can't wait to make this as we are always looking for new ways to spice up pork!
Marisa Franca
Hi, Lauren! You won't be disappointed. Try it on chicken too.
Claudia Lamascolo
What a delicious sounding rub. I am always looking for great recipes for pork, Lime is one of my favorite flavors in all meats! That crust looks fabulous!
Marisa Franca
Hi, Claudia! It is a great recipe and delicious on chicken as well.
Linda Nortje
The Pork Chops look absolutely amazing ! It's time for me to also make RED chicken 🙂
Marisa Franca
Yes indeed, Linda, red chicken is excellent.
Trang
The flavors of these pork chops sound amazing. I love adobo, way to spice up dinner!
Marisa Franca
Hi, Trang! Did you know you can make your own adobo sauce? It is great to always have on hand.
Marjory
These are perfect for grilling. I love the crispy coating!
Marisa Franca
Thank you, Marjory. We are always happy when grilling season is finally here.
Marisa Franca
You are very welcome, Amber! If you like spicy, I can guarantee you'll like the adobo rub.
Summer
This turned out really nice ♥
summerdaisy.net
Marisa Franca
Hi Summer -- thank you! Have a nice weekend.
annie@ciaochowbambina
Ahhhh! Thank you for yet another flavor packed recipe, my dear! I'm quick to think about using a rub for chicken but never pork! Woohooo!!
Marisa Franca
You're welcome, Annie. I'm doing the chicken next with the rub!! Buon fine settimana!
Chiara
qui la carne di maiale è molto buona, segno la tua ricetta, deve essere deliziosa Marisa ! Buon fine settimana, un abbraccio !
Marisa Franca
Thank you Chiara, I would love to be in Italy now tasting the delicious pork!! Have a wonderful weekend and we'll talk soon. Un abbraccio forte!!
Ciao Chow Linda
Yes , forget the chicken. I'll take the pork chop. The photos look so tantalizing I can't wait to try it.
Wendi Spraker
Marisa! You really outdid yourself this time - this sounds WONDERFUL! I think it was serendipity too! Adobo lime sounds like a wonderful combination and I'm gonna have to try this too. Thanks for sharing. I pinned it so that I'll have it for later!
Marisa Franca
Thank you Wendi! It was a really great taste and I'm anxious to try it on different meats. Let me know how you like it.
Tracy | Baking Mischief
I love love love pork chops and am always looking for new ways to make them. This looks like such a good option. I love that it's versatile too and can be used on other types of meats!
Marisa Franca
Hi Tracy -- you sound like me trying new ways to add flavor to favorites. I'm wanting to try the rub on roast chicken. It sounds like the rub would really bake in.
Felesha
Oh how I love a good pork chop! This flavor combo sounds amazing and I can't wait to try these out on the hubby! Thanks for sharing!
Marisa Franca
Thank you Felesha! My hubby is a real carnivore and he likes his MEAT!! Hope your hubby enjoys the spicy rub.
Lisa at celebrate creativity
Marisa, this looks absolutely amazing. That blackened grill looks soooo good.
OK, I'm hating my chicken tacos tonight after seeing this. Kids talked me into that one-lol. I want to come to your house for dinner.
Hope you have a great week.
Marisa Franca
Oh no Lisa! Chicken tacos are good! When my kids were home they loved those. And you are welcome at our house anytime and I would love to have you join us. We love to share our meals. Hope your week goes great!
Christie
So many of my favorite flavors in your pork. It will be one satisfying meal
Marisa Franca
Hi Christie! It was a very satisfying meal. In fact we had some tasty Italian dressing(stuffing) that we served along with it.
Simply Suzannes at Home
This sounds so delicious, Marisa!
I LOVE that you added smoked paprika instead! It has such a great flavor.
All the flavors/ingredients in the paste sound like a winning combination . . . and I LOVE the RED color! I noticed that in the photo before reading about Herb and his “Reeeeeeeeed Chickn.” lol!
What a fun story . . . and yes, I think it was written in the stars that you made the grilled lime adobo PORK CHOPS!! I'm excited that you shared the recipe with us!
I bought a TON of chicken on sale last week, and needed a few new ideas :0)
I hope you had a great weekend, sweet Lady!
Sending hugs,
Suzanne
Marisa Franca
Thank you Suzanne!! I did have a great weekend and I haven't tried using the paste with a roast chicken but I'd like to try. I think the best way would be to spatchcock or butterfly the chicken and then roast it. We love our smoked paprika and our chipotle seasoning -- adds a lot of depth. Have a great day and a big hug right back at you!!
Jovina Coughlin
Wow Marisa - we are on the same wavelength today. I defrosted pork chops overnight and yours look so delicious that I have to make them with your special seasoning.
I never heard of red chicken either. I figured it was a southern thing.
Looking forward to making these pork chops tonight. Thanks for the recipe.
Marisa Franca
Well Jovina, as I've said before -- great minds think alike 🙂 I haven't tried the rub with a roast chicken but I think that would be very interesting. It's just we grill every chance we get. Let me know how your chops turn out 🙂
Denise Wright
Wow, this sounds delicious! I have been really enjoying rubs lately on my meat. I've never made any myself but I feel like ti adds so much flavor. I love that you used lime zest too. It's a bit cold here in Pittsburgh to grill but we have been smoking every once in awhile. Do you think it would work in a smoker? I think we will try this on the weekend. Great recipe and thank you Herb! (pinning)
Marisa Franca
Hi Denise! I don't see why it couldn't work in a smoker. From what I understand smokers aren't high in heat and the only concern I would have would be charring the outside -- that shouldn't be the case with the smoker since it cooks it slowly. Yum!! Please let me know how it turns out.
Ramona W
You have put some amazing flavors on that pork chop!! I especially love the heat!
Marisa Franca
Well Ramona, if you like heat you can always add a few more pepper flakes. We love spicy too. Thank you for stopping.