The Best Juicy Skillet Pork Chops
Say goodbye to dry and flavorless pork chops. With our easy recipe and my simple tricks, you can make juicy and tender pork chops with very little fuss. I love how juicy these are! This pork chop recipe is, hands down, my favorite method for cooking pork chops (especially boneless pork chops). I highly recommend our spice rub and the easy pan sauce, but this recipe focuses on the cooking method, so feel free to use your favorite spices. For the best results, I cook the pork chops in a skillet on the stovetop (hello, beautiful sear!). So many of our readers have said this is their new favorite recipe for cooking pork chops! If you’d prefer to bake them, see one of our other pork chop recipes, like these baked pork chops or these incredible apple stuffed pork chops. If you are looking for marinated chops instead, I highly recommend this deliciously savory pork chop marinade! Key Ingredients Pork Chops: If you’re looking for juicy, tender chops, start with pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. Boneless is fine in this recipe, as are bone-in chops. If you have bone-in, the results may be slightly more juicy and flavorful, but honestly, you’ll be perfectly fine with boneless if that’s what you have. Flour: This is optional, but I like mixing my spices with a bit of flour (just a tablespoon). You can see from our photos that the flour browns a little in the hot oil, adding even more color to the pork. Spice Mix: You can use your favorite spice rub or my blend shared in our recipe below. I combine chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper for a smoky, colorful rub that makes the pork taste more savory. This homemade steak seasoning or our Cajun seasoning are also excellent with pork chops! Oil: With our method, you’ll brown and caramelize the outside of the chops in a hot pan with some oil. I use avocado oil, but any neutral, higher-heat oil will do. Optional Pan Sauce: These chops are lovely without any sauce, but after cooking them, you’ll be left with lots of little browned bits stuck to the pan, so I like turning them into a simple sauce with a bit of chicken stock, apple cider vinegar, honey, butter, and parsley. Pork Chops: If you’re looking for juicy, tender chops, start with pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. Boneless is fine in this recipe, as are bone-in chops. If you have bone-in, the results may be slightly more juicy and flavorful, but honestly, you’ll be perfectly fine with boneless if that’s what you have. Flour: This is optional, but I like mixing my spices with a bit of flour (just a tablespoon). You can see from our photos that the flour browns a little in the hot oil, adding even more color to the pork. Spice Mix: You can use your favorite spice rub or my blend shared in our recipe below. I combine chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper for a smoky, colorful rub that makes the pork taste more savory. This homemade steak seasoning or our Cajun seasoning are also excellent with pork chops! Oil: With our method, you’ll brown and caramelize the outside of the chops in a hot pan with some oil. I use avocado oil, but any neutral, higher-heat oil will do. Optional Pan Sauce: These chops are lovely without any sauce, but after cooking them, you’ll be left with lots of little browned bits stuck to the pan, so I like turning them into a simple sauce with a bit of chicken stock, apple cider vinegar, honey, butter, and parsley. Find the full recipe with measurements below. How to Cook Pork Chops Like a Pro Tip 1: Don’t cook cold chops straight from the fridge. Thirty minutes before you are ready to cook, take the chops out of the fridge. The time out of the refrigerator lets you bring the meat to room temperature, which helps the pork cook more evenly. It’s a trick that works for other cuts too, like pork tenderloin or grilled steak. Tip 2: Salt your chops half an hour before cooking. This way, the salt has a chance to improve the flavor and texture of the meat. Pork chops are lean, so seasoning with salt before cooking is essential for making the most flavorful chops. Tip 3: Rub them with spices and a little flour. Whatever spices you choose to add to your chops, mix in a little flour before rubbing it onto the chops. This creates a flavorful, crusty exterior when cooked. We use this same trick when searing scallops for even browning. Tip 4: Sear, flip, and cover. This is my favorite method for juicy pork chops. First, you’ll sear one side of the chops until nicely browned. Then, flip them, reduce the heat to low, and cover the skillet with a lid. This traps heat and steam, keeping your chops moist, juicy and tender. I love this method so much, I also use it when cooking our skillet chicken breasts as well as these lemon dill chicken breasts. Tip 5: Pork chops are done when an internal thermometer reads 145°F. Cook times can vary based on thickness, so you might need to adjust. If your chops aren’t all the same thickness or size, it’s best to check the temperature of each one individually and remove them as they finish cooking. For example, in our photos, the chop in the back was thicker; I removed the thinner one in the front first and needed to give the thicker chop more time in the pan. Tip 6: Let them rest. Once cooked, transfer the chops to a clean plate and cover them loosely with foil. After 5 minutes, the juices will redistribute throughout the meat, making every bite succulent. Tip 7: While your chops rest, make a quick pan sauce. Add chicken stock, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and some honey to the skillet. Bring it to a simmer and reduce by about half. Take it off the heat, swirl in some butter, then add your resting chops back in. You can add them whole or sliced. We love them sliced, so the sauce coats every piece. What to Serve with Pork Chops I love pork chops with one of our cabbage recipes, and I especially love the crunch of this colorful coleslaw or, when I have it in the fridge, homemade sauerkraut! Add mashed cauliflower or these creamy mashed potatoes to soak up some of the pan sauce. Try roasted asparagus (I love the sauce), our lemon garlic sautéed cabbage, or my favorite, sautéed zucchini for more veggies. The Best Juicy Skillet Pork Chops PREP 30 mins COOK 15 mins TOTAL 45 mins PREP 30 mins COOK 15 mins TOTAL 45 mins Pork chops are a quick, healthy, and simple dinner. Our easy pork chop recipe guarantees juicy, tender, and flavorful chops with little fuss. Check the notes section for tips on which pork chops are best for this recipe. Store-bought chili powder and chicken stock work fine in this recipe, but for even more flavor, see our recipes for homemade chili powder and chicken stock. This recipe cooks the chops on the stovetop. For our oven method, see our juicy baked pork chops. 