Cocoa-Chili Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops with Lime

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-15 · Updated 2026-05-15

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Pork chops coated in a smoky cocoa-chili spice rub, grilled to juicy perfection and finished with a fresh squeeze of lime for brightness. This pork recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs pork chops, unsweetened cocoa powder, chili powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 International cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 bone-in, about 1 inch thick pork chops
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1, cut into wedges lime

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper to create the spice rub.
Step 2: Pat dry 4 bone-in pork chops and rub both sides evenly with 2 tbsp olive oil, then generously coat with the cocoa-chili spice blend.
Step 3: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Grill pork chops for 4-5 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 145°F and edges have nice grill marks.
Step 4: Remove chops from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with wedges from 1 lime squeezed over the top to add brightness and cut through the smoky flavors.