Grilled Hawaiian Pork Chops are a tropical twist on the classic grilled pork chop, infusing it with the sweet, tangy flavor of pineapple and a savory marinade. These juicy, tender pork chops are ideal for summer barbecues, weeknight dinners, or any occasion where you want to bring a little taste of the islands to your table.
To make these delicious grilled pork chops, start by marinating your pork chops in a blend of pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. The pineapple juice tenderizes the meat while adding a sweet and tangy flavor, while the soy sauce and brown sugar create a savory-sweet balance. Allow the pork chops to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to several hours for maximum flavor.
Once marinated, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the pork chops on the grill and cook for about 5-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) and the chops are nicely seared with grill marks. While grilling, you can also add slices of fresh pineapple to the grill for a caramelized, smoky finish that enhances the tropical flavors of the dish.
Serve the grilled Hawaiian pork chops with the grilled pineapple slices on top for an extra burst of sweetness and a beautiful presentation. For a complete meal, pair these pork chops with coconut rice, a fresh green salad, or a side of grilled vegetables for a well-rounded, tropical-inspired dinner.
The combination of sweet pineapple and savory pork creates a flavorful contrast that will transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise. Grilled Hawaiian Pork Chops are a simple yet impressive dish that brings a fun, island-inspired flair to any meal. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue or enjoying a cozy dinner at home, these pork chops will be a hit with your family and guests.
Ingredients
- 2 pieces pork chops bone-in, about 1 inch thick
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice fresh or from can
- 1/4 cup soy sauce light or reduced sodium preferred
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger fresh if available
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger until the sugar is dissolved.
- Place the pork chops in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag or cover the dish and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Brush the grates with oil to prevent sticking.
- Remove the pork chops from the marinade and place them on the preheated grill. Discard the marinade.
- Grill pork chops for about 8-10 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Remove the pork chops from the grill and let them rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
meh, it was just ok. I think I’m not a fan of pork chops. Chicken next time?
delicious! i used boneless chops and they turned out great! will make again
I’m glad they turned out great! Boneless chops are easier to handle. Gonna try it your way next time.
Delicious? Really? I made it and mine was kinda dry. Maybe I did somthin wrong?
what’s with the ginger? I substituted with pepper and it was still good. grillin’ is fun!
I was skeptical about the pineapple juice, but it worked! Just wish I had a better grill.
This recipe is amazing! The pork chops were juicy and flavorful. My family loved them!
Too sweet for my taste, not really a fan of the brown sugar. I prefer a savory marinade.
I tried this recipe, and my kids loved it! They usually don’t eat pork, but these were gone in minutes. Thanks!
Who knew pineapple and pork could go together?? This was delicious but I felt it was kinda strange mixing them. Would try again!
I didn’t have fresh pineapple juice, so I used the canned stuff. They still turned out pretty good, but I think fresh would be better.
Grilled??? I thought this was a baked recipe, lol. Now I gotta go buy a grill. 😩
Yeah, I thought it was baked too! Guess I’ll have to try grilling now. Hope it turns out good!
Absolutely loved this recipe! The chops were juicy and the flavor was bangin’! Definitely making this again! 🌺
I tried it too! Super tasty, but I thought it was a bit too sweet for my taste. Maybe less brown sugar next time? 🍖
Looks good, but aren’t pork chops kinda dry if you don’t cook them right? I don’t know about this one…
Yum! Pineapple and pork tasting like summer! 🌞 Can’t wait to make it again!
I was skeptical about the pineapple juice but it added a nice touch! Who would’ve thought? 😂
My family devoured these chops! I didn’t have ginger, so I used ginger ale instead, and it worked fine! 😍
Quick and easy. I didn’t have fresh garlic so I used jarred—still good. My kids liked it, so that’s a win.
It was ok, but I think it needed more seasoning. I expected it to be sweeter with pineapple but it wasn’t. Meh.
I don’t know how people liked these. My chops were tough and didn’t taste that great. Maybe I did something wrong?
Wait, should I not use the marinade after taking the pork out? That’s a waste! Can’t let that good sauce go!
Grilling the pork chops is easy peasy! And hey, I’m just a home cook, but these chops tastes like they came from a fancy restaurant!!!
Tried this recipe but used orange juice instead of pineapple. It still turned out delish!
Orange juice? Really? I don’t know, seems kinda weird for pork chops. But if you liked it, then who am I to judge.
That’s so creative! I would never have thought to use orange juice. Glad to hear it still turned out great!
I’m skeptical about throwing pineapple juice into soy—thought it would make it mushy. It didn’t! Texture was great, especially after grilling.
