(If there is a fattier side of the pork, use kitchen tongs to hold the chops, fat-side-down until it sizzles and browns slightly about 30 seconds.) While the pork sears, scatter half of the thyme over the side of the pork chops that are facing up.įlip the pork so that the seared side is facing up. As soon as the oil is hot and looks shimmery, pat the pork dry, and then add the pork. Heat the oil in a large oven-safe skillet - such as a cast iron pan - over medium-high heat. Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190° C). Set the chops aside to rest for 30 minutes.

Take the pork chops out of the refrigerator and season on both sides with salt and pepper - we use just less than 1/4 teaspoon of fine salt per pork chop. For a side salad, try our creamy cucumber salad, this easy chickpea salad, or our simple quinoa salad.This 10-minute lemon garlic bok choy is a reader favorite.Since the oven is on, try roasted broccoli, roasted cauliflower, or these honey roasted carrots.Mashed potatoes or for a low-carb option, try mashed cauliflower.Here’s a list of our favorite sides to serve them with: Thanks to the fact that pork chops are lean and affordable, we cook them quite a bit. If you do not have a thermometer, you will know they are done if the juices run clear when cutting into the chops. Pork is done when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Thinner chops will cook much quicker, and thicker (or bone-in) chops may take a few minutes longer - a temperature thermometer is your best bet for checking doneness. That said, they won’t need very long in the oven.įor example, boneless pork chops about 1-inch thick will need a 2 to 3 minute sear in the skillet and then 8 to 15 minutes of bake time in the oven. The cook time for baked pork chops will vary depending on how thick your chops are. How Long Should I Cook Pork Chops in the Oven? If you can buy bone-in chops, do it! The bone helps reduce the chance of overcooking, and personally, I think the result tastes better than boneless pork chops. To prevent overcooking, choose pork chops that are at least 1-inch thick. Pork is easy to overcook, and when that happens, the results are less than ideal. When it comes to baking pork chops, the thicker, the better. (Here’s our homemade taco seasoning blend.) Italian seasoning, Za’atar seasoning, and taco seasoning are also excellent.(Take a look at our lemon baked chicken thighs or our baked pork tenderloin recipe for inspiration.) A combination of fresh herbs, Dijon mustard, and lemon is classic.(We use this blend to make our brown sugar baked salmon.) Use one tablespoon brown sugar, one teaspoon lemon zest, and 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika.

We love using a blend of brown sugar, grated lemon zest, and smoked paprika for a sweet citrus rub.(We used this blend in our skillet pork chops recipe.) Combine one teaspoon of everything listed, except use only 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. For chili powder based seasoning, we love using a combination of ancho or our homemade chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.This is what we’ve done in our photos, and the recipe shared below. Keep it simple and use salt, pepper, a fresh herb like thyme, and lemon wedges scattered around the pan.Similar to chicken breast, pork is mild in flavor, so you have lots of options for adding flavor. Here’s our recipe for stovetop pork chops. Another option is to continue to cook them on the stove.

Baked pork chops