Szechuan Grilled Pork Chops bring the bold, spicy, and aromatic flavors of Chinese Szechuan cuisine to the grill. Known for its distinctive blend of heat, spice, and umami, Szechuan seasoning uses ingredients like peppercorns, dried chili flakes, and garlic, which infuse the pork chops with a punch of flavor that’s both vibrant and mouthwatering. Grilled to perfection, these pork chops boast a crispy, slightly charred exterior while remaining juicy and tender on the inside.
The key to making Szechuan Grilled Pork Chops is in the marinade. A mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and a touch of sugar creates a balanced foundation of savory and slightly sweet flavors. Szechuan peppercorns, known for their numbing effect, are the star ingredient, giving the pork chops a unique tingling sensation that elevates the overall experience. Combined with garlic, ginger, and chili flakes, this marinade imparts a fragrant and zesty coating that perfectly complements the richness of the pork.
Grilling the pork chops enhances their flavor by adding smoky char marks, while the marinade caramelizes, giving each chop a beautiful glaze. The Szechuan seasoning creates a savory yet spicy kick that lingers on the palate, while the tangy vinegar and soy sauce provide a hint of acidity that balances the richness of the meat.
Perfect for any grilling occasion, Szechuan Grilled Pork Chops are an ideal choice for those looking to spice up their barbecue routine. Paired with cilantro lime rice, sautéed vegetables, or a simple arugula green salad, these pork chops offer a delicious, well-rounded meal. Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout or preparing dinner for the family, these Szechuan Grilled Pork Chops are sure to impress with their bold flavors and juicy texture.
Ingredients
- 4 Pork chops
- 2 tbsp Szechuan peppercorns
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp chili paste
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a spice grinder, grind the Szechuan peppercorns to a fine powder.
- In a bowl, mix the ground Szechuan peppercorns, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, honey, chili paste, minced garlic, and minced ginger to create the marinade.
- Season the pork chops with salt and pepper, then coat them thoroughly with the marinade. Allow them to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the marinated pork chops for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked through and have a nice char.
- Serve the Szechuan Grilled Pork Chops with steamed jasmine rice and stir-fried vegetables.
- Experience the bold and spicy flavors of Szechuan cuisine with this delicious dish!
Nutrition
Followed the recipe but ended up burning my pork chops. Lesson learned! Timing is everything!
Yum!
Yum!!! This is a keeper! Needs more garlic next time though.
I’m not sure about adding more garlic. Isn’t it already in the recipe? Maybe it’ll overpower the spices…
Totally agree! More garlic would make it even better. I love garlic in everything! 🧄
Recipe looks good but ain’t no way this is authentic Szechuan. They don’t use honey like that!
My husband said these were the best chops he ever had! Gonna make again for sure.
That’s awesome! I’m glad your husband loved them! Szechuan flavors are so bold and tasty!
I tried this recipe but the peppercorns were too much for me. Not sure I’d make it again.
Too much pepper? I think it’s supposed to be spicy! Love the heat! 🌶️
I totally get that! Szechuan peppercorns can be really strong. Maybe try cutting back next time?
Absolutely delicious! The flavors are out of this world! I’m making these again!
Simple and quick! Made it after work and it turned out great. #yum
I tried this recipe but the chops were too tough. Maybe I overcooked them? Not sure if I’ll try again.
Came out kinda dry. I should’ve marinated longer, huh? Not bad tho.
Dry? Mine was perfect! Maybe you didn’t use enough sauce or something? 🤷♂️
Yeah, marinating longer really helps! I let mine sit overnight and it was super juicy. Give it another shot!
Not sure what the big deal is, it’s just pork chops.
I’m not a huge fan of spicy food, but these were manageable. Still too much for me, though. Maybe next time I’ll skip the chili paste.
Simple, good and quick! I doubled the honey for extra sweetness. Will definitely make again!
Sounds awesome! I’ve been looking for quick meals. I might try that extra honey too! 😋
Uh, not sure about doubling the honey. Isn’t that too sweet for pork? But good for you if you liked it! 🤷♂️
Delicious! I added more honey and it balanced the spice real nice!
More honey? I thought it was sweet enough already. 🤨
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Honey really does help tone down the spice.
