Even the picky eaters cleaned their plates without a word

to the barbecue sauce mixture and increase the smoked paprika. If you prefer a spicier profile, bump up the cayenne or stir a teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce into the barbecue sauce.
Sliced barbecue pork chop showing juicy interior
To make this recipe a bit lighter and more tangy, use a vinegar-forward Carolina-style barbecue sauce instead of a thick, sweet Kansas City–style sauce, and reduce or omit the brown sugar in the rub. For a honey-garlic twist, replace the brown sugar with 1 tablespoon honey and add 1 teaspoon