You can broil pork chops in a toaster oven that has convection if you don’t have a full-size oven. This will give the meat rich flavor and tenderness. It’s important to cook food all the way through to keep it safe, but if you cook your pork too long, it will become dry, so you’ll also need a meat thermometer.
Cooking pork chops in a toaster oven is a quick and easy way to make a delicious weeknight meal With the right techniques, you can achieve tender, juicy chops with a nice caramelized exterior right in your toaster oven. Here’s a step-by-step guide to cooking perfect pork chops in a toaster oven every time
Benefits of Using a Toaster Oven
Using a toaster oven to cook pork chops offers several advantages
-
Speed – Toaster ovens preheat and cook food faster than conventional ovens. You can go from raw to cooked pork chops in about 15-20 minutes.
-
Convenience – Compact size makes it easy to quickly cook a small meal without heating up the whole kitchen.
-
Versatility – Can be used for everything from roasting and broiling to baking and reheating leftovers.
-
Energy efficiency – Toaster ovens use less energy than large ovens to cook small meals.
-
Enhanced browning and crisping – The hotter temperature and closer heating elements lead to better searing and crispness.
Tips for Cooking Pork Chops in a Toaster Oven
Follow these tips to achieve the best results when cooking pork chops in your toaster oven:
-
Use bone-in chops – The bone helps keep the meat juicy and adds flavor. Opt for 1-inch thick chops.
-
Season well – Generously season both sides of the chops with salt, pepper, and other spices or herbs. This adds lots of flavor.
-
Use a broiler pan – The slots allow fat and juices to drain away from the chops as they cook.
-
Preheat properly – Preheat the toaster oven for at least 5 minutes at 400°F before cooking.
-
Sear first – Quickly sear the chops on both sides under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to get a nice crust.
-
Flip once – Cook chops about 5-7 minutes per side, flipping only once. Check temperature.
-
Let rest – Allow chops to rest 5 minutes before serving so juices redistribute.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked pork chops from your toaster oven:
1. Prepare the Pork Chops
-
Take 2 bone-in pork chops (about 1-inch thick) and pat them completely dry with paper towels.
-
Generously season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and any other desired seasonings. Rub it in.
2. Preheat the Toaster Oven
- Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F. This will take 5-10 minutes.
3. Quickly Sear the Chops
-
Place the seasoned pork chops on the broiler pan and put it in the hot toaster oven.
-
Broil the chops for 1-2 minutes per side to get a nice sear.
4. Finish Cooking the Chops
-
Remove pan, flip chops over and switch to bake mode.
-
Cook for 5-7 minutes more until instant read thermometer registers 145°F.
5. Rest and Serve
-
Transfer chops to a plate, tent with foil and let rest 5 minutes.
-
Serve chops hot alongside your favorite sides and enjoy!
Cooking pork chops in the toaster oven really couldn’t be much easier. In less than 20 minutes, you can have delicious, juicy chops ready to serve. The high heat helps sear the outside while keeping the inside tender and moist.
Toaster Oven Pork Chop Tips
-
If chops are very thick, extend cooking time and check temperature.
-
For added flavor, try a spice rub or marinate chops before cooking.
-
Brining helps keep chops extra moist. Soak in saltwater for 1 hour before cooking.
-
If chops start browning too quickly, tent them loosely with foil.
-
For perfect doneness, always rely on a meat thermometer over cook times.
-
Let chops rest before slicing or eating to maximize juiciness.
Toaster Oven Pork Chop Recipes
The basic pork chop recipe above can be customized in endless ways. Try these tasty toaster oven pork chop recipes:
Honey Dijon Pork Chops – Brush chops with a mixture of honey, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce before and during cooking.
Maple Glazed Pork Chops – Brush chops with pure maple syrup during last few minutes of cooking for a caramelized, glazed exterior.
Garlic Herb Pork Chops – Season chops with garlic, rosemary, thyme and oregano before cooking for an aromatic flavor.
Spanish Pork Chops – Season chops with smoked paprika, cumin and chili powder and serve with sautéed peppers and onions.
Balsamic Pork Chops – Whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and basil and marinate chops before cooking.
Cooking pork chops in the toaster oven makes it so easy to put a quick yet restaurant-quality meal on the table any night of the week. With the proper technique and a little creativity, you can enjoy tender, juicy chops cooked right in your toaster oven. Give it a try for your next pork dinner!
Choose Your Pork Chops
Video of the Day
For a pig butcher, pork chops are like a beef steak. But because chops can come from different parts of the loin, theyre not all the same. The best cuts of meat for quick cooking, like broiling, are rib chops, loin chops, and boneless chops. These cuts tend to have the most tender and even meat with the fewest bones.
Video of the Day
You should choose thicker pork chops with the bone still in them because they stay tender and juicy longer. But if you’re careful, you can use any of the other chop cuts in your favorite toaster oven recipes.
Read more: What Protein Serving Sizes Really Look Like
Prep the Pork Chops
A quick brine can help ensure the tenderness of your pork chops. 4 cups of water, 1/4 cup of kosher salt, and 1/4 cup of dark brown sugar can be mixed together to make a really simple brine.
Boil until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved, add 2 cups of cold water to bring the brine back to room temperature, and then fully submerge the chops in it for at least 30 minutes. For extra flavor, add a list of herbs recommended by JWU College of Culinary Arts: bay leaves, black peppercorns, thyme and rosemary.
You can flavor your brine with other things, like garlic, pepper, brown sugar, fresh herbs and spices, and cooked foods with ground mustard, cayenne pepper, garlic, or onion powder.
When youre ready to cook, remove the pork from the brine. Pat it dry and place it in a small oven-safe pan. If you have a broiler pan that fits your toaster oven, use it. If not, use the heaviest pan you have that can handle high heat and stay close by to watch for any fat smoke or flare-ups. Because each toaster oven is different, you might only be able to broil one or two pork chops at a time.
Note: Any convection toaster oven can bake pork chops at 375 degrees F, but not all of them have a broil function. If your oven has a broil setting, all you have to do is set it to broil, put the rack on the highest level, slide your oven-safe pan in, and shut the door. Try this LIVESTRONG. com recipe for oven-baked pork chops.
Read more: The Nutritional Value of Grilled Pork Chops
How to Make Easy 15 Minute BBQ Pork Chops in the Toaster Oven
FAQ
Can you cook pork in a toaster oven?
Is it better to bake pork chops at 350 or 400?
What temperature to bake pork chops at?
How long do you cook pork chops in a toaster oven?
The cooking time for pork chops in a toaster oven can vary depending on their thickness. As a general guideline, cook them at 400°F (200°C) for about 14-18 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Do I need to preheat the toaster oven before cooking pork chops?
Can You Broil pork chops in a toaster oven?
Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your chops at their thickest point. If your chops are bone-in, take care to position the thermometer needle away from the bone. Yes, you can broil pork chops in a toaster oven with convection capability — as long as it has a broil setting, and you have a pan of the appropriate size.
How to choose pork chops for toaster oven cooking?
When selecting pork chops for toaster oven cooking, look for juicy cuts of meat that are not too lean. Selecting the right cut of meat is essential for ensuring a flavorful result. Buy organic or locally sourced pork chops as these options tend to be tastier and higher quality than those found in supermarkets.
Are bone-in pork chops good for a toaster oven?
Thicker, bone-in pork chops are a good choice because they’re easier to keep tender and moist — but if you’re careful, you can add any of the aforementioned chop cuts to your favorite toaster oven recipes. A quick brine can help ensure the tenderness of your pork chops.