Yield: Serves 4 | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes
While spices are often used to make a dish flavorful without the unnecessary preservatives found in many sauces and dressings, another trick is to add hot peppers. The sauce’s main job is to diversify the flavors of the dish, and when you can add something with fewer calories into the mix, like jalapeños, you can achieve the same effect.
INGREDIENTS
4 bone-in pork chops
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 ounces low-fat cream cheese, softened
½ cup salsa verde
¼ cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1 jalapeño, chopped
1/3 cup chopped cooked bacon (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Alternatively, preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
2. Sprinkle the pork chops with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with the olive oil.
3. In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, salsa verde, half the cheddar cheese, and half the chopped jalapeño. Set aside.
4. Once the grill is hot, grill the pork chops for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until just cooked through.
5. Divide the cheese mixture between the chops and spoon it on top.
6. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese, chopped jalapeños, and chopped bacon (if desired). Serve.