4 Servings Watch Us Make the Recipe You Will Need 4 pork chops, about 6 ounces each, 1-inch thick Salt, to taste 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon avocado oil or vegetable oil 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons honey or brown sugar 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional Directions Prepare Pork Chops 1Take the pork chops out of the refrigerator and season on both sides with salt (we use just less than 1/4 teaspoon of salt per pork chop). Set the chops aside to rest for 30 minutes. 2Meanwhile, make the spice rub. In a small bowl, mix the flour, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. 3After 30 minutes, use a paper towel to dry the pork chops, then rub both sides of the chops with the spice rub. 4Heat the oil in a skillet (with a lid) over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and looks shimmery, add the pork. Cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. 5Flip the pork so that the seared side is facing up. If there is a fattier side of the pork, use kitchen tongs to hold the chops fat-side-down until they sizzle and brown slightly, about 30 seconds. 6Reduce the heat to low, then cover the skillet with a lid. Cook for 6 to 12 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reads 145°F when inserted into the thickest part of the chop. Cook time depends on the thickness of the chops, so check for doneness at 5 minutes, then go from there, checking every 2 minutes after that. If you do not have a thermometer, pork chops are done if, when cutting into them, the juices run clear. 7Transfer pork chops to a plate, then cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let the pork rest for 5 minutes. Prepare Pork Chops 1Take the pork chops out of the refrigerator and season on both sides with salt (we use just less than 1/4 teaspoon of salt per pork chop). Set the chops aside to rest for 30 minutes. 2Meanwhile, make the spice rub. In a small bowl, mix the flour, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. 3After 30 minutes, use a paper towel to dry the pork chops, then rub both sides of the chops with the spice rub. 4Heat the oil in a skillet (with a lid) over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and looks shimmery, add the pork. Cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. 5Flip the pork so that the seared side is facing up. If there is a fattier side of the pork, use kitchen tongs to hold the chops fat-side-down until they sizzle and brown slightly, about 30 seconds. 6Reduce the heat to low, then cover the skillet with a lid. Cook for 6 to 12 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reads 145°F when inserted into the thickest part of the chop. Cook time depends on the thickness of the chops, so check for doneness at 5 minutes, then go from there, checking every 2 minutes after that. If you do not have a thermometer, pork chops are done if, when cutting into them, the juices run clear. 7Transfer pork chops to a plate, then cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let the pork rest for 5 minutes. Make Pan Sauce 1While the pork chops rest, make the pan sauce. Increase the heat to medium-high, then add the chicken stock, vinegar, and honey. 2Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until reduced by half. As it simmers, use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan so that any stuck bits of pork come up. Taste, then adjust with additional salt, vinegar, or honey. 3Slide the skillet off the heat, wait until the sauce stops simmering, then swirl in the butter. 4Slide the pork chops back into the pan and spoon some of the sauce over them. You can also slice the chops and place them back into the pan. Scatter fresh parsley over the pork, and then serve. Make Pan Sauce 1While the pork chops rest, make the pan sauce. Increase the heat to medium-high, then add the chicken stock, vinegar, and honey. 2Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until reduced by half. As it simmers, use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan so that any stuck bits of pork come up. Taste, then adjust with additional salt, vinegar, or honey. 3Slide the skillet off the heat, wait until the sauce stops simmering, then swirl in the butter. 4Slide the pork chops back into the pan and spoon some of the sauce over them. You can also slice the chops and place them back into the pan. Scatter fresh parsley over the pork, and then serve. Adam and Joanne's Tips What pork chops to use: We call for 1-inch thick chops in the recipe, but you can use thinner or thicker chops as a substitute. Remember that thinner chops cook much quicker, so keep your thermometer nearby. Bone-in chops are an excellent option, too. The bone will add a minute or two of extra cooking time. Can I use my favorite spice rub? Yes, absolutely. Just make sure the spice rub is salt-free. Homemade chili powder: We love using this homemade chili powder for the pork chop spice rub! Gluten-free: If you don’t want to use the flour, it’s okay. The crust won’t be as even, but skipping the flour and just rubbing the spices over the pork will still taste great. Make an onion-apple pan sauce: After removing the pork chops from the skillet, add sliced onions, apples, and a bit of fresh thyme. Cook until sweet and softened, then pour in the stock, vinegar, and honey. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. What pork chops to use: We call for 1-inch thick chops in the recipe, but you can use thinner or thicker chops as a substitute. Remember that thinner chops cook much quicker, so keep your thermometer nearby. Bone-in chops are an excellent option, too. The bone will add a minute or two of extra cooking time. Can I use my favorite spice rub? Yes, absolutely. Just make sure the spice rub is salt-free. Homemade chili powder: We love using this homemade chili powder for the pork chop spice rub! Gluten-free: If you don’t want to use the flour, it’s okay. The crust won’t be as even, but skipping the flour and just rubbing the spices over the pork will still taste great. Make an onion-apple pan sauce: After removing the pork chops from the skillet, add sliced onions, apples, and a bit of fresh thyme. Cook until sweet and softened, then pour in the stock, vinegar, and honey. The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 pork chop / Calories 369 / Total Fat 14.3g / Saturated Fat 5.1g / Cholesterol 138.8mg / Sodium 767mg / Total Carbohydrate 11.6g / Dietary Fiber 1.4g / Total Sugars 4.4g / Protein 46.1g AUTHOR: Joanne Gallagher We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us