Just okay. I think I might’ve cooked the chops too long. They were kind of tough… 🙁
I find that letting them rest really helps. Maybe try that next time! 😊
Are you sure it’s safe to eat pork chops that aren’t well done? 145°F seems low to me. Just saying…better safe than sorry!
This recipe was a big hit at my BBQ! The pork chops were juicy and flavorful. Thanks for sharing!
These pork chops are absolutely delicious! The marinade really makes a difference. I grilled them last night and they were a hit at my BBQ!
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them! The marinade really is the star of the show. Will definitely try this at my next BBQ!
Grill chops? More like hope they don’t burn! 🔥
Wow, who knew pineapple and soy sauce could taste this good together! I’m gonna try this with chicken next time!
Pretty good, but I wish the marinade had a little more depth—maybe add a touch of lime or chili. Still, the chops were flavorful and cooked evenly on my grill.
SO GOOD! I used some leftover juice from canned pineapples. My family loved it! Will make again.
It was OK I guess. Not the best pork chops I ever made. Needs more spices maybe? 🤷♀️
Not sure if this is really how you grill pork chops… My mom always just uses salt and pepper. 🤷♂️
Made these last night and they were seriously juicy. The pineapple + soy combo is spot on—no weird sweetness, just a nice tang. I only marinated about 3 hours and it still worked great.
Tasted great, but mine needed a little extra time. I pulled at 145F and they were still a bit tight—next time I’ll go closer to 10-12 min per side depending on thickness.
My husband loved them but I thought they were too sweet. Next time, I’d cut back on the sugar.
I don’t eat pork because of health reasons but my husband loved it. He ate it all!!
I marinated overnight and followed the 145°F temp. Came out tender, but I think next time I’ll add a little extra ginger because mine tasted mild.
I only had bottled pineapple juice, and I thought it would be gross, but it was actually fine. Easy recipe, minimal mess—would make again.
Pork chops are great! I only took 5 mins grill instead of 10. Cook time too long! 😜
I marinated overnight and the flavor was legit. However, 8–10 minutes a side felt a little long for my grill; I checked earlier and saved them. Resting helped a lot.
Totally agree—overnight really does something to the flavor. I’ve done 7-8 min/side on mine and it still hits 145°F, so your adjustment makes sense!
These pork chops were a hit at my BBQ! The marinade was so flavorful, I’ll definitely make them again.
145°F feels low? I cooked to 160°F because I’m paranoid, and they were a bit drier. Still tasty marinade.
gr8 recipe! So easy and satisfying! 10/10 would recommend!
Not gonna lie, I didn’t have fresh ginger so I used ground ginger powder. It was still tasty, just less “fresh” tasting. But it worked.
Dude, this is just like what my grandma used to make but better! Thanks for sharing!
I’m skeptical about grilling time. 8-10 minutes a side felt a bit long for my chops and they were slightly overdone. Next time I’ll start checking earlier.
Yeah, that timing can totally run long depending on your chop thickness and how hot your grill actually is. I usually start checking at ~6-7 minutes a side and pull right when the thermometer hits 145°F. Resting also keeps them from drying out.
Hmm 8-10 min sounds right to me… unless your chops were thinner? Also pineapple juice makes it like too sweet? Mine were perfect though. Maybe I just have a hotter grill.
I used fresh pineapple juice and added a tiny splash of lime—best decision ever. The chops were caramelized on the edges.
Made these last weekend—so juicy and the sweet-salty vibe is perfect. I marinated overnight and they tasted like a backyard luau.
Love the sweet-salty combo! I marinated overnight too and mine came out super juicy, exactly like you said.
I don’t like ginger. What can I replace it with? I’m not good at cooking.
Mine just didn’t turn out right. So dry 😢. I followed the steps tho.
I’m sorry to hear that! Maybe your grill was too hot or the chops cooked too long? That can dry them out real quick. 🙁
Dry? Really? I did it and it was juicy! Did you really marinate it enough? Maybe try covering it when grilling next time.
Boring, honestly. I wanted more Hawaiian flavor like actual pineapple chunks or something.
I followed it mostly, but I used low-sodium soy sauce and it came out a bit less salty (not bad, just different). Next time I’ll add a touch more sauce or salt. Meat was tender!
This is pretty solid. Simple ingredients, easy steps, and it’s hard to mess up. I like how it hits both sweet and savory. Would totally repeat.
I don’t know, soy sauce + pineapple sounds weird to me. I tried it anyway and it was fine, not amazing. Needs more garlic maybe?
145°F?? That seems low. Mine were safe but I prefer more like 160°F, so texture wasn’t my favorite. Otherwise good taste.
