25 Juicy Pork Chop Recipe Ideas Approved by Our Test Kitchen
Meet your new favorite weeknight dinner.
Juicy pork chop recipes are a dinnertime staple, and these meal ideas genuinely raise the bar.
Whether you're searching for the best stuffed pork chops, are a fan of classic pork chops with apples, or want to try out a new twist like air-fryer pork chops, we've got you covered. These easy pork chop recipes will satisfy for casual family suppers and special occasions alike.
Make-Ahead Mediterranean Pork Chops
This pork chop recipe idea allows you to get a head start on meal prep. First, marinate and cook the meat ahead of time, then employ that same pan for the orzo, olive, and bell pepper side. Enjoy half tonight, then freeze the other half for a busy day.
Related: 28 Make-Ahead Recipes to Stock Your Freezer with Right Now
Pork Loin Chops with Potato Packets
Two reasons why you should roast your next dinner (like this easy pork chop recipe with potatoes) in foil packets:
Crimping the top nice and tight allows all of the aromas to infuse into the meat and potatoes—rather than escaping into the air.
Cleaning up after dinner almost couldn't be easier. Once you've enjoyed your meal, simply roll up the foil and discard.
Flash-Braised Pork Chops with Apples and Cream
Don't be intimidated by the "flash-braise" name of this pork chops with apples recipe. That just means starting the heat high to sear the exterior. Then we suggest turning the heat to medium to whip up the pan sauce and bring the pork to picture-perfect doneness. Finish the pork chops and apples one-dish dinner entrée with a splash of cream for a restaurant menu-quality masterpiece.
Air-Fryer Pork Chops with Brussels Sprouts
This modern countertop appliance is talented at more than turning potatoes into fries and reheating pizza! (Although it rocks at both of those tasks, too.) For this air-fryer pork chop recipe idea, the machine makes quick work—just 25 minutes, start to finish—of both the chops and the maple-mustard Brussels sprouts side dish.
Pan-Roasted Pork Chops with Lemon Caper Sauce
These cast-iron skillet-cooked chops are coated in a luscious brown sugar rub that gives them a crispy coating and a touch of sweetness. That sweet element plays nicely with the slightly tangy, briny, and totally tasty homemade lemon caper sauce. While it doesn't taste like your typical quick weeknight dinner option, this oven-baked pork chops recipe means dinner can be on the table in just 30 minutes!
Soy Sauce-Marinated Pork Chops
Boost the complexity of your dinner by giving the meat a quick dip in a soy sauce, ginger, and red pepper marinade. Then all that's left to do is toss together a mixed spring greens salad to pair with the grilled pork chops recipe for a well-rounded meal. BHG fan Kim raves, "Quite possibly the best pork chops I've ever eaten. Excellent recipe!"
Garlic-Ginger Pork Lettuce Wraps
Whether you prefer to go slow (simmer in the slow cooker) or fast (pressure cooker for the win!), you're going to fall for this Asian-inspired lettuce wrap recipe. Each bite offers a new sensation, including cubes of pork loin chops coated in a soy-ginger sauce, plus crunchy water chestnuts and peanuts. If you're feeling extra-spicy, finish this boneless pork chop recipe with a drizzle of sriracha or chili garlic sauce.
Pork Chops in Salsa Verde
Put a Mexican twist on this classic dinner protein with spicy salsa verde. Made from tomatillos, onion, jalape?o, and garlic, the salsa makes a bold topping for this smothered pork chops recipe. Any time you feel like a full-on fiesta, slice and serve the saucy pork inside corn tortillas for a fresh twist on taco night.
Pork Chops with Maple Apples
If you're a fan of old-school comfort food recipes, you'll likely adore this pork with maple syrup and applesauce. Best of all, you cook the entire pork chop dinner in one skillet! Simply sear the chops in the pan, then remove and cover with foil. As the meat rests, sauté the side in the same pan. The drippings add a lovely savory touch to the sauce.
Spiced Pork Chops with Zucchini and Onion
A mole-inspired rub of chile powder, brown sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder gives this grilled pork chop recipe idea its "spiced" moniker. While you have the grill going, pile on some zucchini planks. Voilà: A complete, juicy pork chop meal in just 30 minutes.
Dijon Pork Chops with Apple Salad
Spoon a zippy Dijon mustard sauce over the grilled pork chop recipe after taking the meat off the heat for a gourmet boost. Serving a simple apple and arugula salad on the side turns this easy pork chop recipe into a meal. And an amazing pairing: The tang of the blue cheese mixed with the crisp, peppery greens is a bold BFF for the mustard drizzle.
Related: Types of Apples to Know for Your Fall Cooking and Baking Adventures
Grilled Pork Chops with Bacon and Tomato
Because everything is better with bacon—even pork! A speedy (we're talking just 20 minutes) bacon jam is a dreamy topping for these juicy pork chops. Grilled tomato slices and kale make a well-balanced, BLT-inspired side.
