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Pan fried pork chops are lightly seasoned pork chops pan seared and basted in a silky thyme-butter sauce for restaurant quality flavor. No flour needed for this scrumptious recipe!
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This pan fried pork chops recipe shows you how to sear pork chops on the stove with a gorgeous golden brown surface and tender, juicy inside. It's on the table in 15 minutes, so it's perfect for busy weeknights and even date night!
Serve pan fried pork chops with a side of sauteed asparagus or pan fried green beans and mashed potatoes for a well rounded dinner!
Why you'll love this recipe
- simple, quick, and flavorful - Pan fried pork chops are ready in 15 minutes with insanely delicious flavor and impressive presentation.
- no flour or breading needed - Once you know how to fry pork chops without flour, you'll realize it's really not necessary for the perfect sear.
- basted with butter - Pan fried, bone-in pork chops have their own fat that will render, making them juicy inside. The butter basted surface takes them over the top!
- easy prep - Season these cast iron pork chops with a little salt and pepper. That's it, which leaves room for you to add your favorite seasonings!
- the perfect entree - Add a scoop of creamy mushroom soup over these pork chops, or gravy and a side of cranberry sauce for the ultimate comfort meal.
Key ingredients
- pork chops - I'm using thick, center cut loin pork chops, known as Iowa Chops, for this recipe. You can also use boneless pork chops and reduce the cooking time at your discretion.
- salt and pepper - Simple seasonings are all you need because the fresh thyme and the pork are really the stars of this show.
- olive oil - We'll use this to initially sear the pork chops to perfection.
- butter - Butter adds a silky smooth finish and flavor to pan seared pork chops.
- fresh thyme - Use about 6 sprigs of thyme. Rinse it off, but don't chop it, we're using it whole.
How to make this recipe
Pan fried pork chops are a quick and easy way to enjoy seared pork with a golden surface and irresistible flavors. Enjoy these step by step photos, or skip down to the printable recipe.
Recommended prep step: Rest pork chop(s) at room temperature for 20 minutes to remove the chill.
Step 1. Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet on medium-high heat. Add pork chop(s) and sear about 3 minutes, or until it releases without any effort when lifted with tongs.
Step 2. Gently flip pork chop(s) over and sear the other side for a few minutes until it releases from the pan. Feel free to cover the pan to prevent splattering.
Step 3. Reduce heat to medium-low and add remaining butter and fresh thyme sprigs to the pan. Use a small spoon to baste the pork and continue cooking until it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer near the bone. Transfer to a plate and rest until it reaches a safe, minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 4. To serve, drizzle some of the thyme butter sauce from the skillet over the pork and dive in!
Recipe tips
- Do you wash pork chops? - It's not necessary. In fact, the most effective way to eliminate bacteria from pork is to cook it to a safe minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- temper the pork - Resting pork at room temperature for 20 minutes removes the chill and helps meat cook more evenly.
- use a heavy skillet - If available, use a heavy skillet such as cast iron for even heat distribution and retention, which sears more effectively.
- resist the urge to flip too soon - Meat naturally sticks to a hot surface for the first few minutes of searing. If it's sticking, don't force it because you'll tear the meat. Just wait until it releases, then flip.
- use a thermometer - An instant-read meat thermometer tells you when the pork reaches a safe internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- rest the cooked pork chops- Allow cooked pork chops to rest for 3 minutes before cutting to prevent the juices spilling out.
- light pink center - When pork reaches a medium temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, it will have a light pink center, similar to that of strip steaks cooked to the same temperature.
Recommended sides
- Sauteed Asparagus
- Mac n Cheese Instant Pot
- Cauliflower Broccoli Salad
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- Strawberry Salad
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
📖 Recipe
Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 (1-pound) Center Cut Bone-In Pork Chops, 1-inch thick
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, divided in half
- 6 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
Instructions
- Use paper towels to pat PORK CHOPS completely dry.Recommended: Rest the chops about 20 minutes at room temp to remove chill.
