Baked Parmesan Pork Chops Recipe - Creations by Kara (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist pork chops? ›

Fat is key to keeping pork chops moist

Basting them with fat, such as butter. Add in aromatics while basting for more flavor — similar to how you might cook a steak — and then you have the added bonus of browned butter and crispy garlic and/or herbs to serve with the meat.

Do Baked Pork Chops Need to Be Covered? Some baked pork chop recipes do require that the pan is covered with either foil or a lid. It creates steam and ensures that the meat is tender and juicy.

Cook them low and slow. Most times, when we cook pork, we cook it at high temps. Pork, and pork chops in particular, cook up pretty fast. However, pork only needs an internal temperature of 145 degrees.

Seasoning Substitutions: We prefer the flavor of salt and pepper on oven-baked pork chops but you can use any seasoning you like. Try adding a little garlic powder or onion salt for even more flavor. Sear the Chops First: The real key for irresistible oven-baked pork chops is searing them in a skillet first.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Sprinkle pork chops on all sides with thyme, salt, and pepper. Place on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a pork chop reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 20 minutes.

If you're baking your pork chops, be sure to sear them first (not necessary for grilling)… just brown each side for a few minutes in a hot pan on the stove (I use cast iron, with a tablespoon of bacon grease) before baking them at 400 degrees F. This helps them hold in the juices and not dry out in the oven.

Is It Better to Bake Pork Chops at 350 or 400? The best temperature for baking pork chops depends on how thick they are, how you've prepared them and your personal preferences. Baking pork chops at 350 degrees F will result in more gently cooked and tender pork chops, but it will take more time.

Generally, you can cook pork chops in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25-30 minutes per pound or when the meat is at an internal temperature of 145°F. How do you know when pork chops are cooked inside the oven? You can check if the pork chops are cooked in the oven by using a meat thermometer.

Overcooked Pork Chops Are Tough

Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking.

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

Is 30 minutes long enough to Bake Pork Chops? ›

Bake for 45-60 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. For thinner pork chops, bake 25-35 minutes. Allow chops to rest 5 minutes before serving.

Cooking pork chops in the oven can yield to a tender and juicy meat. Brine bone-in pork chops then sear them first before finishing them off in the oven.

On their own, pork chops are a lean, bland cut of meat. Seasoning with salt before cooking is an essential step in bringing out the meat's natural flavors. Season generously, and remember that even a very short brine (just 30 minutes) will improve the taste and texture of the meat.

How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 400 Degrees F. At 400 degrees F you can count on 7 to 8 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness your pork chops are. So, 3/4-inch-thick chops will take 10 to 12 minutes, 1-inch-thick cooks in 15 to 16 minutes, and so on.

Using a brine or a marinade will make your life so much easier. If you're not confident in your cooking skills, there is one foolproof way to guarantee your pork ends up on the tender side, even if you cook it too long: Soak it in a brine or a marinade.

Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop. Even a quick 30-minute brine (or up to four hours) makes a big difference. It's not strictly necessary — you can still use this method to make great pork chops even without brining — but if you have some extra time, I recommend it.

A brine is essentially just salt and water. It helps prevent moisture loss during cooking, and the salt also helps tenderize the meat from the inside out. If you want an extra juicy piece of pork, brine it before cooking. You can make an effective brine just with salt and water, but additional seasonings do help.

Mix milk with first amount of salt (2 teaspoons) and allow pork chops to soak in this mixture for as long as you'd like, about an hour to maybe four works well. Overnight soaking will result in too much moisture & your breading will fall off. Remove pork chops from brine, and set aside.