Gluten-Free Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Salsa

Gluten-Free Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Salsa

Julia

These succulent grilled pork chops paired with a vibrant apple salsa offer the perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors that make weeknight dinners exciting. The naturally gluten-free dish celebrates simple, wholesome ingredients that come together in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy families who refuse to compromise on taste or nutrition.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its contrasting textures: tender, juicy pork chops with a perfectly caramelized exterior meet the crisp, refreshing crunch of fresh apple salsa. The salsa combines tart Granny Smith apples with red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro, creating a bright counterpoint to the rich, savory meat. A touch of lime juice and honey brings everything into harmony, while the natural sweetness of the apples complements the pork's subtle flavor.

Grilling pork chops is an art that's easier than most people think. The key is choosing bone-in chops that are at least 1-inch thick, which stay juicy and flavorful even over high heat. A simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and garlic powder is all you need to let the quality of the meat shine through. The apple salsa can be prepared while the grill heats up, making this truly a one-two punch of efficiency.

Whether you're following a gluten-free diet by necessity or choice, this recipe proves that dietary restrictions don't mean sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. Serve these pork chops alongside roasted vegetables, cauliflower rice, or a simple green salad for a complete meal that feels restaurant-quality but comes together in your own backyard.

Nutrition

27 minutes
None servings
385 calories
Fat 16.00g
Carbs 18.00g
Protein 42.00g

Ingredients

4 Nonebone-in pork chops, 1-inch thick, patted dry
2 tbspolive oil
1 tspsalt
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
1/2 tspgarlic powder
2 mediumGranny Smith apples, cored and diced into 1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cupred onion, finely diced
1 smalljalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
1/4 cupfresh cilantro, chopped
1 Nonelime, juiced
1 tbsphoney
1/4 tspsalt, for salsa

Equipment

Cutting board
paper towels
tongs
aluminum foil
chef's knife
medium mixing bowl
grill (gas or charcoal)
grill brush
meat thermometer
basting brush
small bowl

80/20 Diet

This recipe is 100% nutrient-dense whole foods including quality protein, fresh vegetables, and fruit, making it perfect for the 80/20 approach where the focus is on wholesome, minimally processed ingredients.

Ancestral Diet

This recipe follows Ancestral Diet principles with grass-fed pork, fresh vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats—all whole, unprocessed ingredients that would have been available to hunter-gatherer ancestors without any grains, legumes, or dairy.

Cave Man Diet

This Cave Man Diet recipe showcases simple, primal eating with grilled pork, fresh produce, and healthy fats, completely avoiding all modern agricultural products like grains, legumes, and dairy.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating with whole, unprocessed ingredients including fresh pork, vegetables, and fruit, using only real food seasonings like garlic, lime, and cilantro without any artificial additives or preservatives.

Diabetic Diet

This recipe supports blood sugar management with lean protein, minimal carbohydrates, and the fiber from apples and vegetables helping to slow glucose absorption, while the absence of refined sugars and starches keeps the glycemic impact low.

Evolutionary Diet

Perfectly aligned with Evolutionary Diet principles, this recipe features quality animal protein, abundant fresh produce, and healthy fats while excluding all grains, legumes, dairy, and processed ingredients that weren't part of our ancestral diet.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, using only fresh meats, vegetables, fruits, and simple seasonings without any wheat, barley, rye, or gluten-containing ingredients—perfect for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This heart-healthy recipe features lean pork, heart-protective olive oil, and plenty of vegetables and fruit rich in antioxidants and fiber, while avoiding saturated fats, processed ingredients, and excessive sodium.

High-Protein Diet

With bone-in pork chops as the star, this recipe delivers approximately 30-35 grams of high-quality protein per serving, making it ideal for those prioritizing protein intake for muscle maintenance and satiety.

