Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops

Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops are juicy, tender, and super-flavourful thanks to the amazing butter sauce. You need less than 20 minutes to make this recipe. If you like healthy pork chop recipes, this garlic butter baked pork chops recipe is for you. 

You and your family will love these delicious Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops because this recipe is one of the best baked pork chops recipes I’ve ever made. These baked pork chops are super juicy and tender thanks to the garlic butter thyme sauce. Mm… It’s so good that the pork chops will melt-in-your-mouth. Trust me when I say this!

You’ll make this recipe many times 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 recipe will be done and ready to eat. And the butter sauce is super easy to make as well.

Once you melt the butter in the microwave, simply add the minced garlic and chopped thyme, and give it a good stir. Then, pour this sauce over the pork chops, and bake it.

This garlic butter sauce is the queen of this baked pork chops recipe because it keeps the pork chops very juicy, tender, moist, and delicious. This recipe is also low-carb, paleo, whole30 (use ghee instead of butter), and gluten-free.

Easy ingredients to make this Baked Pork Chops recipe:

What I love most about this recipe is that it requires simple ingredients, yet it’s so flavourful. You need:

• Good quality butter – if possible organic or grass-fed or ghee
• Garlic – fresh is always best! You can use garlic powder, but I prefer and recommend fresh garlic. 
• 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 – I recommend purchasing pork that has no antibiotics or added hormones. ButcherBox has some great pork options as they source their pork from cage-free farms. If you are picking pork chops up at the stores, try to pick an evenly thick cut so you don’t end up with overcooked tips. I like to buy at least 1-inch thick pork chops. 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 garlic butter chicken breast recipe for reference.)
• Brown sugar (optional): I know many of you like to add a little bit of brown sugar in your seasoning mixture. I don’t add it, because I want to reduce the amount of sugar a consume. However, you can totally do it if you prefer.

What to season baked pork chops with?

My favorite herbs and spices to season a pork chop are thyme, cumin, garlic, paprika, chili powder and of course salt and pepper. You can also play around and use sage, rosemary, and coriander. 

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 is the correct internal temperature for this Baked Pork Chops recipe?

Cook the pork chops until they reach an internal temperature of 145ºF. Measure it by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the pork chop.

What’s the best way to cook pork chops?

In my opinion, the best way to make juicy and tender pork chops is by searing them on the stove using a cast iron pan and then finish cooking them in the oven.

The reason is that the pork chops will have mor flavor and a nice, brown, and beautiful crust on the outside, and they will be very juicy and tender inside. See how I do it down below!

Of course if you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, sear the pork chops in whatever skillet you have and transfer them to a baking dish to finish in the oven.

How do I make tender Oven 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 the pork chops 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, and using a spoon, pour some of the delicious butter sauce left in the skillet onto the pork chops before serving. Enjoy!!

How do I cook pork chops without drying them out?

This sear and bake method is a great way to keep pork chops from drying out. But, why sear pork chops before baking? Because 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.

Also, due to ovens sometimes not being accurate or our pork chops being different sizes, the best way to cook pork chops without drying them is by not overcooking them. Use a meat thermometer and stop cooking them once they’ve reached an internal temperature of 145ºF at the thickest point.

How long are you supposed to cook pork chops in the Oven?

We recommend to bake your pork chops in the oven at high temperature to avoid them from drying out. We bake our pork chops at 425° F. At this temperature, 1-inch thick boneless pork chops take about 15 minutes to cook.

Again, I recommend you use a meat thermometer to determine doneness and not rely on the general cook time.

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can definitely make this ahead of time for meal prep or as a way to quickly get dinner on the table during the week. To reheat these garlic butter baked pork chops without losing moisture, I suggest you use to oven to reheat them. Bake them for 5 to 10 minutes with a splash of stock in a 350F oven, covered with aluminum foil.

If you are at work or in a rush and need to reheat the pork chops in the microwave, you will have to add the pork chop and some stock to a microwave safe bowl, cover, and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. The extra liquid and the cover will build steam and help keep the pork chop from drying out.

Can I freeze cooked pork chops?

You can freeze cooked pork chops. Once these easy baked pork chops have cooled to room temperature, transfer the pork chop along with any liquids (the garlic butter sauce) into a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

When ready to enjoy, thaw it in the fridge overnight and then reheat as instructed up above. They are great as leftovers. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can serve them with these side dishes: roasted potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts or a side salad.  

Are baked pork chops good for you?

Pork chops are lean red meat and they are consider a good and healthy protein choice. Many cuts of pork are as lean or leaner than chicken, for example. They have nutrients like protein, selenium, zinc, and iron too.

Are baked pork chops keto friendly?

Pork Chops are keto-friendly and can be prepared in many different ways, just don’t cook it with sauces that contains sugar.

Sides that go well with pork chops:

• Golden Cauliflower Rice
• Crispy Roasted Green Beans
• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Mushroom Cauliflower Rice Skillet
• Whole30 Mashed Cauliflower
• Creamy Avocado Cauliflower Salad

More pork chop recipes to try:

• Easy Oven Pork Chop Recipe: A quick and easy 20-minute pork chop recipe!
• Instant Pot Pork Chops: Got an Instant Pot? Well, try this restaurant-quality pork chop with a gravy sauce in an Instant Pot! Ready in under an hour.
• Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops: Check out my webstory on how to make this garlic butter pork chop recipe.
• Garlic Butter Pork Tenderloin Recipe: Perfectly cooked in a garlicky butter sauce, this garlic butter pork tenderloin is going to have you reaching for seconds.
• Pork Chops with Apples and Onions: This quick and easy meal is perfect for a weeknight dinner and especially if you’ve got apples on hand and would like to use them up!
• Balsamic Roast Pork Tenderloin: This balsamic roast pork is made with a savory balsamic glaze that is absolutely perfect for the holidays or a weekend dinner.

Watch the Web Stories here.

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