Cooler-Cooked Pork Chops With Barbecue Sauce

Have you ever wondered how those tender and flavorful pork chops served at fancy restaurants are made? The secret lies in a water bath cooking technique. While simple seasonings like salt and pepper are delightful on their own, some days call for an exciting twist. This recipe will guide you through the process of creating mouthwatering pork chops with a delectable spice rub and a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce finish. Get ready to savor the taste of perfection!

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1½ tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground coriander
• ¼ teaspoon ground fennel
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 bone-in pork rib chops, about an inch thick (10 ounces each)
• About 1½ cups of your favorite sweet barbecue sauce

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Prepare the Pork Chops

1. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, salt, cayenne, coriander, fennel, and black pepper. Mix the spices well to create the spice rub.
2. Evenly rub the spice mixture all over the pork chops, ensuring they are well coated.
3. Place the seasoned pork chops in a large resealable bag and remove any excess air. This helps in creating a vacuum seal.

Step 2: Cooler Cooking

1. Prepare your cooler for the cooking process. Fill it with water heated to 143°F (61.6°C). This temperature ensures the pork chops cook evenly and retain their tenderness.
2. Immerse the sealed bag of pork chops into the water bath.
3. Allow the pork chops to cook in the cooler for at least 45 minutes, and you can leave them for up to 3 hours for maximum tenderness and flavor infusion.

Step 3: Grill the Pork Chops

1. Preheat your grill to high heat, ensuring it’s nice and hot before you start grilling.
2. Take the pork chops out of the water bath, remove them from the bag, and pat them dry with paper towels.
3. Brush the top of each pork chop with 1 tablespoon of your favorite sweet barbecue sauce.
4. Place the chops on the hot grill, sauced side down, and grill for 1 minute. While grilling, brush the top side of the chops with more barbecue sauce.
5. After 1 minute, flip the chops and grill for an additional minute on the other side.
6. Transfer the grilled pork chops to a plate and brush both sides with more barbecue sauce.
7. Cover the chops with foil and allow them to rest for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the juices to redistribute.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

1. Remove the foil from the pork chops and brush them with more barbecue sauce for an added burst of flavor.
2. Serve the delicious cooler-cooked pork chops with the remaining barbecue sauce on the side, ready to be enjoyed by family and friends.

This Cooler-Cooked Pork Chops with Barbecue Sauce recipe is a surefire way to impress your guests or indulge in a special treat for yourself and your loved ones. The water bath cooking technique ensures the pork chops are incredibly tender and flavorful throughout, while the spice rub and barbecue sauce add a delicious twist to the dish. Whether it’s a celebratory occasion or just a day when you crave something extraordinary, these pork chops will undoubtedly satisfy your taste buds. So, roll up your sleeves, fire up the grill, and get ready to savor every delectable bite of these mouthwatering pork chops!