Hunter-Gatherer Diet

This recipe embodies hunter-gatherer eating with fresh meat, foraged-style vegetables and fruit, and simple seasonings—all ingredients that could have been obtained through hunting and gathering without any agricultural products.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense meal is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing high-quality protein from pork chops, healthy fats from olive oil, and fiber-rich vegetables and fruits that promote satiety and stable blood sugar throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This satisfying, balanced meal honors both taste and nutrition with flavorful grilled pork complemented by fresh, vibrant apple salsa—demonstrating that all foods can fit into a healthy eating pattern without restriction or guilt.

Low-Carb Diet

With minimal carbohydrates from the apple salsa and no grains or starches, this recipe keeps net carbs well under 15g per serving while emphasizing protein and healthy fats for sustained energy.

Mindful Eating

This recipe encourages mindful eating through its contrasting textures and flavors—tender, caramelized pork meets crisp, refreshing salsa—inviting you to slow down and appreciate the sensory experience of each bite.

Neanderthal Diet

This recipe follows Neanderthal Diet principles with quality animal protein, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit, avoiding all agricultural products and focusing on the whole, unprocessed foods our ancestors would have consumed.

Paleo Diet

This recipe is fully Paleo-compliant, featuring grass-fed pork, fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil while completely avoiding grains, dairy, legumes, and processed ingredients. The apple salsa provides natural sweetness without refined sugars, and all ingredients would have been available to hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Paleolithic Diet

This Paleolithic-compliant recipe uses only ingredients available to pre-agricultural humans: meat, vegetables, fruit, and healthy oils, prepared simply without any grains, legumes, dairy, or processed foods.

Pegan Diet

This recipe aligns with Pegan principles by featuring high-quality protein in moderate portions alongside abundant fresh vegetables and fruit in the salsa, using healthy olive oil and avoiding all grains, dairy, and processed ingredients.

Primal Blueprint

This Primal Blueprint-approved recipe features high-quality pork protein, healthy olive oil fats, and abundant fresh vegetables and fruit while completely excluding grains, legumes, refined sugars, and processed ingredients.

Primal Diet

This Primal-compliant recipe emphasizes quality animal protein, healthy fats from olive oil, and nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits while completely avoiding grains, legumes, refined sugars, and processed foods.

South Beach Diet

This recipe fits South Beach Diet principles with lean pork protein, healthy olive oil, and plenty of non-starchy vegetables in the salsa, while avoiding refined carbohydrates and processed ingredients.

Stone Age Diet

This Stone Age-compliant recipe features grilled meat, fresh vegetables, and fruit prepared simply with olive oil and herbs—exactly the type of whole, unprocessed foods available to our Paleolithic ancestors.

Whole30

Completely Whole30-compliant with simple, whole ingredients including pork, fresh vegetables, and fruit, seasoned only with compliant spices and olive oil. No added sugars (honey can be omitted or replaced with compliant alternatives), grains, legumes, or dairy are included.

Instructions

1

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). If using a gas grill, preheat for 10-15 minutes with the lid closed. For charcoal, wait until coals are covered with white ash.

15 min
2

Pat the pork chops completely dry with paper towels. This helps achieve a better sear and prevents sticking.

1 min
3

Brush both sides of each pork chop with olive oil, using about 2 tablespoons total.

1 min
4

In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Mix well.

5

Season both sides of the pork chops generously with the spice mixture, pressing gently so the seasoning adheres to the meat.

1 min
6

While the grill heats, prepare the apple salsa. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples, red onion, minced jalapeño, and chopped cilantro.

2 min
7

Add the lime juice, honey, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the apple mixture. Toss gently until everything is well combined. Set aside at room temperature.

1 min
8

Lightly oil the grill grates using tongs and a paper towel dipped in oil to prevent sticking.

1 min
9
6 min

Place the pork chops on the hot grill. Close the lid and cook for 5-6 minutes without moving them to develop nice grill marks.

10
6 min

Flip the pork chops using tongs. Close the lid and continue grilling for another 5-6 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F when measured with a meat thermometer in the thickest part.

11

Remove the pork chops from the grill and transfer to a clean plate. Tent loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

5 min
12

Plate each pork chop and top generously with the fresh apple salsa. Serve immediately while the pork is still warm.

1 min

Frequently Asked Questions