Staying on top of the daily dinner routine can feel like a full-time job. If you’re trying to expand your repertoire for feeding the family without standing in front of a stove for pan frying, using the oven is the best way to get flavorful and quick results. Whether you prefer pork chops smothered in sticky sauces or topped only with a sprinkle of seasonings, this is the best way to get juicy results without a lot of work.
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What Pork Chops Work Best?
Save your thin and wafer cut pork chops for other purposes. Oven roasting calls for thick cut pork chops, preferably those that are over 1 inch thick. Bone-in pork chops also benefit greatly from this kind of cooking. There’s no concern about the meat around the bone getting cooked evenly because you’ll use a relatively low heat level to gently cook everything evenly. Rib chops and loin chops both work great for this recipe. You can also experiment with thick cut boneless sirloin chops and a slightly shorter cooking time.
Can You Cut Your Own Pork Chops?
If you want control over the size of the pork chops and what muscle group they’re from, consider cutting your own. Picking up a whole loin roast or a bone-in rib section can give you a chance to practice your home butchering skills. Use a heavy chef’s knife or butcher’s knife with an 8-inch blade. Let the weight of the knife do the work of cutting the chops, using as little sawing motion as possible. If you want small medallions instead of full-sized chops and don’t mind shortening the cooking time, you can even slice up a pork tenderloin.
Should You Marinate or Brine the Pork Chops?
Marinating or brining the pork chops can increase the juiciness and impart extra flavor to the meat. Brining is the process of soaking the meat in water mixed with salt, while marinades include acid and oil. It’s not a necessary step for oven roasted pork chops, but it is a good idea. Don’t marinate the pork chops for more than 12 to 24 hours or they’ll change texture.
Tips for The Best Baked Pork Chops
Use a relatively low temperature to cook the baked pork chops slowly. 350 degrees F takes about 15 minutes longer to cook the chops to the right internal temperature than 400 degrees, but it results in a juicier and more flavorful meal.
Consider using an oven-proof skillet rather than a baking sheet or Dutch oven when deciding how to cook pork chops in the oven. It’ll give you a good sear on the meat without requiring any specialty equipment.
Use an instant read thermometer to check your pork chops are done rather than guessing. The meat needs to be 145 degrees F at the thickest part. Make sure to measure near the bone as well. Remember to stop cooking the meat when it is at 140 degrees. Pork chops rise an additional 5 degrees internally when sitting after cooking, so trying to reach 145 exactly will lead to slightly overdone chops.
Recipe Variations
These pork chops are simply seasoned with a mix of common spices and herbs, but you can experiment with a wide range of flavorings. Teriyaki sauce, barbecue sauce, or pesto all pack a ton of flavor when poured over the top. Any rub you enjoy on steaks or roasts will also work well on these pork chops or pork steaks. Don’t forget about toppings as well. Fried mushrooms, caramelized onions, and even applesauce are all traditional options. For something outside of the box, consider honey-roasted garlic or deep fried onion slivers.
Baked Pork Chops Recipe
Use this simple recipe as a jumping off point and experiment with different sauces and seasonings to change it up.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of bone-in or boneless pork chops, 1-inch thick
- 4 cups of water
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
1. Place the pork chops in the water and mix in the salt and peppercorns. Let this sit for 12 to 24 hours.
2. Bring the pork chops to room temperature as you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the oil on a baking pan or on the bottom of a Dutch oven or cast iron skillet.
3. Mix the seasonings with the brown sugar. Rub it on the surface of each pork chop. Place the chops on the oiled pan or skillet.
4. Cook the pork chops for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 135 F.
5. Turn on the broiler and broil each side of the pork chops for 2 to 3 minutes. Make sure the internal temperature is 140 degrees F. The pork will rise 5 more degrees while resting.
Conclusion
Let your oven do the hard work of transforming everyday pork chops into a mouthwatering meal. You can even find thick cut pork chops here at Chicago Steak Company that taste great when roasted this way. Break out of the rut of pan fried pork chops with this oven roasting technique that works great for steaks as well.
Baked Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 2 lbs bone-in or boneless pork chops, 1-inch thick
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp oil
Instructions
- Place the pork chops in the water and mix in the salt and peppercorns. Let this sit for 12 to 24 hours.
- Bring the pork chops to room temperature as you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the oil on a baking pan or on the bottom of a Dutch oven or cast iron skillet.
- Mix the seasonings with the brown sugar. Rub it on the surface of each pork chop. Place the chops on the oiled pan or skillet.
- Cook the pork chops for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 135 F.
- Turn on the broiler and broil each side of the pork chops for 2 to 3 minutes. Make sure the internal temperature is 140 degrees F. The pork will rise 5 more degrees while resting.