When made well, baked pork chops are juicy and delicious, and also incredible easy. Plus, they pair well with tons of side dishes. If you live near a great meat farm, it’s worth seeking out their pork for this simple recipe. If not, we’ll help you figure out what to look for when you shop for chops.
How to Bake Pork Chops in the Oven
How thick should pork chops be for baked pork chops?
This recipe calls for 8-ounce bone-in pork chops, which will likely be on the thinner side, depending on your butcher. You can substitute thicker or thinner chops if you prefer, and adjust the cooking time accordingly. If you ended up buying boneless chops, expect a quicker cooking time. (Bone-in meat is generally more juicy, but it also takes longer to bake in the oven!)
How long do pork chops take to bake?
The chops in this recipe take about 25 minutes to bake before hitting an internal temperature of 145°F. I like to start testing the temperature of thinner chops after they’ve been in the oven for around 20 minutes, and I’ll start testing thicker chops after 23 minutes.
Which types of chops are the best?
Rib chops, loin chops and center cut bone-in chops are excellent pork cuts. Sirloin and shoulder chops are tougher and benefit from a nice long soak in a marinade before cooking. Thus, they aren’t the ones you’ll want for this recipe.
Baked Pork Chops Recipe
This recipe from our Test Kitchen serves four.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 4 bone-in pork loin chops (8 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
Step 1: Prep the pork chops
Preheat oven to 350°. Remove the pork chops from the package and pat both sides dry with paper towels.
Editor’s Tip: Patting meat dry before cooking allows it to brown rather than steam.
Step 2: Add the spice rub
Drizzle the chops with oil. In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Rub the spices into both sides of the pork chops.
Step 3: Bake ’em up
Place chops in a greased 9×9-in. or 13×9-in. baking dish. Bake until a thermometer inserted into the center of the chop reads 145°, 25-30 minutes. If the chops are thin, this may only take 20 minutes; if they’re thick it may take 30 minutes, or longer. Temp early and often, to be safe!
Step 4: Let them rest
Let the baked pork chops rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Editor’s Tip: Have fresh herbs in the house? These chops would be great with nearly any minced herb or combination of herbs. A squeeze of lemon or lime would be excellent, too.
Tips for Making Baked Pork Chops
How do you keep baked pork chops from drying out?
Don’t overcook the meat! If you hit the magic temperature, your pork chops will be safe to eat and should still be juicy in the center.
How do you know when baked pork chops are done?
It’s all about the meat thermometer! If you catch them at 145°, you’re golden. If you don’t have a thermometer, press the center of each chop. A rare chop will have a lot of give, and will be oozing red liquid. A well-done chop with have very little give, and clear liquid. A medium chop will be right in between. And don’t worry: Pink pork is safe to eat.
How can you give baked pork chops more flavor?
One of the best ways to sparkle up your chops is to play around with the spice mixture. Try whipping up some Greek seasoning, Cajun spice mix or a super flavorful Jamaican jerk blend.
Once you’ve chosen your spices, you can ponder matching side dishes. Going Mediterranean? Try one of these veggie-heavy Greek recipes. If you opt for Cajun seasoning, red beans and rice would be a perfect match.
If you have extra time, try brining the chops, but if you do, don’t add any extra salt when you prepare them for cooking.
What do you serve with baked pork chops?
Baked pork chops are super versatile and can match well with most carbs and vegetable dishes. I like to keep things seasonal, serving chops with crisp and crunchy salads during the summer, and roasted veggies in the fall and winter. Fruit is an excellent accompaniment for pork chops, so don’t be afraid to put some spiced apple sauce or rhubarb barbecue sauce on the table. Check these easy pork chop recipes for even more inspo.
How do you store baked pork chops?
I put extra pork chops in a glass storage container with a snap-on lid and try to use them within three days, although technically, properly stored cooked red meat is safe for another day. To reheat, I like to cut the meat off of the bone into 1/2-inch slices and saute the strips in a hot pan with a touch of oil until warmed through.
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