Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops
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My family agrees that these are the best juicy oven baked pork chops! We think that these have the perfect balance of flavors, juiciness, and ease of preparation. Plus, they are ready to eat in just 1 hour!
Round out your meal with these tasty side dishes like roasted green beans and roasted broccoli.
Quick Look: Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4 people
- Dietary Info: Dairy Free, Gluten Free
- Method: Oven Baked
- Technique: Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels, then tenderize them with a meat mallet. Season salt and pepper, rest, and add the spice rub. Bake until it reaches 143°F. Rest and serve.
- Flavor & Texture: These oven baked pork chops are always juicy and flavorful (especially since they’re bone-in) and have an incredible depth of flavor and hint of sweetness from the rub.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
With this easy recipe, you’ll be well on your way to making perfectly baked juicy pork chops that are flavorful and sure to impress!
This easy spice rub brings a well-balanced blend of savory, sweet, and aromatic flavors and a hint of caramelization as the chops bake.
Baking the pork chops at a high temperature (425°F) helps to seal in the juices and create a flavorful caramelized crust on the outside while keeping the inside moist and tender. Additionally, starting with pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick ensures that they remain juicy during the baking process.
If you can’t get enough of pork chops, you’ll also love my breaded pork chops, grilled pork chops, and stuffed pork chops!
Made With Amore,
“Excellent recipe! I had 8 chops so I had to increase ingredients by 4. Shared recipe with co-worker and she loved it. This is definitely a keeper in the recipe file. Thanks for sharing.”
– Carolyn
Table of Contents
- Quick Look: Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients
- Variations & Substitutions
- How to Make Juicy Baked Pork Chops
- How Long Does It Take to Bake Pork Chops at 425°F?
- Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops FAQs
- Serving Suggestions
- Expert Tips
- Other Pork Recipes You’ll Love
- Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops Recipe
Simple Ingredients
These basic ingredients combine to create flavorful and juicy oven-baked pork chops that are sure to impress!
- Pork Chops (At Least 1″ Thick): Choose bone-in pork chops or boneless pork chops, preferably with a thickness of at least 1 inch, to ensure juicy and tender results.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance the flavor of the pork chops. Season both sides of the chops to taste before cooking.
- Homemade Spice Rub: A combination of onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, paprika, and dried thyme makes an incredible yet simple spice rub. The sugar adds sweetness and helps caramelize the pork chops’ exterior during cooking, resulting in a flavorful crust.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley: This garnish adds freshness and color to the finished dish. Parsley adds a pop of green and a hint of herbaceous flavor. See my post about Italian parsley vs. curly parsley to learn more about parsley!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations & Substitutions
- Marinade: Marinate the pork chops in your favorite marinade before cooking to infuse them with additional flavor. Popular marinade options include teriyaki, honey mustard, balsamic vinegar, or Italian dressing. Marinating the pork chops for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight in the refrigerator, will enhance their flavor.
- Different Spice Rub: One of my favorite rubs is my Dad’s dry rub for ribs, which works beautifully in this recipe too.
- Cheese Topping: During the last few minutes of baking, add a layer of shredded cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Parmesan, on top of the pork chops. Broil the pork chops for a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Panko Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops: Mix together panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Dip seasoned pork chops in beaten egg, then coat with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Bake as directed.
How to Make Juicy Baked Pork Chops
You’ll love this easy, one-pan dinner that everyone will love! Follow these photo instructions and look at the recipe card for a printable version.
- Tenderize the pork chops with a meat mallet.
- Season the pork chops with salt and pepper.
- Rub the pork chops with oil.
- Combine the spices to make the homemade spice rub.
- Rub the olive oil onto both sides of the pork chops. Sprinkle the dry rub on both sides of the pork chops.
- Use a basting brush to work the seasoning into the meat.
- Bake at 425°F for about 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork chops reaches 143°F (63°C).
- Enjoy these delicious baked pork chops with Italian flat green beans, steamed asparagus, or potatoes au gratin.
How Long Does It Take to Bake Pork Chops at 425°F?
- Bone-In Pork Chops: ½ inch thick, 8-10 minutes; 1 inch thick, 18-20 minutes; 1½ inch thick, 25 minutes.
