Pan Seared Pork Chops take just 20 minutes to make and are topped with a delicious pan sauce! This easy Italian dinner is perfectly seared and takes just 8 easy ingredients, making it perfect for weeknights.
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Why this Pan Sear Pork Chops Recipe is a Keeper
I love this recipe because it’s so flavorful! The seasoning really helps take regular pork chops to the next flavor level in this easy recipe.
- Family Favorite: Everyone in the family loves it, making it a go-to meal.
- Adaptable: Feel free to substitute any of the ingredients for their low calorie, low fat or low sodium versions.
- Makes Great Leftovers: The leftovers are just as good! You can easily warm these up throughout the week for quick lunches.
- Delicious Flavor: Fried pork chops taste amazing and are a hit every time.
- Consistent Results: This baked pork chops recipe turns out well every time you make it.
What is the Best Cut of Pork Chops for Pan-Searing?
The best pork chops you can use are rib chops! They tend to be more tender than sirloin chops, which can get tough. Fun fact, pork is the worlds most popular meat.
Ingredient Notes for Easy Pan Seared Pork Chops
You will need just a few super simple ingredients to make this simple recipe. They’re all super easy to find at the store, but you may even have some of the ingredients around your kitchen already
- Pork Chops: Boneless chops will be easier to work with than thick bone-in chops.
- Porketta Seasoning: Make your own seasoning or order some online!
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Skillet Pork Chops
Prepping ahead of time can help to save you time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner!
- Thaw Chops: Take out chops out of the fridge before you cook the pork chops so that they can come up to temperature.
- Make Seasoning: Prepare your seasoning in advance so you’re not scrambling when pork chops are done.
Special Equipment and Tools for this Recipe
Sometimes you need a specific piece of equipment to make a recipe just right. In this case, all you need is a good cast iron skillet!
- Cast Iron Pan: A good quality, large cast iron skillet will give you perfect pork chops with gravy. Cast iron tends to cook more evenly than a regular pan, which makes your juicy pan seared chops cook evenly.
Pro Tip to Cook Pork Chops
Let the pork chops rest for at least 10 minutes after they come off the skillet. If you cut into them too early, the juices will come out and leave the chops dry.
How to Make Pan-Seared Pork Chops
This recipe comes together in just 3 quick and easy steps. These pan-fried pork chops are so good, you’ll be adding them to your meal rotation!
These are the basic easy to follow steps for making Italian Pan Seared Pork Chops. Refer to the full recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Season the Sides of the Chops and Prep Pan
Season both sides of the pork chops with All Purpose Seasoning Blend and Porketta Seasoning Blend. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
2. Cook Pork Chops with Garlic
Add sliced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
Add the pork chops to skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove the pork chops from pan and cover with foil. The cook time will vary on the thickness of the pork chops.
3. Make Reduced Sauce and Serve
Melt butter in skillet and whisk in chicken stock, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Let sauce simmer and reduce by half, about 3 minutes.
Place chops on serving platter and top with reduced sauce.
How to Store Pork Chops, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Make sure the chops have cooled before storing. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet or in the oven at 375 degrees. Sometimes reheating cooked pork will cause it to dry out, so be aware of that when reheating.
- Using Leftovers: To help combat the dryness of reheating, make a delicious gravy to go with your leftovers.
Variations and Substitutions for the Best Pan Seared Pork Chops
The best pork recipe is super easy to customize to make it your own! Try taking it to the next level by using different meats or adding other flavors.
- Pork Loin Chops: Pork loin chops are a leaner alternative to bone-in pork chops.
- Chicken Breasts: If you prefer poultry, chicken breasts can be substituted for the pork chops.
- Shrimp: For a seafood option, try pan-searing shrimp instead of pork chops.
- Different Seasoning: Experiment with different herbs to add a unique flavor to your dish. Try to season your pork chops with rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, salt and pepper.
Tender Pork Chop Recipe FAQs
Serve Brown Sugar Bacon Carrots, Make Ahead Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes and Strawberry Angel Food Cake Dessert with your boneless or bone-in pork chops in a skillet.
Continue to cook or grill pork chops until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
Yes! Pork chops can take about 20 minutes to grill, depending on the thickness of the chops.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- Fat Content: Pork chops are a high-fat meat according to the nutrition facts. Use boneless pork chops to eliminate total fat or bone-in for this easy Italian pork chop recipe.
- Cooking Time: Cooking time can vary based on thickness of the pork. Thicker chops (inch thick) and bone-in chops will require more cooking time than thinner chops.
- Don’t Overcrowd: If you overcrowd the pan, the pork chops will not sear properly and will be steamed instead.
- Quality Equipment: Make sure you have a good skillet or baking dish on hand for searing it just right.
- Dry Pork Chops: Pat chop dry before cooking to get a perfect sear.
Italian Pan Seared Pork Chops
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Ingredients
- 6 Boneless thin pork chops
- 2 teaspoons All Purpose Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Porketta Seasoning Blend
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 cloves Garlic, sliced thin
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- ½ cup Chicken broth
- 1 Lemon, juiced and zested
Instructions
- Season both sides of pork chops with All Purpose Seasoning Blend.
- Evenly coat both sides of the pork chops with Porketta Seasoning Blend.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add sliced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes or until oil is fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic).
- Add pork chops to skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes; flip and cook for 3-4 minutes more or until cooked through to 145 degrees.
- Remove chops from pan and cover with foil.
- Add butter to skillet and melt.
- Whisk in chicken stock, juice from lemon and lemon zest.
- Let sauce simmer and reduce by half, about 3 minutes.
- Place chops on serving platter and top with reduced sauce.
Christina’s Notes
- Fat Content: Pork chops are a high-fat meat according to the nutrition facts. Use boneless pork chops to eliminate total fat or bone-in for this easy Italian pork chop recipe.
- Cooking Time: Cooking time can vary based on thickness of the pork. Thicker chops (inch thick) and bone-in chops will require more cooking time than thinner chops.
- Don’t Overcrowd: If you overcrowd the pan, the pork chops will not sear properly and will be steamed instead.
- Quality Equipment: Make sure you have a good skillet or baking dish on hand for searing it just right.
- Dry Pork Chops: Pat chop dry before cooking to get a perfect sear.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
I made this tonight… my husband and I enjoyed this very much!! I’ll be making more of your recipes!! They look divine!!
I’m so glad you liked them!
Hi Christina,
Will this recipe work using pork tenderloin medallions?
I believe it would! Let me know if you try it!
You are right! This will stay in my dinner rotation for sure! Sometimes I forget that Italian isn’t just spaghetti and meatballs!
I seem to avoid pork chops because mine turn out so dry but these were spectacular! So juicy and the flavors were wonderful. My family can’t wait for me to make this again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I’m still thinking about how good this pork was! I made extra house seasoning blend for this weekend. We’re grilling out and I just know it’s going to be amazing on the chicken!
Susanne
This recipe sounds delicious, but must I buy more difficult to find spices? First what is “House Seasoning Blend”? Second what is “”Porketta Seasoning Blend”? I live in a small town and do not have access to grocery stores with a lot of ethnic type spices. I had to order garam masala online. Please tell me that it is worth the effort. And also what they are.
You can find the recipes for both the House Seasoning Blend and Porketta Seasoning Blend on my website. Both are made with easy to find spices carried in most grocery stores. Here are the links:
House Seasoning Blend: https://www.itisakeeper.com/10427/house-seasoning-blend/
Porketta Seasoning Blend: https://www.itisakeeper.com/24916/porketta-seasoning/