An Easy Weeknight Meal That Saves Time and Stress
If you’re anything like me, dinnertime can feel like just another thing on your already packed to-do list. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for meals that are quick, healthy, and family-approved. This spice-rubbed grilled pork chops with carrots meal checks all the boxes—simple ingredients, bold flavor, and minimal cleanup.
As a health coach and busy mom, I love recipes that make clean eating doable without spending hours in the kitchen. The lean protein keeps you energized, the grilled carrots are naturally sweet and kid-friendly, and the whole thing comes together fast—especially if you’re grilling outdoors.
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Ingredients You’ll Need For This Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops Recipe
This spice-rubbed grilled pork chops recipe comes together with just a handful of ingredients:
- Pork chops
- Carrots
- Butter
- Ancho chile powder
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
- Salt
How To Make This Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops Recipe
I found this spice-rubbed grilled pork chops recipe in Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals, by Mark Sisson and Jennifer Meier, an ebook I received during my Primal Health Coach Certification course. Ready to make it? Let’s walk through the simple steps to get this flavorful grilled pork and carrots on the table fast—perfect for busy weeknights or lazy summer evenings.
step 1 – Make the rub.
Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Make the spice rub by melting the butter and mixing in the ancho chile powder, cumin, cinnamon, and salt. I couldn’t get ancho chile powder at the store so I used chili powder instead.
Step 2 – Prepare the carrots.
Peel the carrots and cut them in half lengthwise. Drizzle half of the spice rub mixture over the carrots. Toss the carrots with your hands or tongs to make sure they are thoroughly covered by the mixture.
Step 3 – Prepare the pork chops.
Brush the remaining spice rub mixture over both sides of the pork chops.
Step 4 – Grill the pork and carrots.
Add the pork chops and carrots to the grill and char for 5 minutes on each side. Then, move them away from direct heat if you’re using a charcoal grill or turn the heat to medium if you’re using a gas grill. Cover the grill for an another 3 minutes. If the carrots are pretty tender by this point they can be removed from the grill. The pork may need to cook for a few more minutes.
step 5 – Finish and serve!
Sprinkle the pork and carrots with some sea salt and serve!
Why You’ll Love This Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops with Carrots
There are so many reasons to love this spice-rubbed grilled pork chops with carrots meal. It has become one of my favorites! For starters, this dish is quick and simple. There’s just some minimal prep – making the spice rub and coating the pork and carrots. There’s also not much cleanup since everything cooks on the grill. This dish is also healthy and balanced. The pork is a lean protein and the carrots are a sweet vegetable, so this meal is so clean and nourishing. This meal is also family-friendly. The spice rub makes the pork and carrots so tasty but it can still be customized, such as by reducing the chile powder and increasing the other spices, based on your family’s preferences. Finally, this is another dish that’s great for meal prep. The leftovers store and reheat well.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about This Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops with Carrots Recipe
Have a question or two about making or storing this spice-rubbed grilled pork chops with carrots meal? You’re not alone! Here are some common questions – along with tips to make this recipe work for you.
I used pork chops for this recipe but pork tenderloin would work great too.
If you don’t have a grill, a great alternative would be to just cook the pork and carrots on top of the stove. You should probably add a little bit of olive oil to the pan. The cooking time would likely be pretty similar.
Definitely! Some great vegetables for grilling are zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, bell peppers, and asparagus. You would lose some of the sweetness of the carrots, but the rub would make any vegetable taste good.
Whenever I cook pork, I test the meat in multiple spots with a meat thermometer. The minimum internal temperature for cooked pork, such as chops or tenderloin, is 145 degrees Fahrenheit or 63 degrees Celsius.
While this is a gluten-free recipe it is not dairy-free because of the butter. If you want to avoid dairy, then I’d suggest substituting some olive oil or avocado oil for the butter. You’d just need enough to get the spices to blend together well for coating.
Of course! This is an easy recipe to double (or triple!). When you cook meals on the grill it’s a lot easier to make more servings.
Below is the full recipe from Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals, by Mark Sisson and Jennifer Meier.
Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops with Carrots
Equipment
- 1 grill
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp ancho chile powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1-inch thick pork chops
- 8 carrots, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
Instructions
- Heat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Melt the butter and mix in spices and salt. Drizzle half the butter mixture over the carrots, tossing the carrots with your hands to make sure they are thoroughly covered. Brush the remaining butter over both sides of the pork chops.
- Char pork chops and carrots for five minutes on each side, then move them away from direct heat (with charcoal) or turn heat to medium (gas grill) and cover the grill for an additional three minutes. The carrots are probably fairly tender at this point and can be removed from the grill. The pork may need a few minutes more.
- Sprinkle pork and carrots with sea salt to finish.
A Healthy and Delicious Dinner You Can Feel Good About
Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated to be nourishing, delicious, and satisfying. This spice-rubbed grilled pork chops and carrots recipe is proof that you can feed your family well—even on your busiest nights—without sacrificing flavor or your sanity.
Whether you’re trying to eat cleaner, simplify your weeknights, or just get out of a dinner rut, this recipe is a great go-to. I hope it brings more ease to your evenings and a little more joy to your plate!
If you’re looking for more nourishing meals that fit into your busy life, be sure to explore my other recipe blog posts:
- Juicy Skillet Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast
- Quick & Healthy Hot Cereal
- Healthy Steak Salad
- Cranberry Tuna Salad
- Spicy Egg Salad
- Crustless Broccoli Quiche
- Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
- Slow Cooker Herbed Pork Roast
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