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    Home » Puerto Rican Recipes » Chuletas a la Jardinera

    Published: Aug 28, 2023 Modified: Aug 28, 2023 by Catherine Arena 2 Comments

    Chuletas a la Jardinera

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    This savory dish of Chuletas a la Jardinera (Puerto Rican Garden Style Pork Chops) are succulent, tender, juicy, cooked in a tantalizing tomato sauce and topped with garden vegetables. Irresistibly delicious and flavorful!

    Chuletas a la Jardinera served on a large white platter with lime wedges and a side of white rice.

    Similar to our beloved dish of Chuletas Guisadas (Puerto Rican Stewed Pork Chops), these garden-style pork chops also hold a special place in Puerto Rican cuisine. Putting them together is a breeze, and offers a ton of savory flavor!

    Beyond tasting delectable, these pork chops practically cook themselves. Once all the ingredients are in the skillet, it effortlessly all comes together. Pretty much a “set it and forget it” type of recipe! Who doesn’t love that!

    Jump to:
    • Reasons to Love this Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Instructions
    • Tips for Perfectly Cooked Pork Chops
    • What to Serve with Chuletas a la Jardinera?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other Pork Dishes You Will Love
    • 📖 Recipe

    Reasons to Love this Recipe

    • Flavor Fusion: The pork chops absorb the rich flavors of the blissful tomato sauce, creating a harmonious and mouthwatering combination.
    • Nutrient-Rich: Packed with a variety of colorful vegetables, this dish offers a range of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, making it both delicious and nutritious.
    • Visual Delight: The vibrant mix of veggies with the savory cooked pork chops create an appealing and colorful presentation that’s sure to impress both your eyes and taste buds.
    • Comforting: Served alongside a bowl of white rice, this dish is not only wholesome but total comfort food.
    • Easy Elegance: This recipe lets you achieve an impressive gourmet feel without a complex cooking process.

    Ingredients

    Image of ingredients for this recipe.
    • Pork Chops – the star of this recipe. Use whatever you prefer, bone-in, boneless, pork steak or even ribs.
    • Mixed Vegetables – use canned, frozen or fresh vegetables.
    • Tomato Sauce – not only adds a ton of flavor but also helps to thicken the sauce.
    • Chicken or Beef Broth – using broth instead of water, adds exceptional flavor to this dish.
    • Wine – both white and red wine works for this recipe.
    • Sofrito – follow our easy recipe to whip up a batch of sofrito or skip and use a combination of chopped peppers and onions.
    • Adobo – for seasoning pork chops or use salt and pepper.
    • Bay Leaf – adds a unique rustic flavor to the sauce.
    • Garlic Paste – can use fresh minced garlic, garlic paste or puree.
    • Fresh Cilantro – use fresh cilantro or skip if you do not like cilantro.

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    Chuletas a la Jardinera served on a large white platter with lime wedges and a side of white rice.

    Substitutions and Variations

    Can I Use Other Cuts of Pork for this Recipe?

    • Although this recipe is traditionally made using pork chops, you can use any cut of pork you have or prefer.

    What About Using Chicken in this Recipe Instead of Pork?

    • Absolutely, use chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings or chicken breasts.

    Can I Use Garlic Powder Instead of Fresh Garlic?

    • For the best flavor, use fresh garlic. In a pinch, you can use garlic powder.

    Instructions

    Raw seasoned pork chops are added to a cast iron skillet to cook.

    Step 1: Add oil to a skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add the seasoned pork chops.

    Seared pork chops in a cast iron skillet.

    Step 2: Sear the pork chops on both sides until slightly golden brown. Remove and set aside.

    Sofrito and garlic added to the skillet.

    Step 3: Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic puree and the sofrito. Stir and cook for 1 minute.

    Tomato sauce added to the skillet.

    Step 4: Add the tomato sauce, stir and cook for 2 minutes.

    Oregano, bay leaf, broth and wine added to the skillet to form the sauce.

    Step 5: Add the broth, wine, oregano and bay leaf. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.

    Pork Chops are added back into the skillet to finish cooking in the sauce.

    Step 6: Return the pork chops to the skillet and cook for 45 minutes, flipping pork chops in between cooking. *Note: If sauce starts to dry in between cooking add a little more broth or water to pan.

    Pork chops have been cooked and tenderized in the sauce and now are done.

    Step 7: After 45 minutes, check the pork chops for desired tenderness. Cook for an additional 20 minutes.

    Mixed vegetables have been added to the skillet to finish off the dish and now are recipe to serve.

    Step 8: Add the mixed veggies and cilantro and cook for 10-15 minutes or until fully tender.

    Tips for Perfectly Cooked Pork Chops

    • If you are using fresh veggies, add the carrots in the last 30 minutes of cooking to ensure they are fully coked through.
    • If using frozen vegetables, add in the last 20 minutes of cooking.
    • Although you can enjoy these pork chops after 40 minutes of cooking, they benefit greatly cooking a full one and a half hours. The result is “fall off the bone” pork chops sitting in a savory divine sauce!

