Skillet Pork Chops With Garlic And Butter

There isn’t much better than Skillet Pork Chops. You take delicious and tender pork chops, sear them on the outside to caramelize the meat and develop a depth of flavor, and then bake it in the oven with aromatic herbs and veggies to finish it off. Cast iron pork chops are a family-favorite weeknight meal that can be cooked and on the table in about 20 minutes.

Today, I want to show you how to make skillet pork chops that I make with my pastured pork. This dish has definitely become a family favorite.

I have to be honest: when I first got my pork chops from the half of the hog I ordered, I really wasn’t sure how to make them. I’m used to preparing other cuts of pork, and I know it’s weird, but I just haven’t really made pork chops. Especially since my mom made them all the time growing up! But I had to find a way my family would enjoy this cut, because when we ordered the half of a hog, quite a few pork chops came in the box.

As it turns out, after making this skillet pork chop recipe a few times, this has become my kids’ favorite meat. Well, favorite besides bacon, of course. But honestly, what can compete with bacon?

In this recipe, I use a cast iron skillet. If you are new to cast iron cooking, you can find my post and video all about how to take care of and cook with cast iron skillets.

The best way to make pork super juicy and flavorful is to brine it, but that requires planning ahead, which is something I almost never do. If you brine your pork, you’re super on top of your game. But this recipe is so delicious even without brining, so it’s awesome for people who want delicious, healthy meals without a lot of prep (like me).

My family loves this dish, not only because it is super flavorful, but also because as long as the meat is thawed, you can get it on the table in about 20 minutes. It’s a perfect weeknight meal.

How To Make Skillet Pork Chops Video Tutorial

 

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How To Make Skillet Pork Chops

Tools you will need:

• Cast iron skillet
• Lid (make sure it’s oven-safe)
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Garlic press (optional)

Ingredients you will need:

Pork chops – I used pasture-raised pork chops with the bone in

Salt

Pepper

Onion

Fresh Garlic

Fresh Herbs, like rosemary and sage

Brine

This is an optional step for if you remember to plan ahead, but it does give the pork a really delicious flavor and makes the meat more tender.

1. Mix together a quart of water and about 1/4 cup of salt.
2. Add in any fresh herbs you would like, peppercorns, garlic and/or other seasonings.
3. Place pork chops in the brine for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours in the fridge. 

How To Cook Skillet Pork Chops

1. Get the cast iron skillet nice and hot. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2. Generously salt and pepper your pork. This will be to taste, but generally for 4 pork chops, I will use about 2 tsp of salt.
3. While you’re waiting for your skillet to heat up, dice an onion.
4. Once the skillet is good and hot, add about 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan. It should really sizzle. What we are trying to get is a good sear on the pork chops, and the only way to do that is a super hot skillet.
5. Once the butter has melted, place the pork chops in the skillet. The key is to not overcrowd them to get nice and seared. The goal is not to get them cooked at this point, but just to get that sear. We will finish the cooking in the oven.
6. Now, I like a lot of garlic, so for these four pork chops, I’m going to add 5 or 6 cloves. I like to cut garlic by first by cutting off the top and the bottom, then taking a chef knife and crushing it. This releases the peels. You could also use a garlic press, but I find it more difficult that way.
7. After a few minutes, flip the pork chops and sear on the other side. Once they are flipped, add the garlic, onions, and fresh herbs like rosemary and sage. 
8. Put a lid on the cast iron skillet and put in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 150 degrees. This time may vary depending on the thickness of your pork chops. 
9. I like to put the lid on because I feel like the meat stays much juicier, and I love the way it softens and cooks the garlic. 
10. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before slicing to make sure all those juices stay in the meat. 

Serve

I like to serve this by pouring the juices that the pork cooked in over top; it’s so delicious. And then serving it with some sweet potatoes and something green like sauerkraut, green beans, or broccoli.

What cut of pork chops should I buy?

This recipe will work with both bone-in and boneless pork chops. For this recipe, the main difference will be the thickness of the pork chop and the cooking times. The thicker the pork, the longer you will have to cook it.

The pork chops I use usually are bone-in center cut chops, and are on the thinner side, so 10 minutes in the oven works perfectly.

How do you cook pork chops without drying them out? How can you tell pork chops are done?

Cooking pork chops to the right temperature is crucial for them not to dry out. Safe cooking temperature is 145 degrees after 3 minutes of rest. This will ensure pork chops are cooked while still being tender and juicy.

Should you sear pork chops before baking?

While technically you don’t have to, searing the pork chops before baking really adds more flavor, a better texture, and amazing caramelization that takes the dish up a notch. 

Searing only takes a few extra minutes, and the flavor is totally work it.

More of our family favorite recipes straight from our farmhouse kitchen:

• Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
• How To Make A Whole Chicken In The Instant Pot
• Healthy Family Dinner Recipes
• Healthy Quinoa Nachos Without Chips
• Chicken Alfredo Sourdough Pizza Recipe

Skillet Pork Chops Recipe Card

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