Preheat oven to 425°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 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.
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Notes
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.