Seasoned pork chops cooked to a golden crust

How to Season Pork (Chops, Belly, Roast)

Pork has been the dry chop of UK weeknight dinners for decades. The problem is rarely the meat. It is the seasoning and the heat.

A well-seasoned pork chop, cooked properly, is one of the best 15-minute dinners you can make. Here is how.

The pork seasoning rule

Pork loves three flavour groups:

  1. Sweet: brown sugar, honey, apple
  2. Sharp: mustard, vinegar, lemon
  3. Savoury-warm: garlic, fennel, thyme, paprika, meat seasoning

The best pork dishes layer at least two of these.

Pork chops (15 minutes)

  • Pat dry both sides
  • 1 tsp Costack Meat Seasoning per chop
  • Pinch of brown sugar
  • Hot pan with oil + a knob of butter
  • 3 minutes per side, depending on thickness
  • Rest for 4 minutes

The brown sugar is the trick. It caramelises into a savoury-sweet crust. Most British home cooks skip it.

Pork belly (slow + crispy)

1.5kg belly:

  • Score the skin
  • 2 tbsp sea salt rubbed into the skin
  • 1.5 tbsp Costack Meat Seasoning on the meat side
  • 200°C for 30 minutes, then 160°C for 90 minutes
  • Last 15 minutes back to 220°C for crackling

Pork shoulder (pulled pork)

2kg shoulder:

  • Rub: 2 tbsp Meat Seasoning, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic granules
  • Slow cook 8 hours on low (or oven 140°C for 5 hours)
  • Pull apart with two forks

Serves 6-8 with brioche buns and slaw. Dinner party for under £20.

Sausages

Most UK sausages are over-salted from the butcher. Add a 30-second toss in Costack All Purpose Seasoning and fennel seeds before frying. Lifts a £3 pack of supermarket bangers into proper food.

Gammon

Boil first (45 min in cider + onion + bay), then glaze with mustard + brown sugar + Meat Seasoning and roast 25 minutes at 200°C.

What not to do

  • Do not season pork chops with all-purpose chicken seasoning. The ratios are wrong.
  • Do not skip the rest. Pork dries fast off the heat if you cut early.
  • Do not overcook. Modern UK pork is safe at 63°C internal. Past that, it dries.

Related reads

Get Costack Meat Seasoning for £8.50 →

Back to blog

More from the Costack kitchen

View all
  • Spicy Prawn Suya Skewers (A Community Favourite) - Costack Spices

    Spicy Prawn Suya Skewers (A Community Favourite)

    If your taste buds are feeling adventurous, we’ve got a recipe that will make them dance.. Imagine juicy prawns coated in smoky, spicy goodness, grilled to perfection, and served hot...

    Spicy Prawn Suya Skewers (A Community Favourite)

    If your taste buds are feeling adventurous, we’ve got a recipe that will make them dance.. Imagine juicy prawns coated in smoky, spicy goodness, grilled to perfection, and served hot...

    Read More
  • Warm up with this Pepper Soup Recipe - Costack Spices

    Warm up with this Pepper Soup Recipe

    If you’re looking for a comforting, warming soup packed with bold flavour, this pepper soup recipe is exactly what you need. Light yet satisfying, pepper soup is a spiced broth...

    Warm up with this Pepper Soup Recipe

    If you’re looking for a comforting, warming soup packed with bold flavour, this pepper soup recipe is exactly what you need. Light yet satisfying, pepper soup is a spiced broth...

    Read More
  • Perfect Suya Skewers at Home - Costack Spices

    Perfect Suya Skewers at Home

    Nothing beats the smoky, spicy aroma of suya skewers, and the best part? You don’t need a street-side grill to enjoy them. With Costack Suya Spice Mix (YAGI), you can...

    Perfect Suya Skewers at Home

    Nothing beats the smoky, spicy aroma of suya skewers, and the best part? You don’t need a street-side grill to enjoy them. With Costack Suya Spice Mix (YAGI), you can...

    Read More
1 3
View all