Juicy Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa (Paleo, AIP)

What’s Inside: This Cast-Iron Grilled Pork Chops recipe topped with fresh and vibrant Pineapple Salsa is going to be your new favorite summertime meal! Plus, it’s Paleo and AIP-friendly.

Why You Should Make Grilled Pork Chops This Summer

The sun is out, the days are hot, and everything is in bloom. You know what that means … It’s grilling season! And as someone who complies with diets like Paleo, AIP-, and Whole30-friendly, this might be my favorite time of year because you can throw together a simple, delicious meal with minimal effort and clean-up.

Cooking meat over fire is the way it all started, and it has held strong to this day as one of the best cooking methods. It just infuses so much delectable smokey and charred flavor into whatever you’re grilling. It’s a health-conscious eater’s dream!

If you don’t have a grill, or don’t like to grill, no need to fret! You can make this Grilled Pork Chops recipe on the stovetop in a cast iron skillet or on your griddle. This is actually how I prefer to make this dish because it only yields two servings. If I were to double or triple it for meal-prepping, the grill’s the way to go.

Key Ingredients

• Pineapple Salsa: You only need diced pineapple, diced red onion, roughly chopped fresh cilantro, and the juice from half of a lime to make this bright, delicious pineapple “salsa!” (No tomatoes!)
• Pork Chops: Don’t skimp on quality here! Opt for center-cut, pasture-raised, bone-in pork chops.
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper: To taste, but be generous. (Omit black pepper for AIP)
• Nonstick Oil or Oil Spray: I recommend using avocado or extra virgin olive oil.

How To Make Pineapple Salsa

Combine diced pineapple, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice in a small bowl, and mix well. Adjust flavors as desired, or puree in a blender or food processor if you prefer a sauce over a salsa (aka smooth rather than chunky). Allow to rest in the fridge or at room temp until time to cook and serve so the flavors can marinate.

How To Grill Pork Chops ( in a Cast Iron Skillet)

1. Prep the Pork Chops: Rinse and pat the pork chops dry thoroughly, then season each side with salt and pepper (omit pepper for AIP) generously. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil over both pork chops, and gently rub on all sides to massage the meat and work in the seasonings.
2. Cook the Chops: Heat a cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat, and spray oil in a single coating. Once it’s well-heated, add pork chops in a single layer to sear and cook on each side for 6-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pork chops. Optionally, you can sear the chops on their fatty sides for more char and faux-grilled flavor. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the pork chops’ internal temperature is at least 145 degrees. Once done, turn the heat off, and set pork chops aside to rest for 3-5 minutes.
3. Serve with Pineapple Salsa, and Enjoy: Pour a heaping tablespoon or more of the pineapple salsa over the pork chops, serve with lime wedges, and dig in!

How To Grill Pork Chops

If you want to make truly grilled pork chops, follow these simple steps:

• Preheat your outdoor grill 20 minutes before you’re ready to cook, heat an outdoor grill. For a charcoal grill, arrange the lit coals over one half of the grill, and leave the other side empty. For a gas grill, heat all burners to high (at least 450°F).
• Follow skillet instructions for rinsing, drying, and seasoning the pork chops.
• Sear the chops over high heat. Place the chops on the hotter side of the grill, cover, and cook until grill marks appear on the bottom (no longer than 3 minutes per side; be careful not to overcook at this stage
• Finish cooking the chops over medium heat on the cooler section of the grill. Cover, cook, and flip every few minutes until the thickest piece registers 145°F on an instant-read thermometer (about 4-7 minutes).
• Rest, serve with pineapple salsa, and enjoy!

What To Serve with Grilled Pork Chops

• Broccoli Rice
• Healthy Baked Sweet Plantains
• Vegan Pesto Potato Salad
• Summer Squash Carpaccio
• Creamy Dairy-Free Mashed Cauliflower
• Baked Zucchini Fries
• …a basic side salad!

Variations

• Add some herbs! Thyme, rosemary, or basil would be delicious with this simple grilled pork chops recipe and pair well with the pineapple salsa.
• Spice it up by adding a half or whole diced jalapeño pepper to the pineapple salsa!
• Make a big batch of salsa to keep in the fridge to snack on with plantain chips. You could also blend half of it to marinate the pork chops in before grilling, then save the chunkier other half for serving.
• Turn the salsa into guacamole by adding in some cubed or mashed avocado!
• Serve these as tacos by slicing the pork chops and filling your favorite tortilla with them and the pineapple salsa! (Or make a taco salad by serving this over leafy greens.)

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Tips

• Store leftover pork chops and pineapple salsa in separate containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freeze cooked and cooled pork chops in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. We did not test freezing the pineapple salsa, but it should hold up, although it may soften as it thaws.
• Reheat thawed or chilled pork chops in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through (but not overcooked). Let pineapple salsa come to room temperature, or enjoy cold.

More Recipes To Try

If you enjoyed these Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa, then you’ll love these other warm weather recipes:

• Summer Veggie Flatbread Pizza
• Grilled Haloumi Kale Salad
• Sweet Potato Hot Dog Buns
• Chocolate Avocado Pudding
• Tropical Chicken Salad

This recipe was made in partnership with Grass Roots Coop. As always, I only recommend and partner with brands I trust and use myself.