The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

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By Courtney ODell

Nov 20, 2021, Updated Dec 28, 2022

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The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe – easy and delicious thin sliced pork chops perfectly pan fried in under 10 minutes with just 4 ingredients!

The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe (2)

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Table of contents

  • Stovetop Pork Chops
  • How To Pan Fry Pork Chops
  • What To Serve With Pork Chops
  • What To Pair With Pork Chops
  • The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe
The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe (3)

Stovetop Pork Chops

If you love delicious, easy, and moist pork chops – this easy recipe is going to be your new go-to for a busy weeknight, a dinner party, or anytime you’re looking for a perfect keto, low carb dinner! These easy pan fried pork chops come together lightning quick – they are simple, bursting with flavor, low carb, and make a perfect weeknight dinner!

The best part – these delicious, juicy, thin cut pork chops are pan fried with just 4 ingredients total – so you can get this meal on the table in 20 minutes or less! That’s right – these pan fried pork chops go from fridge to fork in less than 20 minutes!

Boneless pork chops are often called “America’s Cut” or “loin filets” – boneless loin chops are both the most popular cut of pork and the trickiest chop to cook perfectly since they have little fat and no bones to help lock in moisture and flavor of the chop – so having the perfect method down is essential for delicious, juicy, and tender pork flavor. This recipe will help you rock it, every time.

Just like my favoritecrock pot pork steaks, my garlic pork chops, and mybaked garlic pork tenderloin, these easy baked pork chops are perfectly tender and juicy – not dry and tough like pork gets a bad reputation for! One-pot pan fried pork recipes can be notoriously dry and tough – but this skillet pork chop recipe is juicy, tender, moist – and so delicious!

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How To Pan Fry Pork Chops

To make pan fried pork chops, we will need the following ingredients:

  • Thin cut pork chops. This recipe is meant to quickly pan fry pork chops that are ultra-thin pork chops – around 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick. Thin cut pork chops cook really quickly, defrost fast, and are incredibly delicious – they are very versatile and don’t dry out easily since they cook so fast.
  • Olive oil or avocado oil. Olive oil isn’t perfect for deep frying since it has a lower smoke point – but since we are quickly cooking thin cut pork chops, and not at an incredibly high heat, it won’t burn, and olive oil can work in this recipe.
  • Lemon. Lemon juice and zest brings out a lightly sweet, bright, and tart flavor to balance out the rich pork flavor and helps to break down and tenderize the meat.
  • Adobo seasoning, Italian herbs, or cajun spices (or other herb blend you love). This recipe is meant to be customizable – so you can use any type of seasoning you love!
  • Salt and pepper. If your seasoning blend doesn’t contain salt and pepper, you will want to season your pork with celtic sea salt and freshly cracked pepper.
  • Marinate. Add pork chops to a plate or bowl and drizzle with olive oil and coat generously with herbs and seasoning. Let marinate at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
  • Pan fry. Heat a heavy, large skillet on medium high heat. Add pork chops to pan and brown, about 4 minutes per side. When pork chops are well browned and firm to the touch, they are cooked. Pork is done when most pink is gone, and internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let rest. Before serving, pork should rest at least 10 minutes.
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Tips To Perfect Pork Chops & FAQs

What Pork Chops To Use. For this recipe, I am using thin cut boneless chops – but you can also use a thick cut pork chop, center-cut pork chop, a bone-in pork loin chop, or a bone-in rib chop. Using a bone-in pork chop for this baked pork chop recipe will add cook time to the dish – about another 10-15 minutes (please use the method in this garlic baked pork chop recipe for this oven baked pork chop to bake your thick cut pork after pan frying until it reaches 145 degrees internal temperature.) To learn more about pork chops, and how they cook, please visit my Ultimate Guide To Pork Chops here.

Marinate. Marinating helps to keep the juices locked into the boneless pork chops. Boneless chops taste best when marinating before cooking since they have no bones and little fat or connective tissue for moisture and flavor.

Cook quickly. Boneless chops should be cooked very quickly on high heat – you want to sear and brown the outside of the pork chop, and cook the middle without drying it out. Boneless chops are the most commonly used pork chops in quick and easy one pot pork recipes – they are trimmed, often thinner cut pork chops that are commonly presented in a grocer’s bulk pork flat section.

Use a hot pan. Get your pan as hot as possible, and add a small amount of fat (I use clarified butter or avocado oil), and sear each side for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown, and flip to cook on other side.

Don’t overcook. When thin cut pork chops are well browned outside they are cooked inside – do not over cook!

Check the temperature. If you’d like to check the doneness, and your pork chop is too thin to get an accurate reading with a digital thermometer, you can let the pork chops rest for about five minutes (they continue cooking after removing from heat)

When are pork chops done?

Pork chops are done when their internal temperature has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long do pork chops last?

Pork chops can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four days, or frozen for up to four months.

Do I have to marinate pork chops?

It isn’t mandatory to marinate your pork chops – but it helps the texture and flavor. If you can marinate for even 20 minutes, do it.

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What To Serve With Pork Chops

Pork chops are great because their light, lean flavor goes with just about any side dish.