    What to Serve with Chuletas a la Jardinera?

    Serve with a side of arroz blanco (white rice) or arroz amarillo (yellow rice) and a side of avocado.

    One of my favorite combinations for this dish is served with rice, habichuelas guisadas and platanos fritos (Sweet Plantains) or tostones (fried green plantains).

    Chuletas a la Jardinera served on a large white platter with lime wedges and a side of white rice.

    Recipe FAQs

    What if I am Not a Fan of Rice?

    You can also add large chunks of potatoes mid way through cooking.

    I Don’t Like Cilantro

    You do not need to use any cilantro at all. This dish will still be delicious!

    How to Reheat?

    Reheat in the microwave or stove top until heated through.

    How Long Can I Keep Leftovers in the Refrigerator?

    Eat this dish within 4 days of cooking.

    Other Pork Dishes You Will Love

    • Chuletas con Salsa de Hongos (Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Sauce) served in a cast iron skillet.
      Chuletas con Salsa de Hongos
    • Chuletas con Salsa de Cilantro (Pork Chops with Cilantro Sauce) served on a white platter and topped with slices of lime.
      Chuletas con Salsa de Cilantro
    • Puerto Rican Pernil served on a white platter.
      Pernil Asado (Roast Pork Shoulder)
    • Paleta de Cerdo (Boston Butt) served on a white platter with potatoes, corn cobs, onions and carrots.
      Paleta de Cerdo

    Did you try this recipe? Please leave a ⭐ review below!

    Click any of the images in the post to PIN this Recipe and don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest and Facebook.

    📖 Recipe

    Chuletas a la Jardinera served on a large white platter with lime wedges and a side of white rice.

    Chuletas a la Jardinera (Puerto Rican Garden Style Pork Chops)

    This savory dish of Chuletas a la Jardinera (Puerto Rican Garden Style Pork Chops) are succulent, tender, juicy, cooked in a tantalizing tomato sauce and topped with garden vegetables. Irresistibly delicious and flavorful!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Puerto Rican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 434kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    Ingredients

    • 4-6 pork chops
    • 1 15 oz can mixed vegetables drained
    • ¼ cup tomato sauce
    • 3½ cups chicken or beef broth
    • ¼ cup white or red wine
    • 2 tablespoon sofrito
    • adobo sprinkled on both sides of pork chops
    • 2 tablespoon garlic puree
    • 1 bay leaf
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ⅓ cup oil for searing pork chops
    • ⅓ cup fresh cilantro

    Instructions

    • Add oil to a skillet and heat over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the seasoned pork chops.
    • Sear the pork chops on both sides until slightly golden brown. Remove from the skillet and set them aside on a plate until ready to use.
    • Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic puree and the sofrito. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
    • Add the tomato sauce, stir and cook for 2 minutes.
    • Add the broth, wine, oregano and bay leaf. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
    • Return the pork chops to the skillet and cook for 45 minutes, flipping the pork chops in between cooking.
      *Note: If the sauce starts to dry in between cooking add a little more broth or water to the pan.
    • After 45 minutes, check the pork chops for desired tenderness. Cook for an additional 20 minutes.
    • Add the mixed veggies and cilantro and cook for 10-15 minutes or until fully tender. The pork chops are done. Serve with a side of white or yellow rice.

    Notes

    Recipe Notes and Alternatives:
    • Use any cut of pork you prefer. Bone in, boneless or even pork ribs.
    • Be careful not to overseason pork chops with the adobo. A sprinkle on both sides is enough otherwise you risk salty pork chops. If you do not have adobo, simply season with salt and pepper.
    • If you do not like cilantro, you can omit it completely.
    • If you only have chicken or beef bouillon, simply add one tab per cup of broth.
    • If you do not have sofrito, simply chop half an onion, half a pepper and add to the skillet in step 3 when you’re adding the garlic puree.
    • If using fresh vegetables, add the carrots at least 30 minutes before the dish is done.
    • If using frozen vegetables, add in the last 20 minutes of cooking.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6 | Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 774mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 181IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!

    More Puerto Rican Recipes

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      Empanadillas de Guayaba
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      Authentic Alcapurrias de Yuca
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      Puerto Rican Flancocho
    • Alcapurrias (alcapurrias puertorriqueñas) served on a white platter with hot sauce.
      Homemade Alcapurrias

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    Comments

    1. Beatriz says

      September 13, 2023 at 8:55 pm

      I love this recipe, it definitely takes me back home! I am on a diet of low carb so I loaded it with fresh vegetables , and had it without the rice.

      Reply
      • Catherine Arena says

        September 14, 2023 at 8:39 pm

        Hi Beatriz! Fresh vegetables is even more delicious! So happy to hear you enjoyed it and it reminded you of home. It does me too! Thank you for taking the time to comment and rate! 🙂

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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