Easy Baked Pork Chops

This is an easy dish to serve your family. These pork chops are tender, juicy and so flavorful. It is a recipe that we have made often through the years. All the ingredients for this dish can be found in your pantry.

Ingredients

1 Tbs. olive oil
4 pork chops cut 1 1/2 to 1- inch in thickness
1 1/2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. paprika
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. thyme
1 Tbs. olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°.

Place the pork chops in a baking dish in a single layer.  

Coat both sides of the pork chops with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano and thyme. Mix well.  Sprinkle half of the spices over the pork chops, then rub the mixture over the meat. Turn the pork chops over and sprinkle the remaining spice mixture over the pork chops. Rub the spices over the meat to ensure both sides are seasoned evenly. 

Bake the pork chops. The baking time will depend on the thickness of your pork chops.  If your pork chops are 1 1/2-inches thick, bake them for at least 21 minutes. For 1-inch chops, baking time is usually 15 to 20 minutes.

You'll want to make sure the meat is safe to eat by taking its internal temperature. The pork chops are done when the internal temperature reaches 145° on a meat thermometer. 

Let the pork chops rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

This recipe works best if your chops are a thicker cut.  For chops that are 1/2- inch or less, it is better to cook them on top of the stove.  To do this, place a cast-iron skillet on the stove.  Pour in a tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and spread it around. Prepare the pork as directed above by adding the olive oil and seasonings to the meat. You may not need to use all the seasonings.  You can use what you need, and keep the rest to use at a later time.  Place the pork chops in the skillet and then turn on the heat to medium high.  When you start to hear a sizzling noise coming from the skillet. Press the pork chops into the pan. Let them cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until they are almost done. Turn the pork chops over and let them cook for another minute or two. The internal temperature of the pork needs to reach 145° before they are safe to eat.  Let them rest a few minutes before serving.

A good rule of thumb is to bake the chops uncovered for 7 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness. Thinner pork chops will cook faster, but if your chops have the bone in them, they will take a few minutes longer to cook.