Name: Baked Pork Chops
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp salt to every one cup of water; 4 half inch thick pork chops with bone in (Make however many pork chops you need); garlic powder (lightly sprinkled on both sides of chops); paprika (lightly sprinkled on both sides of chops); salt and pepper (lightly sprinkled on both sides of chops); oil (for searing chops)

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Make these perfect Baked Pork Chops in the oven. Guaranteed to cook perfectly tender and juicy with just a few simple techniques. No more dry oven baked pork chops!

Baked Pork Chops on a white platter topped with cilantro sprigs.

♦

These juicy tender Baked Pork Chops are excellent! Savory, succulent, just perfectly tender and juicy! Follow the steps in this simple recipe and I guarantee you will also agree!

Unfortunately oven baked pork chops always seem to get a bad rap because they can easily dry up in the oven. But I promise there are some really simple tips and tricks to overcome this dilemma.

A lot of cooks believe that in order to avoid dry oven pork chops, you have to buy thick chops and cook them for 20 minutes and they will come out perfect. Other cooks suggest stuffing your pork chops and this technique will keep them tender.

But I’ve got a trick to keep oven baked pork chops tender and it works every time!

For some there’s another dilemma. Pale pork chops that don’t look very appealing or appetizing.

Baked pork chops served on a large white platter and topped with cilantro sprigs.

(See these don’t look pale! 😋)

Well I’m here to say you don’t need 2 inch pork chops or pale ones either.

Although thicker pork chops is ideal for oven baked pork chops, it is absolutely not necessary.

What I do almost insist on is choosing pork chops with the bone in. They just make for juicier, tastier pork chops.

Seasoning for Juicy Pork Chops

When it comes to oven baked chops, I like the seasoning to be simple, I like to keep true to the flavor of the pork chop.

So I simply add salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.

You however can season your chops whichever way you like.

How to Bake Pork Chops

Tip #1 (Here’s the Main Trick!)

First rinse the the pork chops and then let them sit in a brine of salt and water for 30 minutes. If you don’t have 30 minutes to spare, at least make sure to marinate them in the brine for 15 minutes. This step is important because it tenderizes the pork.

Rinse again with cold water and then season. Let them sit for a few minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Pork chops sitting in a brine solution in a large blue bowl.

Tip #2

In the meantime heat an oven proof skillet over medium high heat. (I use a cast iron) Add one to two tablespoons of oil.

Add the pork chops and sear on each side for a few minutes to give them color.

Seared pork chops in a cast iron skillet ready to finish cooking in the oven.

Look how perfect they look already.

Oven Baked Pork Chops in a cast iron skillet.

Finish cooking the pork chops in the oven.

Pork chops are done cooking. They are perfectly juicy and tender now.

** Let the pork chops sit for a few minutes before serving to hold in the juices the same way you would with a steak.

Note: If pork chops are half an inch thick, cook for 10 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. (62 degrees Celsius).

If they are an inch, cook for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (62 degrees Celsius)

What to serve Baked Pork Chops With

Puerto Rican Rice and Beans

Habichuelas Guisadas (Puerto Rican Beans) serve with white or yellow rice

Arroz Mamposteao (Dirty Rice and Beans)

Garlic Tostones (Fried Garlic Plantains)

Baked or Mashed Potatoes and a side of veggies

Morisqueta (Mexican Beans in a Savory Tomato Sauce with Rice)

📖 Recipe

Baked Pork Chops

Make these perfect Baked Pork Chops in the oven. Guaranteed to cook perfectly tender and juicy with just a few simple techniques. No more dry oven baked pork chops!

4.79 from 19 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 40

Servings:

Calories: 288kcal

Author: Catherine Arena

Ingredients

For Brine

▢ 1 tbsp salt to every one cup of water

For Chops

▢ 4 half inch thick pork chops with bone in Make however many pork chops you need
▢ garlic powder lightly sprinkled on both sides of chops
▢ paprika lightly sprinkled on both sides of chops
▢ salt and pepper lightly sprinkled on both sides of chops
▢ oil for searing chops

Instructions

Brine the Pork Chops

Rinse and brine the pork chops in the brine solution for 30 minutes.
If you don’t have 30 minutes, brine for at least 15 minutes.
Remove pork chops from brine and rinse with cold water.
Season and let seat for a few minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C)
In the meantime heat an oven proof skillet over medium high heat. (I use a cast iron) Add one to two tablespoons of oil.
Add the pork chops and sear on each side for a few minutes to give them color.
Finish cooking the pork chops in the oven. Porks chops are ready when internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (62 C). (Refer to notes)
Let the pork chops sit for a few minutes before serving to hold in the juices the same way you would with a steak.Done!

Notes

Serve with rice, potatoes or veggies or take a look at my other suggestions in the post.