Ginger Pork Chops With Curried Walnuts
Salty walnuts, bitter orange zest, umami soy sauce, spicy cayenne pepper, sweet honey, butternut squash: This skillet pork chop creation offers all the sensations needed for maximum taste bud bliss. Leftovers taste even better the next day. (We have to admit, this pork chop recipe never lasts that long in our kitchens!)
Pancetta-Stuffed Pork Chops alla Fiorentina
Wondering what to use to stuff pork chops? Pancetta, bread crumbs, and onions make for a craveable combo. Before stuffing, marinate the chops in a delicious mix of olive oil, garlic, and rosemary for a flavor-packed meal.
Test Kitchen Tip: For the best stuffed pork chops, reach for a thin-blade, sharp knife. This tool allows you to slice a small, deep opening, so less of the filling falls out.
Apple Cider-Brined Pork Chops
For pork chops that are fully loaded with fall flavor, try marinating in a sweet apple cider brine. Prep the boneless pork chop recipe in the morning, then let them soak all day before grilling at dinnertime. Not sure what to pair with pork chops? We suggest plating the protein with an eight-minute side of charred mini peppers and crunchy slices of French bread.
Stuffed Pork Chops with Apples and Walnuts
These apple-stuffed pork chops are easier to make than you think, and everyone will ask for the secret of your sage-scented stuffing. (Psst—it's apples, onion, and cheddar cheese.) Top the breaded pork chops with a crown of walnuts and bread crumbs for crunch. And don't skip the final step: The quick cream sauce is sweetened with a splash of apple juice and is so tasty you just might lick your plate.
Related: Your Step-by-Step Guide For How to Cut a Pocket in Pork Chops
Bourbon-Sauced Pork Chops
These grilled pork chops are covered in a rich sauce with bourbon, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Serve them over Broccolini and mashed potatoes to soak up the extra sauce that drips off the smothered pork chops.
Test Kitchen Tip: Bypass the alcohol by swapping apple juice for the bourbon, if desired.
Pork Chops with Spinach-Apricot Stuffing
One of the smartest ways we've ever dreamed up to sneak in more greens: cook them inside meat. As a bonus, the onion, celery, apricot, and leafy green mixture that goes into these spinach-stuffed pork chops make the pork steam from the inside out for an uber-tender entrée. Prepare this stuffed pork chop recipe on the grill or in a skillet.
Related: 10 Genius Ways to Use Up Vegetables and Fruits Before They Go Bad
Chili-Peanut Pork Chops with Carrot-Cucumber Salad
These yummy pork chops are flavored with chili powder and served with a fresh vegetable salad. Before cooking the pork chops, press chopped peanuts for a satisfyingly crunchy coating.
Pork Chops with Chestnuts, Onions, and Dried Plums
Pork chops may be the focus of this recipe, but the real star of the dish is the sauce. The whole pork dinner idea makes for a mouthwatering meal with Marsala, onions, chestnuts, and bacon.
Test Kitchen Tip: The USDA now recommends cooking pork at 145°F (rather than the previous final cooking temp suggestion of 160°F). A hint of pink is A-OK—just allow the meat to stand after cooking for 3 minutes before serving.
Pork Chops with Cranberries and Pears
This pork chop recipe is perfect for fall dinners when cranberries are in season. As one BHG home cook raved, "We loved this. We used 2 large chops instead of 4 but we kept everything else the same. Our supermarket didn’t have fresh cranberries yet so we used canned cranberry sauce and it was delicious! We are making it again tonight with real cranberries."
Beer-Marinated Pork Chops
You've probably heard of beer-marinated brats, and we've utilized the same moisture-boosting, tenderizing trick for this grilled pork chops recipe. Prepare the marinade after dinner one night, allow the pork to soak until dinner the next day, then grill. Rave reviews are sure to follow for this, one of our juiciest pork chop dishes—especially after you add the cheesy walnut garnish.
Seared Pork Chops with Cilantro Chimichurri and Crispy Sweet Potatoes
A vibrant cilantro sauce is the perfect topper for this seared pork chop recipe. It cuts through the richness of the pork and adds brightness to a quick side made with sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Potatoes
Have dinner on the table in just 30 minutes thanks to this easy pork chop recipe. Oven-baked pork chops come together in a flash thanks to shortcuts like packaged cornbread stuffing mix and frozen potato wedges.
Fruited Pork Chops
Pork and fruit is a classic combination. Here, a sauce made with dried fruit, bottled barbecue sauce, and bell peppers cooks low and slow along with boneless pork chops. Serve them with rice, potatoes, bread, or pasta to soak up the delicious sauce.
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