These juicy thick cut pork chops are perfectly seared on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor in every bite. They're crazy delicious, and the best part about this pork chop recipe is that you can have it ready and on the table in under 30 minutes!
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The Best Thick Cut Pork Chops
If you've been looking for the best thick cut pork chop recipe in existence, you've come to the right place. The chops are marinated in a savory lemon garlic sauce, then they're pan seared for a few minutes and finished in the oven. The end results are some ridiculously juicy pork chops that are super tender and loaded with flavor.
Sounds delicious, right?
Well, let me tell ya, this recipe really makes the perfect pork chops, and you won't believe how easy they are to make. Seriously, all you have to do is mix the marinade ingredients together, then pan sear the chops - which takes less than 5 minutes - and let 'em cook in the oven.
Yep, that's all there is to it.
Also, while these thick cut pork chops are cooking in the oven, you can make some delicious sides to go with 'em. If you're looking for what to serve with thick cut pork chops, my go-to sides are this sauteed zucchini recipe, these sauteed brussels sprouts, this sauteed eggplant recipe, or this roasted kholrabi.
Ingredients
One of the things I love most about this recipe is that it's made with super common pantry staples. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you have everything on hand already!
Anyway, here's what you'll need to make these oven baked thick cut pork chops:
- 2 1 ½-inch thick pork chops
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pretty basic stuff, right?!
By the way, if you're running to the store for thick cut pork chops, you can grab a few extra and make my stuffed pork chops next!
How To Cook Thick Cut Pork Chops
As I mentioned before, these chops are a lot easier to make than you'd think.
You basically just sear the marinated chops in a skillet, then slide 'em into the oven and let it do the rest.
Just so you know though, I do recommend letting the pork chops marinate for atleast an hour before you cook them, but after that, this recipe will take no more than 3o minutes.
Anyway, let's not waste another second and get cooking!
Step 1: Marinate The Pork Chops
First things first, you'll need to marinate the pork chops. So, to do that, you'll want to add some olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper to a bowl.
Then, you can give the marinade ingredients a good mix and add your thick cut pork chops to the bowl. After that, you can coat both sides of the chops in the marinade, and then you can cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 1 hour.
Step 2: Sear The Pork Chops
As soon as your pork chops are done marinating, you'll want to preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Then, you can take out a cast iron skillet and put it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Once it's heated you can add the marinated pork chops to the skillet and sear them for about 2 minutes on each side.
Step 3: Bake The Pork Chops
After your pan seared pork chops look good, you can transfer your cast iron skillet with the pork chops on it right into the preheated oven and bake 'em for 10 minutes.
Once the time is up, you'll want to flip the pork chops and continue baking for 5 more minutes or until the internal temperature reads 135°F (57°C) on a meat thermometer.
Finally, you can take your thick cut pork chops out of the oven, serve 'em, and enjoy!
How To Store Leftover Pork Chops
This recipe for thick cut pork chops makes enough for 2 servings, so it's the perfect dinner for two. If you're lucky, you might even end up with leftovers the next day.
Speaking of leftovers, if you happen to have any, you can store your cooked pork chops in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can keep them for longer by freezing them in a freezer-safe bag - or airtight container - for up to 3 months.
How To Reheat Cooked Pork Chops
When you're ready to dive into your leftover pork chops again, you'll want to reheat them first.
I recommend using the oven to keep 'em nice and juicy as they reheat. So, to reheat 'em like that, you'll just want to transfer your pork chops to a baking dish with a little broth and cover it with an oven-safe lid or foil. Then, you can warm 'em in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 15 minutes - or until they reach your desired temperature.
FAQS About This Thick Cut Pork Chop Recipe
Can I use bone in pork chops for this recipe?
Yes, you can definitely use bone in pork chops for this recipe, and it'll turn out just as incredible. The only thing is you'll want to make sure to adjust the cook-time if you do. For bone-in pork chops, you'll want to add about 5 more minutes of cooking time to the recipe.
What is the best way to cook a 2-inch thick pork chop?
The best way to cook a 2-inch thick pork chop is to pan sear it for a few minutes, then bake it in the oven at 400°F on one side for 10 minutes and the other side for 5 minutes. You'll know it's done when it reaches an internal temperature of 135°F, and you'll want to let it rest up to 145°F.
How long to cook pork chops per thickness?
It should take around 7-8 minutes per ½ inch of pork chop at 400°F. Keep in mind, if you pan searing your chops before baking them, it'll take off about 5 minutes from your baking time.
How long does it take to bake a 2-inch thick pork chop?
2-inch thick pork chops will take around 30 minutes to bake at 400°F. You'll just want to make sure that you check the internal temperature of the chops with an instant read thermometer to see when it reaches 135°F. When it does, you'll want to pull your chops out of the oven and let them rest up to 145°F.
How do you cook thick pork chops so they're not tough?
The best way to cook thick pork chops so they're not tough is to marinate them before hand, then pan sear them for a few minutes on each side before baking them in the oven. This combination results in super tender and juicy pork chops every time.
Wrapping It Up
Well, that's how to make thick pork chops cook perfectly every single time!
This simple method is truly the best way to cook thick cut pork chops. The savory marinade, juicy meat, and golden brown sear are just a winning combination that you'll want to make for dinner every single week!
Honestly, this has been one of my go-to high protein dinner recipes recently, and I think you're going to fall in love with it just as I have.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this thick cut pork chops recipe as much as I do.
As always, let me know if you make it in the comments below. I'd love to hear what you think about it!
More Easy Dinner Recipes
If you're looking for some more delicious and easy dinner recipes for busy weeknights, I have a ton on the blog you can try next!
Here are some reader favorites:
- Sauteed pork chops
- Broiled pork chops
- Pan seared thin pork chops
- Bacon wrapped pork chops
- Oven baked pork chops
- Cast iron steak
- Ground turkey tacos
- How to cook pork belly
- Grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs
Oh, and you can also follow my Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube pages to stay up to date on all of my other recipes. I post new ones on 'em all of the time!
Super Easy and Juicy Thick Cut Pork Chops
These juicy thick cut pork chops are perfectly seared on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor in every bite. They're so delicious, and the best part about this recipe is it's an easy weeknight meal you can have on the table in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 1 ½-inch thick pork chops
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Make the marinade; in a bowl, combine olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, Italian herbs, and salt and pepper.
- Add the pork chops to the marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic foil and marinade the pork chops in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Remove the pork chops from the marinade. Sear the pork chops in the skillet, for 2 minutes per side.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake the chops for 10 minutes. Flip the pork chops and bake for another 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Serve the thick pork chops with your favorite side dish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 Pork ChopAmount Per Serving: Calories: 144Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 21g
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