I followed it, but the marinade tasted too salty to me. I used regular soy sauce instead of reduced sodium—probably my fault.
This recipe is too complicated for me. I usually just slap some BBQ sauce on things.
Made this last weekend and it was a hit. The pineapple + soy combo gives such a nice sweet-salty glaze. I marinated overnight and the chops were super juicy.
Made these for dinner and my family went back for seconds. The ginger wasn’t overwhelming either. I used reduced-sodium soy and it was perfect.
Nice! I’m usually worried soy + pineapple will taste kinda “weird,” but reduced-sodium makes sense. What grill temp did you use?
That’s awesome—seconds is the best compliment. Love that the ginger stayed mellow with the pineapple!
Good flavor, but I wish the instructions said what to do if the grill flares up from drips. Mine got a little smoky. Still tasty though—would make again with more careful grilling.
Tried it with reduced-sodium soy and fresh ginger—loved the balance. Next time I might add a little chili or lime for extra zing.
Love that combo—pineapple + ginger already has a lot of brightness. Chili or lime would totally push it into “extra zing” territory. Did you add the chili to the marinade or just finish with it?
I don’t really like using soya sauce in my food. Is there any alternative? But the recipe looks okay.
The marinade smelled amazing, but I think I under-grilled mine. Still tasty though—next time I’ll watch the temp more closely and let them rest longer.
Wait you discard the marinade every time? I always save a little and boil it to make sauce lol. But anyway—145°F is kinda specific, I usually just go by “looks done.” Maybe that’s why mine turns out hit or miss.
Yes!! The pineapple + soy combo really makes everything smell like heaven. If you under-grilled, that makes total sense—but I’m glad it was still tasty. Next time, like you said, keep an eye on the temp and definitely rest a bit longer.
Super easy recipe and it tasted fantastic! Will make again for my BBQ next week.
That’s a lot of brown sugar for pork, but the final result didn’t taste overly sweet. I’d make again for sure.
So delicious! I could eat this every day! Can’t wait to grill again next weekend!
Yummy! I grilled them for my family, and everyone loved it! 🌺
These turned out amazing! The pineapple juice made them super juicy and tasty.
Made these tonight and they came out super juicy. The pineapple + soy combo is such a nice balance, and the garlic/ginger really comes through. I marinated overnight and wouldn’t change a thing.
That’s awesome! I love that pineapple + soy combo too—overnight marinating is the move. Did you grill them over direct heat the whole time?
Five stars. So easy!
It tasted sweet at first bite but then kinda went flat. Maybe my pineapple juice was too weak? I’m not sure.
I tried this, but my chops ended up tough. Not sure if I did something wrong.
Grilling pork? I thought we only grill burgers and hot dogs. Interesting.
This was so easy and smelled amazing. I forgot to brush the grates with oil and it stuck a tiny bit, but the flavor saved it.
Pretty easy and tastes like vacation. Grilling time was right on for my chops.
Love that—“tastes like vacation” is exactly what I’m after. Nice call on matching the grill time for bone-in chops.
Not gonna lie, I expected it to be sweeter. The brown sugar helps, but my chops tasted more like teriyaki than Hawaiian BBQ. Still edible, just different than I wanted.
Yeah I get that—mine also lands more savory/soy-forward than “classic sweet Hawaiian.” I’ve found adding a little extra brown sugar or even a splash of honey/pineapple juice helps balance it.
Wait… teriyaki?? That tracks with the soy sauce + pineapple juice combo, but I’d still expect it to be sweeter too. Did you measure the brown sugar as packed? If it’s not packed it won’t taste as BBQ-ish.
145°F feels low for pork, I usually go higher. That said, mine turned out tender, just slightly pink in the middle. No complaints.
It’s good but 145°F seems too low? I usually do pork at like 165°F. Still, it came out okay and juicy. I’m conflicted.
Ginger? Really? That sounds weird. Not sure I’ll try this.
Not bad at all. The pineapple juice makes a really nice glaze feel on the grill. I used reduced-sodium soy and it still worked.
Do you have to use bone-in chops? What if I use boneless ones? Asking for a friend.
Yum! Pineapple and pork are such a great combo. Thanks for sharing!
These pork chops were amazing! The flavor from the marinade was out of this world. Definitely making this again!
So glad you liked it! The marinade really does make a difference. Pineapple and pork is just perfect!
Quick question: why discard the marinade? I always boil it first—feels safer. Not saying yours is wrong, just wondering.
Meh… tasted kinda like teriyaki and not very Hawaiian to me.
Totally get what you mean. The pineapple+soy+ginger combo can read more like teriyaki than true “Hawaiian” vibes. Next time, maybe add a touch more pineapple juice or even a little toasted sesame oil to make it less straight teriyaki-ish.