We love serving roasted asparagus, pan fried broccolini, air fryer baked potatoes, scalloped corn, whole roasted onions, roasted tomatoes, Easy Sautéed Squash and Zucchini, Easy Peach Cobbler, Easy Lemon Jello Poke Cake, and Easy Caramel Apple Spice Cake!

For more of our side dishes that pair perfectly with pork chops, see some of our recent favorites:

You can find our complete side dish recipe archives here.

What To Pair With Pork Chops

We love serving pork chops with lots of different drinks – while conventionally you might go for a white wine with pork, there are a lot of delicious options we love to serve!

  • White Wine – Reisling, Viognier, Chenin Blanc
  • Red Wine – Pinot Noir, Grenache
  • Pilsner, porter, stout
  • Gin or Vodka Martini
  • Apple Cider Gin and Tonic
  • Cardamom and Juniper Gin and Tonic
  • Port and Tonic co*cktail
  • Mulled Beer
  • Scotch and Soda
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The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe

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The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe (14)

The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Resting Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe - easy and delicious thin sliced pork chops perfectly pan fried in under 10 minutes with just 4 ingredients!

Ingredients

  • 8 thin cut pork chops
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced and zested
  • 1 tablespoon adobo seasoning, Italian herbs, or cajun spices (or other herb blend you love)
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Add pork chops to a plate or bowl and drizzle with olive oil and coat generously with herbs, lemon juice and zest, and salt.
  2. Let marinate at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
  3. Heat a heavy, large skillet on medium high heat.
  4. Remove pork chops from marinade, but do not pat dry.
  5. Add pork chops to pan and brown, flipping after 4 minutes. Cook about 4 minutes per side, 8 minutes total.
  6. When pork chops are well browned and firm to the touch, they are cooked.
  7. Pork is done when most pink is gone, and internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  8. Let rest at least 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information

Yield 8Serving Size 1 pork chop
Amount Per ServingCalories 264Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 132mgSodium 589mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 40g

Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.

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Categorized as:
gluten free, keto, Keto Pork, Main Dishes, One Pot, Pork, Pork Chops, Recipes

About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet C’s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

Read More About Me

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The Best Pan Fried Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist pork chops? ›

A longer brine will bring more moisture into the pork, but a quick brine will still be helpful if you're in a rush to get dinner started. A thick pork chop (1 ½” to 2”) can brine for longer, but avoid brining for more than 8 hours to prevent toughness. After brining, rinse pork chops and pat dry to remove excess salt.

What's the best way to fry pork chops without drying them out? ›

In a 12-inch heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil over medium-high temperature to cook pork chops. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown on the outside. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the pork should register 145°F for doneness.

How do you keep pork chops moist when frying? ›

We pretty much always suggest brining when it comes to pork chops. Not only does it add moisture, but it also seasons the meat inside and out. A little brown sugar in this brine also helps the exterior caramelize in the pan. Cook in cast iron.

What seasoning is good on pork chops? ›

Best Seasoning for Pork Chops

Thyme and sage add herby and floral notes complementing pork's flavor exceptionally well. There's also a combination of smoked paprika, pepper, and a little bit of cayenne pepper, which all give your pork chops a lovely, not overly spicy, kiss of heat.

Do you use oil or butter for pork chops? ›

I use both! At the same time! The butter helps achieve that golden brown color and adds more flavor, but you need the oil, too, because it has a higher smoke point and keeps the butter from burning. How long do you cook pork chops in a frying pan?

Should you cover pork chops when frying? ›

Cover pan if working with thick chops to finish cooking: If you have chops that are a lot thicker than 3/4-inch (many are sold that are 1 1/2-inches thick), you can put a cover on the pan and let the pork chops finish cooking for 5 minutes or so.

What is the best oil to pan fry pork chops in? ›

I always use canola oil for frying. This recipe is for two pork chops. It is best not to crowd them in the pan even if you have to start again with another batch. The biggest secret is the temperature and to keep turning the chops over.

How long does it take to pan fry pork chops? ›

When you're frying thin pork chops over medium-high to high heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side is just right for browning and cooking them all the way through. For thicker chops, brown on both sides then check the internal temperature with a digital thermometer. It will take 5 to 6 minutes per side to completely cook them.

Why are my pan fried pork chops tough? ›

Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking. When they're cooked for even a few minutes too long, whether it's in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, they're quick to dry out, and — you guessed it — become tough, chewy, and less than appealing.

Is it better to bake or pan fry pork chops? ›

While there are a number of ways to cook pork chops for dinner, baking is arguably the easiest path to perfection. The hands-off cooking method cooks pork chops gently and evenly without the need for extra fat, resulting in juicy, healthier pork chops that pair well with practically any side dish.

Does soaking pork chops in salt water make them tender? ›

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.

Is it better to fry pork chops fast or slow? ›

The key to flavoursome chops is cooking the fat on the outside really well over a high heat. This should be done quickly so as not to dry out the meat inside.

How do you get breading to stick to pork chops? ›

But taking the extra time to soak your meat in buttermilk and let the flour set will ensure that your breading is fully adhered for the perfect breaded pork chops or breaded chicken. This creates a final result that is crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle, and altogether irresistible.

What should I soak my pork chops in? ›

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.

Do pork chops get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking. When they're cooked for even a few minutes too long, whether it's in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, they're quick to dry out, and — you guessed it — become tough, chewy, and less than appealing.

References

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