What’s for dinner? Grilled pork chops, roasted potatoes, strawberry beet salad, and strawberry rhubarb bundt cake for dessert!
It’s time again for What’s For Dinner! This week it’s all about summer suppers. Think grilled meat, roasted potatoes, seasonal berries and seasonal rhubarb. Fresh and delicious.
Juicy, savory pork chops make a hearty, satisfying entrée. But don’t stop there – the right dessert takes the meal to new heights!
The possibilities are endless when pairing desserts with pork chops, Do you complement the richness with fruit? Play up the sweetness with chocolate? Or keep it simple with ice cream?
In this guide, we’ll explore 12 fantastic desserts to serve after pork chops. I’ll also cover pairing tips and beverage options to complete your menu. Let’s get started!
Pairing Principles for Pork Chop Desserts
When creating a cohesive dinner, it helps to consider how the dessert interacts with the main course. Here are some pairing tips for pork chops:
Complement, don’t compete – The dessert should highlight, not overpower, the starring pork chops.
Play up shared flavors – If the chops have apples or maple, for instance, echo those flavors in the dessert.
Add contrast – Balance the hearty chops with something fruity, creamy, or chocolaty.
Watch portions – A smaller dessert prevents tummy fatigue after the rich main event.
Consider occasion – Save showstoppers for special meals and keep it simple on busy weeknights.
Warm & Comforting Favorites
These cozy, nostalgic desserts pair wonderfully with pork chops for a heartwarming meal:
Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
For a classic, easy dessert, bake sliced apples topped with a brown sugar and oat streusel. Serve warm apple crisp à la mode for pure comfort food bliss.
Gooey Skillet Cookie
Hot out of the oven, this chocolaty skillet cookie is topped with ice cream for an extra decadent treat. The warm cookie balances the savory chops.
Slow Cooker Bread Pudding
Let the slow cooker work its magic on this comforting bread pudding with pecans and whiskey sauce. Maximum coziness achieved!
Baked Apples with Cinnamon
For an easy, wholesome dessert, bake apples filled with brown sugar, raisins, and cinnamon to desired tenderness. Top with vanilla ice cream.
Fresh & Fruity Creations
Fruit-filled desserts provide brightness and acidity to contrast rich pork chops:
Mixed Berry Crumble
Juicy berries topped with a sweet oat and almond crumble make a delicious mixed berry crumble. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Broiled Grapefruit with Honey
Broiling brings out the natural sweetness of grapefruit. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with mint for a refreshing finish.
Strawberry Shortcakes
Fluffy biscuits topped with macerated strawberries and whipped cream – what’s not to love in strawberry shortcakes?
Grilled Peach Sundaes
Grill peaches until caramelized and serve with vanilla ice cream, honey, and toasted almonds for an easy summer grilled peach sundae.
International Favorites
Take your meal global with one of these beloved desserts from around the world:
French Fruit Tart
A showstopping fruit tart with vanilla pastry cream in a flaky crust makes an elegant French finale. Stunning!
Italian Tiramisu
Rich, coffee-soaked tiramisu provides an indulgent end to an Italian feast featuring pork chops. Bellisimo!
Mexican Flan
Smooth, creamy flan served with a drizzle of caramel sauce balances nicely with savory Mexican pork dishes. ¡Olé!
Chinese Fortune Cookies
Crisp vanilla fortune cookies with customized fortunes inside add a fun, fortuitous finish.
Boozy Nightcaps
Cap off the evening with one of these spirited treats:
Irish Coffee
Coffee laced with Irish whiskey and topped with floated cream makes a perfect Irish coffee. Sláinte!
Brandy Alexander
Indulge in this creamy blend of brandy, dark crème de cacao, and cream for a Brandy Alexander. Cheers!
Peppermint Patties
For an adult spin on a childhood favorite, spike hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps and top with whipped cream and crushed peppermint patties.
Mexican Coffee
Coffee, tequila, Kahlúa and whipped cream come together in this comforting Mexican coffee. ¡Salud!
No matter your tastes, there’s a perfect dessert pairing for your savory pork chops. Try out some of these mouthwatering recipes for your next dinner party or weeknight meal. Enjoy!
Grilled Pork Chops, Salad and Dessert
- Main Dish: Grilled Pork Chops with Ginger Peach Chutney
- Side Dish: Oven Roasted Herb Potatoes
- Side Salad: Strawberry Beet Salad
- Dessert: Strawberry Rhubarb Bundt Cake
Grilled pork chops are one of the fastest and easiest meats to grill. They’re also an inexpensive cut of meat, so we serve them quite often here at home. I like to turn things up a notch sometimes by serving them with tasty home-made chutneys like this ginger peach chutney. So good. These Grilled Pork Chops with Ginger Peach Chutney are a delicious dinner main!.
Oven Roasted Herb Potatoes are always a perfect side dish with any grilled meats. These are especially tasty with all the added fresh herbs!.
Serve this Strawberry Beet Salad as a side dish. It’s SO fresh and delicious…beets, fresh strawberries, feta cheese, balsamic vinegar…yum. And look how pretty it is!.
And for dessert a Strawberry Rhubarb Bundt Cake. SUCH a great cake to make with all the rhubarb that’s in season right now. This cake is great served plain or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.