Dress Up Your Pork Dishes With A Balsamic Marinade

Pork chops are a great option for a weeknight dinner because they cook fast and are often more affordable than other meats. However, pork chops can be pretty basic, so we've got an original recipe that will elevate the pork chops on your dinner rotation. Our recipe for Air Fryer Pork Chops features a delicious balsamic marinade, thanks to Tasting Table recipe developer Kit Hondrum. The marinade is easy to make and full of flavor, so you might want to use it on other meats after you try this pork chop recipe.

"These pork chops are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner but also perfect for a date night in. And I love that this recipe is easy to make and family-friendly," says Hondrum. In fact, the pork chops will be on the table in just 45 minutes.

You're probably aware that pork chops can dry out quickly, and a marinade like this one is an easy step to prevent that from happening. For this recipe, Hondrum recommends using two 10-ounce boneless pork chops. They'll cook in the air fryer in just about 10 minutes. If you're cooking for your family or a couple of dinner guests, double the recipe for four pork chops. If you use chops that have bones or are thicker, adjust your cooking time in the air fryer.

For the delicious marinade, you'll need a quarter cup of maple syrup, a quarter cup of balsamic vinegar, a quarter cup of extra virgin olive oil, three minced garlic cloves, a minced rosemary sprig, a half teaspoon of salt, and a quarter teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. You'll combine these ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir until the salt dissolves. Don't turn on the burner at this point, though. Instead, throw the chops in and let them marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

When the pork chops are ready to go into the air fryer to cook, you won't toss out the flavorful marinade like you might be used to doing. Instead, you'll simmer the marinade in the saucepan over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes; it'll be ready when it's reduced by about half and is a slightly thicker sauce. From there, you're ready to serve the sliced pork chops with spoonfuls of the sauce. Do you have extra? Hondrum says you should spoon it over rice, which is one of her go-to sides for these pork chops, along with a green vegetable like asparagus.