I thought the marinade was weird at first, but it turned out fantastic! Who knew Szechuan peppercorns could be so flavorful.
Really? I don’t know about that. I tried it and it tasted kinda weird, not for me I guess.
I was skeptical too, but I gave it a shot and it blew me away! Those peppercorns really pack a punch.
Can someone explain what makes Szechuan food different? It was alright but nothing to write home about.
Szechuan food is all about the bold flavors and that unique numbing sensation from the Szechuan peppercorns! It can be an acquired taste, for sure.
Easy and quick! Love how few ingredients it needs. Yum-yum!
Wasn’t too sure about this recipe, but tried it and it was super tasty! My family loved it.
Grilled these last night, they were burnt! Didn’t watch it closely enough. Sad face.
Instructions were easy! But where do I buy chili paste???
I burnt my chops on the grill. Maybe the heat was too high? 😩 Not tryin’ this again!
Oops! That happened to me too, but I added more sauce to cover the burnt taste. 😂
Don’t give up! Maybe try lowering the heat next time? 🤔 Perfecting grilling takes practice!
Szechuan? Is that even a real place? 😂 Either way, these chops are good, I’ll give it that!
You gotta let them marinate longer than 30 mins! Trust me!
Is Szechuan peppercorns the same as regular ones? I’m confused, help me!
Szechuan peppercorns are different from regular black pepper! They have a unique numbing spice to them. You’re gonna love it once you try it!
Wow… I didn’t even know what Szechuan was until now… lol.
My husband loved it! I wasn’t too sure, but I’ll def make again!
That’s awesome! Glad your husband enjoyed it! It’s a bit spicy, but the flavors are just fantastic!
I don’t know… Szechuan sounds too spicy. My fam doesn’t like hot food. Maybe just stick to BBQ?
Not bad. Can’t say I’m a fan of Szechuan, but this was decent. Might try again.
Glad you gave it a shot! Szechuan can be a bit intense for some. Maybe add a bit more honey next time for sweetness?
Szechuan? I thought this was gonna be sweet and sour. Disagree completely!
Didnt have the right spices so just used whatever I had. They turned out ok, I guess. Maybe try it the right way?
Grilled to perfection! The marinate had the right kick. Everyone loved it!
Grilled is good but isn’t Szechuan supposed to be super spicy? Hope it wasn’t too much for everyone!
I’m glad to hear it turned out great! I’ve been wanting to try this recipe but wasn’t sure about the flavors. Sounds delicious!
These chops turned out dry! Followed the recipe but they didn’t stay juicy. Beware, grill times vary.
I dunno, I didn’t like the honey. Just feels wrong in dinner.
I can understand that! Honey in dinner isn’t for everyone. Maybe try it without next time?
Short and sweet recipe! Loved it! This is my new go to for grilling! 😋
Glad you loved it! It’s really easy to make, right? Perfect for summer grilling! 🌞
My husband loved it! I didn’t have chili paste so I used hot sauce instead. Still turned out great!
Grill times were off for me, they took longer than what you said. But maybe my grill is just not that great?
Yum! Best pork chops ever! I’m gonna grill them every weekend now!
To be honest, a bit of an overkill on spices for a chop! Prefer simple salt and pepper. 🤷♂️
I totally get what you’re saying, but the spices really bring out the flavor! Salt and pepper can be dull sometimes. Give it a try! 🍽️
Yum! First time trying Szechuan, and I’m impressed. But honey? Didn’t really taste it. 🤔
Glad you liked it! Maybe try addin’ a bit more honey next time! 😃
Szechuan peppercorns? Don’t they just taste like spicy lemon? I mean… whatever.
I think you’re missing out! Szechuan peppercorns give a numbing sensation, it’s not just like lemon. Trust me, it’s more than spicy! 😋
These pork chops were a hit at my dinner party! The marinade gave them such great flavor!
I don’t know about all these spices. Can you really taste the difference between regular pepper and those Szechuan ones?
Absolutely! Szechuan peppercorns have a unique numbing spice that regular pepper just can’t match. You gotta give it a try!
So good! I added some chili flakes for more heat. 11/10 would eat again!
Aren’t Szechuan flavors just the best? But like… weren’t you supposed to follow the recipe?
I love that you added chili flakes! That sounds delish. Can’t wait to try it myself!
