Chuletas Guisadas

Juicy Chuletas Guisadas (Puerto Rican Stewed Pork Chops) simmered in a flavorful sofrito tomato sauce with onions, peppers, and cilantro. Delicious with a side of rice and Puerto Rican habichuelas guisadas!

There’s nothing like a plate of chuletas guisadas to bring a little Puerto Rican comfort to the table. Similar to our chuletas a la jardinera, these tender, juicy pork chops are simmered in a rich sofrito and tomato-based sauce, loaded with sweet peppers, onions and topped with fresh cilantro.

Pair them with Puerto Rican arroz blanco (white rice), arroz con gandules (pigeon peas and rice), yellow rice with corn, or arroz a la jardinera (garden style rice). Add a side of stewed beans, and you’ve got a meal that’s not only flavorful but also incredibly satisfying and delicious.

Jump to:

• The Best Cut Of Pork Chops to Use
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Expert Tips
• Recipe FAQs
• Other Pork Dishes You Will Love
• 📖 Recipe

The Best Cut Of Pork Chops to Use

One of the great things about this recipe is its versatility. You can use any cut of pork chops you have on hand, preferably bone-in pork chops. Ribeye or rib-end pork chops are hands down my favorite!

These cuts have just the right amount of fat, which not only makes the chops extra juicy but also helps them soak up all the delicious spices and tomoato sauce. Plus, that bit of fat adds so much flavor to the dish.

Simmer these pork chops for about 30-45 minutes, and you’ll be rewarded with the most tender, fall-off-the-bone pork chops you’ve ever had!

Ingredients

• Pork Chops – While boneless pork chops work for this recipe, I recommend using rib end, bone-in pork chops for maximum flavor, juiciness and tenderness.

• Tomato Sauce – The tomato sauce, combined with all the other delicious ingredients, is what creates the rich, savory sauce the pork chops soak in.

• Adobo and Sazon – These seasonings are what infuse the pork chops with bold Puerto Rican flavors.

• Peppers – Use whatever peppers you have but using a mix of colors for this dish, is not only visually appealing but adds such yummy flavor and helps to balance the sauce.

• Onions – Onions add flavor and a light crunch thats just perfect! I couldn’t imagine this dish without them!

• Olives – If you don’t like olives, of course you can skip them but the olives cook so deliciously in the sauce, you won’t want to skip these, plus they add a touch to the sauce, that’s so distinctly Puerto Rican.

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

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade: In a mini food chopper, combine the garlic, oregano and oil. Blend until smooth (Image 1).

Step 2: Season the Pork Chops: Evenly coat each pork chop with the prepared marinade (Image 2). Sprinkle both sides with the adobo seasoning and allow to marinate for 15 minutes or overnight.

Step 3: Sear the Pork Chops: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a few tablespoons of oil. When the oil is hot, add the pork chops to the skillet. Do not crowd the pan. Fry a few pork chops at a time if needed. Fry each pork chop until golden brown on each side (Image 3).

Step 4: Add the Sauce Ingredients: Once the pork chops are browned, top them with sofrito, sazon, chicken bouillon, tomato sauce, vinegar, lime juice, bay leaf, and olives (Image 4).

Step 5: Simmer: Pour in 2 cups of water. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet. Simmer for about 30-45 minutes, or until the pork chops are tender (Image 5).

Step 6: Add Veggies: After the pork chops have cooked for 30 minutes. Check for tenderness. If the pork chops need to cook longer, cook for another 15 minutes. (Note: If the liquid has evaporated too much, add about ½ cup of water to the pan and stir gently.) Layer the peppers and onions on top of the pork chops (Image 6). Cover the pan and cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until the veggies are cooked to your liking.

Step 7: Finish with Cilantro: Add the fresh cilantro (Image 7) and mix into sauce. Taste the sauce for salt, sprinkle some if needed. Serve the pork chops immediately.

Expert Tips

• Sear the Pork Chops – Don’t skip searing the pork chops. Browning them not only gives them a beautiful, golden color that makes them look extra appealing but it locks in the juices, making them extra tender and delicious.

• Let them Simmer – Give the sauce enough time to thicken and infuse the pork chops with all that delicious flavor!

• Use Fresh Cilantro – Always use fresh cilantro, dried cilantro just doesn’t bring the flavor and freshness this dish deserves.

• Sauce – Traditionally the sauce is on the thicker side but can be customized to your liking. For a thinner sauce, add a little bit of water.

Recipe FAQs

Other Pork Dishes You Will Love

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