I disagree 😅 Hawaiian food isn’t one single flavor. Soy sauce isn’t “wrong” here—marinades like this are super common. Mine tasted sweet-tropical with savory, not just teriyaki.
My pork chops were a little too salty for my taste. Maybe I should’ve used less soy sauce or rinsed after marinating (not sure). Still tasty though.
I didn’t have ginger so I used a pinch of cinnamon and it kinda tasted like teriyaki-ish. Not perfect but pretty good—friends ate it all.
Honestly, I forgot the marinade overnight and just cooked it plain. Still tasted okay, but I think I missed out.
Mine turned out kinda dry. I think I overcooked—8-10 minutes each side felt long for my grill. Also I let it sit too little before serving. Flavor was still good.
Could be just me but the brown sugar amount was a little too sweet. I’ll reduce to 1 tbsp next time, maybe add a squeeze of lime too.
I tried this recipe but it didn’t turn out great. The chops were tough and the marinade was too sweet for my taste.
Meat + sweet = happiness! 10/10!
Totally agree! Sweet and savory is the best combo ever! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
I addin some jalapenos for a kick! Yum! Best chops ever!
I don’t like ginger, could I just leave it out? Also, do you know if it’s okay to add bell peppers?
Really good concept, but mine stuck to the grates a bit even though I brushed with oil. Next time I’ll oil the chops too. Still tasty though!
The bag method was messy—pineapple juice splashed everywhere. Flavor was okay, but grilling without burning the sugar is tricky.
The cook time says 8-10 minutes per side. My chops were thicker and I had to go longer. Otherwise great flavor.
Mine stuck to the grill even though I brushed it. I’m not sure if my oil was enough or if the grates weren’t clean. Flavor was still good though.
Ugh, that happens a lot—usually it’s the grates not being hot/clean enough, or the oil not actually reaching the metal right before cooking. I’ve had better luck preheating the grill well, then scrubbing the grates, and oiling with tongs + a folded paper towel right before the chops go on. Also, bone-in chops can stick more if the surface isn’t fully seared yet—don’t move them early.
Easy recipe. I marinated only 2 hours because I was hungry, and it still tasted good. Grill was medium-high and it browned nicely.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about pineapple juice in a pork chop marinade… but it’s actually awesome. Garlic and ginger really help it taste “Hawaiian” instead of just sweet.
So easy, like—dump, marinate, grill. Flavor is legit Hawaiian vibes.
Made these for dinner and wow—the marinade smells amazing. Sweet-salty balance was perfect, and the rest time helped so they stayed juicy.
Totally agree—when the pineapple + soy hits, it’s like instant “vacation” vibes. Glad the rest time kept them juicy!
I followed it exactly and the pork was kinda bland… maybe my pineapple juice was low flavor? 145°F was right though, so at least it wasn’t dry.
Made these last weekend—super tasty. The pineapple + soy combo is surprisingly perfect, and the garlic/ginger really come through. I let mine marinate overnight and they stayed juicy.
These were so flavorful—sweet, garlicky, and not too salty. The pineapple juice really does something magical. I followed the 145°F temp and they stayed juicy.
Made these last weekend—sweet, salty, and the garlic/ginger really comes through. Mine took closer to 9-11 minutes per side but they were juicy. Will grill again!
I think I messed up because I poured the marinade back on the meat 😬. It turned sticky but also kinda burned. Otherwise flavor was great, just not safe to do that.
Followed it exactly, but the marinade smelled kinda weird to me—like sweet soy. Once cooked though, it tasted great. Weirdly good.
Yeah that “sweet soy” smell is real—pineapple + brown sugar + soy can come off pretty strong before grilling. Glad it turned out great though! 😄
I only marinated for about an hour because I forgot 😅 Still good though. Next time I’ll give it the full 2 hours.
If you only marinated an hour, I’m surprised it wasn’t too light. Also I’m not sure throwing the pineapple juice in there doesn’t make it kinda sweet for pork?
Honestly that’s still awesome—an hour is better than none 😄 The pineapple + soy does a lot fast. I bet the flavor held up nicely!
Not gonna lie, marinading for 2 hours didn’t do much. It was flavorful, but not that ‘Hawaiian’ vibe people talk about. Overnight might be key.
The marinade smelled amazing, but 2 hours didn’t seem long enough for me. After overnight it really clicked—more flavor throughout.
Totally agree—mine tasted kinda “okay” at 2 hours, but overnight made it pop. Pineapple + soy is such a good combo.
I’m not sure about overnight… 2 hours should be enough if you just slice the pork thinner. Otherwise it gets too sweet for my taste 😅