- Generously season all sides of the chops with SALT and PEPPER.
- Heat OLIVE OIL in skillet over medium-high heat.
- Gently lower chop(s) into the skillet and sear 3-5 minutes until golden brown.
- Flip the chop(s) and sear the other side a few minutes until a quick read thermometer registers a minimum of 135 degrees Fahrenheit next to the bone. This temperature will increase in the next steps.
- Add BUTTER and THYME to the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and use a spoon to baste the pork chop(s) with melted butter.
- When the pork internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit, transfer to a plate. Cover and rest up to 5 minutes, or until it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit on a clean meat thermometer.
- Serve warm drizzled with herbed butter..
- To store, allow to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Equipment
- paper towels
- 12-inch cast iron skillet or heavy skillet
- serving platter
Recipe Notes
- Do you wash pork chops? - It's not necessary. In fact, the most effective way to eliminate bacteria from pork is to cook it to a safe minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- temper the pork - Resting pork at room temperature for 20 minutes removes the chill and helps meat cook more evenly.
- use a heavy skillet - If available, a heavy skillet such as cast iron promotes even heat distribution and retention, which sears meat more effectively.
- resist the urge to flip too soon - When pork sticks to the pan, it's best to not force the flip because it will release naturally, in time.
- use a thermometer - An instant-read meat thermometer tells you when the pork reaches a safe internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- rest the cooked pork chops- Allow cooked pork chops to rest for 3 minutes before cutting to prevent the juices spilling out.
- light pink center - When pork reaches a medium temperature of 145degrees Fahrenheit, it will have a light pink center, similar to that of a steak cooked to the same temperature.
Jessie says
This is truly the best way to cook chops. They are moist with fantastic flavor and are beautiful. You just can't fail using this technique. Thanks for sharing!
Traci says
Yayy!!! I'm so glad you're loving it! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this feedback - and for bringing my recipe into your kitchen. Enjoy!
Carol says
I love that your recipes are so easy to follow and you give wonderful cooking tips. Thanks so much. This recipe looks delicious and I will be making it soon.
Traci says
This makes me so happy to hear, Carol 🙂 I appreciate your support always - Thank you!!
Jo says
I have been attempting to make juicy, delicious pork chops my entire life and never have accomplished it. These turned out wonderfully and so delicious, and they were so easy. I will never shy away from pan-fried, non-breaded pork chops again !! I'm so happy I found this recipe.
Traci says
Yayy Jo! I'm so glad my recipe made its way to you and you work for it! Pan fried is a favorite method here too 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback. Enjoy!
Jeff says
Pan fried pork chops for the win! Can't believe how fast and easy these are. And they're just so tasty! Thanks KG!
The Kitchen Girl says
You're so welcome 😉 I'm glad you love these as much as I do!
Beth Sachs says
The thyme butter sauce goes so well with the pork chops. Such a flavourful recipe.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks Beth! Yes! Thyme butter on a cast iron pork chop is my favvvv 🙂
Beth says
These pork chops turned out fantastic and were so delicious! The family absolutely loved this recipe. Such a great dinner and so flavorful! Definitely making this again!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome Beth! So glad to hear it 🙂 It's a favorite in our house too!
Liz says
My husband had an incredible pork chop at a restaurant and now he wants to make them at home. This is perfect!
The Kitchen Girl says
Lol yay! This is definitely the right pork chop recipe to make at home. Restaurant quality all the way!
Jess says
I love cooking with pork because of how inexpensive it is and the flavor is delish!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yes...us too! And pan seared pork chops are soooo flavorful. Enjoy! 🙂
Amanda Dixon says
These pork chops came out perfectly! I love how quick they were to prepare, and the crust had just the right touch of crispness.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome Amanda! So glad to hear it 🙂 We're big fans of skillet pork chops too. Thanks!