Many people love these oven baked pork chops because they are easy to make. They are also incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful. With just a handful of basic ingredients and pantry staples, you can whip up this amazing dinner in no time.
I’ve been making this baked pork chop recipe for years now and my family absolutely love it. I’m sure, you’ll make this baked pork chop 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 pork chop recipe will be done and ready to eat.
This garlic butter sauce is the queen of this recipe because it keeps the pork chops very juicy, tender, moist, and delicious.
ingredients to make this Baked Pork Chops
- Good quality butter
- 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 – Sprinkle salt and pepper on the pork chops, or use paprika and onion powder for extra flavor.
- 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-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.
How to Cook 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 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.
- Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the pork chops. Sear the pork chops until they are golden brown, about 2-4 minutes on each 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!!
Watch how to make Easy baked pork chops:
Recipe Tips
- Season both sides of the pork chops generously with salt and pepper.
- Freshly garlic will provide the best flavor. Sauté it in butter until fragrant before adding it to the pork chops.
- Allow the baked pork chops to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This lets the juices redistribute and keeps them moist.
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can sear the pork chops in any skillet. After searing, transfer the pork chops to a baking dish to finish cooking in the oven.
How Long to Bake Pork Chops
We recommend to bake your pork chops in the oven at high temperature to avoid them from drying out.
We bake ours 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.
How To Store Leftovers
To Store: These 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 pork chop recipe, thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat leftovers on the stove or in the microwave.
Sides that go well with baked pork chops:
- Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! If you’re not looking to keep things low-carb, serve your baked pork chops with some starchy root veggies. Potatoes au gratin, creamy mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes are some of my favorites.
- Other vegetables like roasted green beans, roasted carrots, brussels sprouts and air fryer asparagus.
- Any side salad! A simple arugula salad would pair beautifully with these pork chops. You could also serve it with other side dishes like pasta salad, quinoa salad, couscous salad or some fresh, creamy coleslaw.
- Bread is always a winner. Crunchy garlic bread or some cornbread with honey would also be super yummy!
More pork recipes to try:
Frequently Asked Questions
They are lean meat and 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.
For this oven baked pork chop recipe, you don’t need to cover it. But once you do it, remove and cover them with aluminum foil. Let them stand three minutes before serving.
This sear and bake method is a great way 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.
Yes you can make this baked pork chops recipe with chicken breast, chicken thighs and even steak.
Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized pork chops
- Salt and pepper
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper, and set aside.
- In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the skillet is 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 10-14 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.
Tips
- Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the pork chop.
- Make sure to give your pork chops a few minutes to rest before cutting so they can redistribute the moisture.
- Thick cut pork chops are ideal as they won’t overcook as easily.
- When using a cast iron skillet in the oven, use a heat-resistant glove or oven mitt to safeguard your hands when handling the skillet. It gets extremely hot and can cause burns if touched without protection.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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Gene says
Never a fan of boneless pork chops I searched for and found this recipe and wow was it a hit. I used Kerrygold butter, added new yellow baby potatoes and asparagus finished with lemon and parmesan cheese. It was delicious, thank you.
Olivia says
That’s awesome! It sounds DELICIOUS!
Judith says
I don’t own a cast iron skillet, can i use any heavy skillet?
Olivia says
yes you can 😉
Kathryn says
I tried it and loved it my autistic son even devoured it to and I made mashed potatoes with cheese and bacon as a side with a salad I was in shock that my son actually ate it I can’t wait to make it again
Olivia says
Your comment made my day, Kathyn. So happy to hear your son loved it. Thanks for making my recipe and for stopping by 😉
Rock B says
I live in New Orleans, where we’re super picky about our flavor. Normally, most recipes that are not from down here are not very satisfying and I have to add more spices. This recipe, however, was fantastic! I literally just made these just moments ago following your exact directions. I didn’t have to add anything to it! Super easy to make. My wife who really doesn’t care for chops liked them too. This will definitely be a staple in our household. Thank you!
Looking forward to trying more of your recipes!
Olivia says
I’m so glad you loved it! Thanks so much for taking the time to share this review. 🙂
Olivia says
I don’t know what went wrong. Followed recipe and chop were super dry and tough. 😒
Olivia says
Probably it’s the cooking time. It will depends on the thickness of your pork chop.
Cal says
Really good recipe! Made it twice, second time I used rosemary instead of thyme and melted the butter with them already in. Made a huge difference with the flavor! Thanks!
Olivia says
You’re very welcome 😉
Mary Ann Benedetti says
I was so surprised!! Followed the receipt (except used regular butter and used a non-stick skillet) they browned up beautifully and were so juicy and tender…couldn’t have been easier for a quick weeknight meal… got rave reviews!!! Would be great to make for company!!
Olivia says
That’s so awesome, Mary!!
Sarah Ortiz-Brown says
OMG 😮 these turned out amazing. Made them for dinner tonight and my husband said these are “the best pork chops you’ve ever made.” That’s not a small statement. I’m Puerto Rican and I can make a “mean chuleta”. These right here…delicious😋
Olivia says
Wow that’s awesome. So happy to know you both enjoyed this recipe. Thanks a lot for your kind comment 😉
Maureen Vanhook says
Really great recipe!
Tender and juicy. Nummy!
Olivia says
Happy you enjoyed this recipe. Yes it’s one of my favourite recipe. SO delicious!
Christie Stover says
These were the easiest and most delicious pork chops I have ever made. My husband and son were moaning as they ate. I served them with asparagus which paired well with the butter sauce. Thank you!
Olivia says
Totally. Asparagus is even more delicious when it’s paired with pork chops 😉