- Boneless Pork Chops: ½ inch thick, 6-7 minutes; 1 inch thick, 12-15 minutes; 1½ inch thick, 20 minutes.
Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops FAQs
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork chops. They are safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). Alternatively, you can make a small cut in the center of the pork chop; if the juices run clear and there is no pink, they are done.
It’s not necessary to cover pork chops with aluminum foil when baking them at a high temperature like 425°F (220°C). If you decide to cover them, the cooking time will be extended. Covered pork chops typically take 30-40 minutes, depending on size.
Choose 1-inch thick chops or thicker to keep them from drying out as they cook. Also, baking the pork chops at a high temperature like 425°F (220°C) ensures that they cook quickly without drying out. Also, be sure to cook them just until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C); this means they need to cook for about 8-10 minutes per ½-inch of thickness.
Allow the pork chops to cool to room temperature before storing them. This will help prevent condensation from forming inside the storage container, which can make the meat soggy.
Store the pork chops in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then, refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. If you need to store them for longer, you can freeze them for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat the leftover pork chops, you can either reheat them in the microwave, in a skillet on the stove, or in the oven. Be sure to heat them to an internal temperature of at least 165°F to ensure they are safe to eat. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
These juicy oven baked pork chops make for an irresistible dinner, especially with some family-favorite side dishes. Try one of my best side dishes for pork chops, or try some favorites like our vegetable au gratin, grilled eggplant, hasselback sweet potatoes, or Italian stuffed artichokes.
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips
- Opt for pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. Thicker chops are less likely to dry out during cooking, resulting in juicier and more flavorful meat.
- Remove the pork chops from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to allow them to come to room temperature. This ensures more even cooking throughout the meat.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to ensure the pork chops are cooked correctly. They’re safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Allow the pork chops to rest for a few minutes after removing them from the oven. The temperature will continue to increase as it rests; this is called carryover cooking. Resting also allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Other Pork Recipes You’ll Love
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Juicy Oven Baked Pork Chops
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in pork chops, at least 1 inch thick
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
Prepping the Pork Chops
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a 11×17-inch baking sheet with with parchment paper, or spray a large baking dish with cooking spray.
- Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels. Place pork chops between two pieces of plastic wrap and very gently pound using a rolling pin or flat side of a meat mallet. Do not flatten them, just tenderize them with about 3-4 gentle pounds each.
- Place them on the prepared baking sheet. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
Making the Spice Rub & Baking
- Make the spice rub by combining the onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, paprika, and dried thyme in a small bowl until well blended.
- Rub the olive oil onto both sides of the pork chops, then sprinkle the rub on both sides of the pork chops. Use a basting brush to evenly spread it all over the meat.
- Bake for about 10-15 minutes or up to 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork chops reaches 143°F (63°C). The chops will take about 8-10 minutes per ½ inch of thickness. (See the doneness guide in the notes for more info.)
- Once cooked, remove the pork chops from the oven and let them rest for a 5 minutes before serving. This allows the carryover cooking to finish.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving. Enjoy your juicy oven-baked pork chops!
Notes
- Opt for pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. Thicker chops are less likely to dry out during cooking, resulting in juicier and more flavorful meat.
- Bone-In Doneness Guide: ½ inch thick, 8-10 minutes; 1 inch thick, 18-20 minutes; 1½ inch thick, 25 minutes.
- Boneless Doneness Guide: ½ inch thick, 6-7 minutes; 1 inch thick, 12-15 minutes; 1½ inch thick, 20 minutes.
- Allow the pork chops to rest for a few minutes after removing them from the oven. The temperature will continue to increase as it rests; this is called carryover cooking. Resting also allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Excellent receipe! I had 8 chops so I had to increase ingredients by 4. Shared receipe with co-worker and she loved it. This is definitely a keeper in the receipe file. Thanks for sharing.
Yay! So happy you loved this easy and tasty recipe!
I tried this recipe and it is so delicious! The pork chops were juicy and tender and perfect! Thanks, Elena
I’m thrilled you loved this easy pork chop recipe!
I tried something new last night. I usually pan sear my French bone in pork chops, but this time I baked them in the oven, at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. They were perfectly perfect! A must do for next time.
Thank you, Elena for the lovely recipe. Yum!
I am so happy you loved this recipe! It’s so easy and they always turn out yummy!