Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops

Many people love these oven baked pork chops because they turn out incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The chops are first seared on the stove to lock in all those delicious juices, then baked in the oven to perfection. Made with garlic, butter, and fragrant thyme, the seasoning creates a savory crust while keeping the meat moist and flavorful.

 

These delicious easy Baked Pork Chops are one of the best pork chop recipes I’ve ever made. But don’t just take my word for it—this is one of the most popular pork recipes on the internet, with over 500 comments and 4,000 positive-star ratings! It’s a winner in our home and a favorite among so many Primavera Kitchen readers.

I’ve been making this recipe for years now and my family really love it. I’m sure, you’ll make this baked pork chop recipe many times too since it’s the fastest and easiest way to make pork chops in the oven. In only 5 minutes, you’ll prep everything, and in 10-12 minutes, this baked pork chops will be done and ready to eat.

Want to try more pork chop recipes? I’ve created over 15 delicious variations for you to explore! Some of the all-time favorites include these Air Fryer Pork Chops, this flavorful Garlic Butter Pork Tenderloin, the sweet and savory Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin, Pork Chops with Apples and Onions, and even Grilled Pork Chops—perfect for warmer days!

Recipe Ingredients

• Good quality butter – After making this recipe so many times, I’ve found that using good quality butter makes a huge difference. It adds a rich, creamy flavor that enhances the dish, while also helping to create a smooth sauce. I always recommend using high-quality butter to get the best texture and taste.
• Garlic – I’ve tasted this recipe with both fresh and jarred garlic, and I’ve found that fresh garlic gives the best flavor. When freshly minced or crushed, garlic infuses the butter with a vibrant, aromatic essence that really elevates the dish. It’s worth taking the extra step to use fresh!
• Fresh thyme – again, I highly suggest fresh thyme.
• Salt and ground black pepper – You can rub the pork chops with salt and pepper, but you also can use other spices like paprika and onion powder if you prefer. I prefer just salt and pepper because the garlic butter sauce is already very flavorful. 
• Pork chops – Try to pick an evenly thick cut, so you don’t end up with overcooked tips. I like to buy at least 1 to 2 inches thick. Also, you make this recipe with boneless pork chops (loin chop or pork loin) or bone-in pork chops and even with thick cut pork chops. This recipe also works well with chicken breasts (see my baked chicken breast recipe for reference.)

 How To Make Baked Pork Chops

• First, preheat the oven to 425°F. Pat dry the pork chops with a paper towel to remove any leftover moisture from the packaging. Then, season both sides well with salt and pepper. The amount of salt and pepper depends on your taste.

• Prepare the butter sauce by melting four tablespoons of butter in the microwave or stove. Once it’s melted, add the chopped thyme and garlic. Stir well, and set aside.

• In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, and when the skillet is really hot, add the pork chops, and sear them until they have a nice golden brown look, about 2-4 minutes per side.

• Pour the garlic butter mixture over the pork chops, and place the skillet in the oven. Cook until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145ºF. Don’t overcook them to avoid having dry pork chops. 

• Remove the skillet from the oven. Drizzle some of the tasty butter sauce from the skillet over the pork chops. Do this before serving. Enjoy!!

How Long to Bake Pork Chops

At 400°F, boneless pork chops should bake for about 7 minutes per ½ inch of thickness, while bone-in chops need around 8 minutes per ½ inch.

So, for chops that are 1½ inches thick:

Bone-in: Bake for about 24 minutes. Again, I recommend you use a meat thermometer to determine doneness and not rely on the general cook time.

Boneless: Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes.

How Do I Cook Pork Chops Without Drying Them Out?

In my experience, after testing this recipe many times, I’ve found that the sear-and-bake method is one of the best ways to keep pork chops from drying out. But, why sear pork chops before baking? Searing the pork chops helps build a beautiful golden crust as well as helping lock in the moisture for when it bakes in the oven.

Why should I let the chops rest before serving?

Letting pork chops rest before serving helps the juices spread out, making the meat moist and tasty.

Do I Cover Pork Chops When Baking?

For this recipe, you don’t need to cover the pork chops. But once the pork chops are done, remove and cover them with foil. Let the chops stand three minutes before serving.

What To Season Baked Pork Chops With?

My favorite way to season pork chops is with salt, pepper and fresh herbs, plus of course butter and garlic. But you can also use other seasonings of your preference like paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and so on.

You can also play around with fresh herbs and use sage, rosemary, and coriander. So good!

What To Serve With This Recipe

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! If you’re not looking to keep things low-carb, serve your chops with some starchy root veggies. Potatoes au gratin, mashed sweet potatoes, regular creamy mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes or air fryer baby potatoes are some of my favorites.

Any side salad! A simple arugula salad would pair really nicely with these pork chops. You could also do corn salad, quinoa salad, couscous salad, broccoli salad or some fresh, creamy coleslaw.

Bread is always a winner. Add crunchy garlic bread or some cornbread with honey would also be super yummy!

How To Store Leftovers

To Store: These baked pork chops are great as leftovers. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

To Freeze: Let the baked pork chops cool down to room temperature. Place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Include any liquids, like the garlic butter sauce, in the container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: When ready to enjoy this baked pork chops, thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat leftovers on the stove or in the microwave.