The Best Juicy Skillet Pork Chops
Pork chops are a quick, healthy, and simple dinner. Our easy pork chop recipe guarantees juicy, tender, and flavorful chops with little fuss. Check the notes section for tips on which pork chops are best for this recipe. Store-bought chili powder and chicken stock work fine in this recipe, but for even more flavor, see our recipes for homemade chili powder and homemade chicken stock.
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops, about 6 ounces each, 1-inch thick
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or vegetable oil
Pan Sauce
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey or brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- 1Prepare Pork Chops
- 2Take the pork chops out of the refrigerator and season on both sides with salt (we use just less than 1/4 teaspoon of salt per pork chop). Set the chops aside to rest for 30 minutes.
- 3Meanwhile, make the spice rub. In a small bowl, mix the flour, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
- 4After 30 minutes, use a paper towel to dry the pork chops, then rub both sides of the chops with the spice rub.
- 5Heat the oil in a skillet (with a lid) over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and looks shimmery, add the pork. Cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
- 6Flip the pork so that the seared side is facing up. If there is a fattier side of the pork, use kitchen tongs to hold the chops fat-side-down until they sizzle and brown slightly, about 30 seconds.
- 7Reduce the heat to low, then cover the skillet with a lid. Cook for 6 to 12 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reads 145°F when inserted into the thickest part of the chop. Cook time depends on the thickness of the chops, so check for doneness at 5 minutes, then go from there, checking every 2 minutes after that. If you do not have a thermometer, pork chops are done if, when cutting into them, the juices run clear.
- 8Transfer pork chops to a plate, then cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let the pork rest for 5 minutes.
- 9Make Pan Sauce
- 10While the pork chops rest, make the pan sauce. Increase the heat to medium-high, then add the chicken stock, vinegar, and honey.
- 11Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until reduced by half. As it simmers, use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan so that any stuck bits of pork come up. Taste, then adjust with additional salt, vinegar, or honey.
- 12Slide the skillet off the heat, wait until the sauce stops simmering, then swirl in the butter.
- 13Slide the pork chops back into the pan and spoon some of the sauce over them. You can also slice the chops and place them back into the pan. Scatter fresh parsley over the pork, and then serve.