Recipes & Cooking How to Cook Meat & Poultry The Best Baked Pork Chops, Including Easy Tips From Our Test Kitchen Be the first to rate & review! Learn how to make the best oven-baked pork chops, including how long to bake them and the recipe for making breaded baked pork chops. By Katlyn Moncada Katlyn Moncada Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for more than 10 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on February 28, 2024 Recipe tested by Colleen Weeden Recipe tested by Colleen Weeden As a food expert, Colleen Weeden has written extensively for Better Homes & Gardens. From airfryer tips to advice on how to poach an egg, she shares her passion for food with practical, easy-to-follow tips. She has also contributed to Midwest Living magazine. Learn more about the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Jake Sternquist Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Rest Time: 5 mins Total Time: 40 mins Servings: 4 Yield: 4 Jump to Nutrition Facts Baked pork chops can be stuffed, breaded, or served with toppers or sauces; the options are seemingly endless. One of our Test Kitchen's favorite ways to cook pork chops just so happens to be in the oven and involves an unexpected technique. (Hint: It involves a skillet.) Follow our step-by-step guide on how to bake pork chops, and then gather some amazing pork chop recipes for your next home-cooked meal. Tips to Make the Best Baked Pork Chop Here are some of our Test Kitchen's favorite tips for creating the most delicious baked pork chops. Trim the Fat: Keep dinner lean and free of unpleasant fatty bites by trimming visible fat from pork chops before cooking.Pat the Chops Dry: For the best sear and to help seasonings adhere to pork chops, pat the pork chops with paper towels.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. This helps seal in all the juices. Doing this step before baking makes a big difference because of the Maillard reaction it causes, which creates extra flavor and deliciousness.Let the Pork Chops Rest: Let the chops stand three minutes before serving. How Long to Bake Pork Chops Bake pork chops that are about 1¼-inch thick at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 14 to 17 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're concerned about the bake time varying because the chops are boneless or bone-in, stop worrying. Our Test Kitchen tried both and as long as the thickness is the same, the baking time is the same for boneless pork chops and bone-in pork chops. If you're using pork chops thinner than 1¼-inch thick, decrease the baking time. To check the temperature, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the chop (making sure to avoid bone if using bone-in pork chops). The USDA updated its doneness guidelines in 2011, noting that pork cooked to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (followed by a three-minute rest time) is just as safe as pork cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. At this doneness, the pork is pinker than many people are used to, but the meat is juicier and more flavorful. If you'd rather, you can always cook your pork chop to the previous standard of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. How to Pick a Pork Chop Pork chops come from the loin section (upper back) of the hog. Here are some of the most common cuts you will find in the supermarket butcher department: Loin chop (bone-in): also called porterhouse pork chop, this chop looks like a T-bone beef steakTop loin chop (boneless): also called New York pork chop or center-cut chopSirloin chop (usually bone-in)Rib chop (bone-in): also known as ribeye pork chop How to Fry Pork Chops to Always-Juicy Perfection Ingredients 4 chop without refuse pork loin chops 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Trim fat from chops. Pat chops dry with paper towels. Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. In an extra-large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Add two bone-in chops or all of the boneless chops. Cook about six minutes or until browned, turning to brown evenly. Transfer chops to a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Repeat with remaining chops if necessary. Jake Sternquist Bake chops for 14 to 17 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in chops registers 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover and let stand for three minutes. Baked Pork Chop Recipe Variations You can customize this baked pork chop recipe. Here are our Test Kitchen's favorite ways to make pork chops in the oven. Breaded pork chops: For a different take on baked pork chops, try this classic breaded baked pork chops recipe. We call them oven-fried because they still get that delicious golden outer coating you get from fried thanks to the breading, but baking keeps them healthier. Stuffed pork chops: Now that you're a pro at baking pork chops, try stuffing them with our baked stuffed pork chops and stuffed pork chops with apples and walnuts recipes. To make stuffed pork chops, cut a small pocket into the side of a pork loin chop to create a space for stuffing. Spoon in your filling and bake. What to Serve with Baked Pork Chops The great thing about making baked pork chops is you can serve them with your favorite side dishes. Try round out the meal with a homemade cheesy rice or a fresh chopped salad. Our recipe testers love baked pork chops served with cheesy scalloped potatoes and steamed green beans. Here are a few of our other favorite side dishes: Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes Broccoli Salad Garlic Roasted Asparagus Roasted Tomato and Mushroom Pasta Salad Twice Baked Potatoes Our Best Side Dishes for Pork Chops Are the Ultimate Way to Round Out Your Meal Rate It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 112 Calories 8g Fat 0g Carbs 10g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Calories 112.2 % Daily Value * Total Fat 7.7g 10% Saturated Fat 1.8g 9% Cholesterol 33mg 11% Sodium 153.9mg 7% Total Carbohydrate 0.1g 0% Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Total Sugars 0g Protein 10.1g 20% Vitamin D 0.3mcg 2% Vitamin C 0mg 0% Calcium 10.1mg 1% Iron 0.3mg 2% Potassium 136.8mg 3% Fatty acids, total trans 0g Vitamin D 11.8IU Alanine 0.6g Arginine 0.7g Ash 0.7g Aspartic acid 1g Caffeine 0mg Carotene, alpha 0mcg Choline, total 28.8mg Copper, Cu 0mg Cystine 0.1g Energy 469.6kJ Fluoride, F 0.1mcg Folate, total 0mcg Glutamic acid 1.6g Glycine 0.5g Histidine 0.4g Isoleucine 0.5g Leucine 0.9g Lysine 0.9g Methionine 0.3g Magnesium, Mg 10mg Manganese, Mn 0mg Niacin 3.2mg Phosphorus, P 86.6mg Pantothenic acid 0.3mg Phenylalanine 0.4g Phytosterols 7.6mg Proline 0.4g Retinol 0.8mcg Selenium, Se 17.1mcg Serine 0.4g Theobromine 0mg Threonine 0.5g Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.5mg Tryptophan 0.1g Tyrosine 0.4g Valine 0.5g Vitamin A, IU 3.1IU Vitamin A, RAE 0.8mcg Vitamin B-12 0.2mcg Vitamin B-6 0.3mg Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 2.2mcg Water 24.5g Zinc, Zn 0.8mg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.