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!
- Fresh thyme — again, I highly suggest fresh thyme
- Salt and ground black pepper
- 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.
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 skillet and then finish cooking them in the oven. The reason is that the pork chops will have 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!
How do I make tender pork chops in the oven?
- First, preheat the oven to 375°F. 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 heat, and when the skillet is really hot, add the pork chops, and sear them until they have a nice golden brown look, about 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.
- 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. 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 do I cook pork chops?
Something to keep in mind is that there are different cuts of pork chops. This garlic butter baked pork chop uses doesn’t use bone-in pork chop so it only takes 10 to 12 minutes. If you are cooking bone-in pork chops, you’ll have to add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time. Again, I highly 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 the 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.
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.
Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized pork chops - (I like to recommend pork chops from ButcherBox because it's heritage breed pork)
- salt and pepper
- 4 tablespoons melted butter - use ghee if you're doing whole30.
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme - chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper, and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, thyme, and garlic. Set aside.
- In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the skillet is really hot, add the pork chops. Sear until golden, about 2 minutes per side.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture over the pork chops. Place the skillet in the oven, and cook until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145ºF, about 10-12 minutes. The time depends on the thickness of your pork chops.*
- Remove from the oven. Using a spoon, pour some of the butter sauce left in the skillet onto the pork chops before serving.
Video
Notes
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