Grilled Pork Chops with Pasta Salad
⏱ 10 min prep · 🍳 20 min · 🍽 4
A pork chop can go straight onto the grill without babysitting it — three to four minutes a side over high heat gives you fully cooked meat that's still juicy, nothing to hover over on a weeknight.
The pasta salad comes together while the chops are on the grate: bell pepper, cucumber, tomato and red onion cut raw, tossed with olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. No cream, no mayonnaise — just something that can sit out on the counter for an hour without wilting, and tastes just as good straight from the container the next day.
The whole dinner is on the table in under 30 minutes from the moment you light the grill, and whatever's left of both goes straight into the lunchboxes.
Ingredients
- 800.000 g svinekjøtt
- 400.000 g pasta
- 2.000 stk paprika
- 1.000 stk agurk
- 200.000 g tomat
- 0.500 stk løk
- 3.000 ss olivenolje
- 2.000 ss sitronsaft
- 1.000 fedd hvitløk
- krydder
Instructions
Kok pasta etter pakken, sil av og avkjøl litt.
Skjær paprika, agurk og rødløk i biter, og halvér tomatene.
Bland pasta med grønnsaker, olivenolje, sitronsaft og hvitløk. Smak til med salt og pepper.
Grill kotelettene 3-4 minutter per side til de er gjennomstekte.
Server kotelettene på pastasalaten og pynt med friske urter.
This is a Tuesday dinner, not a Sunday one — ten minutes on the grill and the meal's done before homework starts. Buy chops in the family pack when they're on sale and vacuum-seal half for the freezer; it's cheaper protein than chicken breast week after week. The pasta salad is the part kids actually finish, so hold back a bowl without dressing for the picky ones before tossing the rest with the dressing. Leftover grilled pork sliced into strips makes solid lunchbox filling the next day, no reheating required.
FAQ
How long do the pasta salad and grilled chops keep in the fridge?
The pasta salad holds well in a sealed container for 2-3 days and actually improves as it sits in the dressing. Grilled pork is best eaten within 1-2 days, so freeze any extra portions the same night if you've made more than you'll use.
Can I use chicken breast instead of pork chops?
Yes, chicken breast or thighs work well with the same pasta salad, though they need a shorter time on the grill than a thick chop. Check the internal temperature (165°F) rather than relying on the clock, especially with thinner cuts.
How do I adjust this for kids who don't like raw vegetables?
Split the pasta salad into two bowls before serving — one with all the vegetables, one with just pasta and a little olive oil for picky eaters. Slice the pork into strips instead of serving a whole chop; many kids will eat it that way even if a chop on the plate gets refused.
Can I cook the chops in a grill pan instead of on an outdoor grill?
Yes, a stovetop grill pan or a regular skillet on high heat gives the same result as an outdoor grill. Use the same timing, three to four minutes per side, and let the meat rest under foil for a couple of minutes before serving.
Can I freeze leftover grilled pork chops?
Grilled chops freeze well whole or sliced, ideally vacuum-sealed, for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat gently in a pan so they don't dry out; the pasta salad doesn't freeze as well since the vegetables turn watery once thawed.