Way too spicy for my taste! I thought Szechuan was just a name, but my mouth is still on fire!
This recipe is the bomb! My family loved it! I paired it with fried rice instead. Yum!
Didn’t have some ingredients so I just used regular pepper. It was ehh but edible, I guess.
I used chicken instead of pork, still tastes good! Who knew the marinade worked on any meat!
Grill marks are the best! Made this for my family and they all went for seconds. Winning recipe!
These pork chops were AMAZING! So full of flavor, definitely a keeper!
Sounds fancy but I ain’t got all those sauces. Just gonna use BBQ sauce instead. 🙃
Totally failed making these, pork was dry. How do you grill?
I’ve never used Szechuan peppercorns before. They taste weird but good! 4 stars!
Szechuan Pork Chops? Sounds fancy! But I can’t find Szechuan peppercorns anywhere lol. What do I do?
Ehhh… was okay. I expected more fire from the chili paste, didn’t taste much. 👎
These pork chops are amazing! So much flavor! I couldn’t get enough.
I agree! These chops are really something else! The marinade is bursting with flavor!
They were ok, but I think the spicy flavor was a bit too much for my taste.
These pork chops were so good! I love Szechuan flavors.
I totally agree! The Szechuan flavors really make the pork chops stand out. Can’t wait to try this recipe myself!
Wow, I can’t believe how easy this recipe was. I didn’t have honey, so I used maple syrup instead. Still turned out great!
These pork chops were amazing! So full of flavor, I loved the spicy kick from the Szechuan peppercorns.
I’m glad you loved it! The Szechuan peppercorns really do add a unique flavor. Have you tried it with rice? It makes it even better!
Sounds good, but I don’t think I need all that spiciness. Why do people want to burn their tongues while eating?
I tried this recipe and it was way too spicy for my taste. The chili paste really kicked it up a notch!
I totally get how you feel! Szechuan dishes can be super spicy. Maybe try reducing the chili paste next time? I loved it just the way it is, though!
Not a fan of the peppercorns, it was too spicy for my kids. Maybe omit them next time!
Wow, these were amazing! The flavors were so bold and packed a punch. Definitely making this again! 🥳
I dunno, my pork chops turned out kinda dry. Maybe I grilled them too long? 🤔
I’m so glad you loved it! The marinade really does bring out the flavors, right? 😄
Too many ingredients for just pork chops… I just needed salt and pepper. Waste of time.
Delicious! Loved the Szechuan kick! I paired it with fried rice and it was a hit with my family.
Sounds amazing! I’ve never tried Szechuan peppercorns before. I might give this a shot! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, what a kick! The marinade is just perfect. My husband loved it!
These pork chops are amazing! I love the spicy kick from the Szechuan peppercorns!
It was okay. The flavors were intense and not what I expected. My kids didn’t like it.
I loved this recipe! The spice level was perfect and my family devoured it!
I found it a bit too spicy for my taste, I can’t handle much heat. Might reduce the chili paste next time.
I don’t know about you guys, but my pork chops came out dry. Followed the recipe to the letter. 🤷
I had the same issue! I think the grilling time might have been too long or maybe your grill was too hot? Pork can dry out fast if it’s overcooked. Try a meat thermometer next time! 😊
I dunno, I made em and they were juicy! Maybe ur grill was too hot. Just sayin… 😅
These pork chops were way too spicy for my kids. Next time I’ll skip the chili paste.
These were AMAZING! The flavors really pop! Will definitely make again.
Szechuan?! More like ‘Szechuan-ow!’ 😂 Spicy but so good!
Haha, right? I love the punch of flavor! Can’t wait to try this recipe! 😋
Too much sauce for me. I prefer my pork chops simple.
Um, I think I’d rather just bake pork chops? Grilling seems messy.
I’m not sure about the amount of Szechuan peppercorns. Is it supposed to be that spicy?
The Szechuan peppercorns do add a kick, but they also have a unique flavor. If you’re not a fan of spice, you could reduce the amount a bit!
Yeah, this recipe makes me think about going out to eat instead. Sorry!
I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfect! Thanks for this!
Yum! But I didn’t have chili paste, so used ketchup lol. Still delish!
Ketchup? Really? That’s like putting mustard on ice cream! But whatever works, right? Glad it was still tasty!