Juicy, tender, flavorful pork chops in the oven! These are quick and simple to prepare and come out perfect every time. A true classic at its best!
Growing up I never looked forward to pork chops. In my experience it was like being handed a chunk of leather with a sharp knife and told to “enjoy.” Yeah…not so much. Over the years in our marriage my husband has occasionally asked for pork chops and I have managed to dodge the requests repeatedly. I don’t want to serve or eat shoe leather.
This winter it came up again, this golden memory of a juicy meaty chop from childhood – complete with a bone to gnaw on. I began to wonder if maybe a pork chop could be something better – maybe even something amazing?
How to Make Perfect Pork Chops
I did some research and saw a lot of BAD recipes and then I stumbled unto the brine to stove to oven method. Letting the chops have a little brine bath before cooking helps them stay moist and juicy even if you don’t pull them perfectly on time. The stove to oven method gives you a beautiful golden crust while helping the chop cook evenly without overcooking. Suddenly I understood what Jonathan loved so much!
These chops are easy to pull off – even for a less experienced cook. Go ahead, grab a pan and go crazy! Just watch your timing and all will turn out well. If you have questions drop me a line in the comments! I’m happy to help.
These pork chops need some oven time and some stove time. They also need a good golden sear. The best way to get all of these needs met is a cast iron skillet. I use mine non-stop in the kitchen for everything from baking to frying. Anybody who cooks should own at least one!
No matter what meat you are cooking you need a good quality digital thermometer. I have recently switched to one from ThermoWorks. It has a thin probe and comes to temp FAST.
More Classic American Meat Dishes
Perfect Pork Chops Every Time
Heads Up: Plan ahead for 30 minutes to 4 hours of time for the pork chops to soak in the brine. It is what makes these chops so juicy and amazing!
Ingredients
- 3 cups warm water
- 2 1/2 Tbsp. salt
- 2 tsp. garlic
- 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tsp. black pepper coursely ground
- 1 Tbsp. or more favorite fresh herbs I’m using freeze dried Poultry Herb Blend by Litehouse
- 2 to 4 pork chops — center cut bone-on, 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick
- 1 Tbsp. Vegetable or olive oil
- Seasoning salt and fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine the warm water, salt, garlic, brown sugar, pepper, and herbs. You can add handfuls of your favorite fresh herbs or 1 Tbsp. of your favorite freeze dried blend. My recipe makes a nice mild flavored pork chop. Feel free to add jalapenos, red pepper flakes or anything else you might like to punch up the seasoning. Stir everything together.
- Place the pork chops in any casserole dish with 2” sides they will fit in. Pour the brine over the chops and leave them on the counter for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 4 hours.
- After brining, place 1-2 oven proof skillets (I prefer cast iron) into the oven on the middle rack. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- While the oven is preheating remove the chops from the brine and dry them well. Rub some oil on both sides of each chop and season with seasoning salt and fresh ground pepper if desired.
- When the oven is heated use an oven mit to remove the skillets and drizzle a bit of oil in them. Place the skillets on burners and turn them to medium-high heat. Add the chops to the skillets right away (they will sizzle).
- Sear the chops until golden, 2-3 minutes as soon as the bottom is golden, use tongs to flip the chops over and put the pan back in the oven for 5-10 minutes until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the center of the chop reads 145 F. I suggest you start checking the chops at 5 minutes and check every minute afterwards until they reach temperature.
- Transfer the pork chops to a plate, tent with foil, and allow them to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Any remaining juices from the pan can be poured over the chops before serving, mixed into mashed potatoes for flavor or turned into pan gravy.
Your Rating Matters
When you leave a comment or star rating, it means more than you might think. It helps me understand what you’re enjoying, builds trust for other readers, and supports real, tested cooking content. If you have a moment, I’d truly appreciate you sharing your experience. - Mirlandra
Nutrition Estimate
A Note on Nutrition
Nutritional info is an imperfect estimate. Please take it with a grain of salt.
Daphne says
You leave meat on the counter for up to four hours? Even in a brine it doesn’t seem safe to me.
Mirlandra says
Hi Daphne, I do. It is a personal choice that I feel is safe for my family. I would encourage you to make the choices you feel are safe for you!
Constance says
I would like to fo these for a group. Can i finish these in batches and place in a wsrmer oven before serving?
Thank You
Mirlandra says
I think that would work fine. I would try to limit how long they were in there. The longer they are in the more chance of them drying out.