They are the most juicy, tender, and flavorful pork chops I’ve ever baked. They are also very simple to make—just a few simple spices and ingredients are all you need.
These pork chops baked in the oven are our favorite way to make dinner. They’re easy to make and always come out juicy and delicious.
Say goodbye to dry, flavorless pork chops. Here are some simple things you can do to make sure your pork chops are juicy, tender, and full of flavor. These baked pork chops are a mouthwatering meal that you’ll want to add to your recipe collection.
To make this recipe, you can use pork chops with or without bones. It tastes best with thick-cut pork chops. Serve with mashed potatoes and a salad. If you’d rather make a one-pan meal, roast the potatoes and vegetables together in the same pan. You’ll find all the details below!.
Pork chops can be a delicious and simple dinner option. But cooking thin pork chops can be tricky – it’s easy to end up with dry overcooked meat. The good news is that baking thin pork chops in the oven is one of the easiest methods for getting them perfectly juicy and tender every time.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through my proven technique for baking thin pork chops in the oven. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right chops to preparing them to monitoring doneness. By the end, you’ll be an expert on oven-baked thin pork chops!
How to Choose the Best Thin Pork Chops
The first step is selecting high-quality thin chops at the store Here’s what to look for
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Thickness – Try to find chops that are around 1/2 inch thick Much thicker and they’ll be difficult to cook through without drying out,
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Color – Go for chops with a nice pink hue. Pale chops will likely be flavorless. Dark chops may be close to spoiled.
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Marbling – Look for some thin white lines of fat marbling throughout. This keeps the chops juicy.
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Labeling – Opt for chops labeled “center cut.” They come from the center of the loin so they’re more tender.
I recommend staying away from chops labeled “blade cut” – they come from the shoulder and can be tough.
Preparing Thin Pork Chops for the Oven
Once you’ve got your ideal thin chops, it’s time to get them oven-ready:
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Trim excess fat – Use a sharp knife to trim off any large pieces of fat around the edges. Leave a thin layer for moisture.
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Pat dry – Blot the chops with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture on the surface.
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Season generously – Coat both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and any other seasonings you enjoy.
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Don’t bread – Skipping the breading allows the heat to better penetrate the meat.
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Let sit – Let the seasoned chops rest for 15-30 minutes before cooking. This helps the seasoning absorb.
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Use a rack – Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. This will allow air flow underneath as they cook.
How to Bake Thin Pork Chops to Perfection
Now comes the fun part – actually cooking the chops in the oven! Follow these steps:
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Preheat to 400°F – Heat your oven to 400°F. This high temp helps the outside get crispy.
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Cook 8-10 minutes per side – Place the chops on the rack and bake for 8-10 minutes per side. Baking on a rack prevents steaming.
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Monitor carefully – After flipping halfway through, keep an eye on them. Thin chops overcook quickly.
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Rest before serving – When they reach 145°F internally, remove them from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. The temp will rise 5-10 degrees.
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Don’t overlook carryover cooking – Remember, the temperature continues rising after removed from the oven. So pull them out before they reach your target temp.
Handy Tips for the Best Oven-Baked Thin Pork Chops
Follow these handy tips and tricks for fork-tender, juicy oven-baked thin pork chops every time:
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Get the oven nice and hot – at least 400°F. The high heat helps the outside brown quickly before the inside dries out.
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Rest the chops after seasoning for the flavors to absorb fully into the meat.
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Use a leave-in meat thermometer so you can monitor the internal temp without constantly opening the oven.
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Flip the chops gently halfway through baking time to ensure even cooking on both sides.
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Let the chops rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting so the juices can redistribute through the meat. Dig in while still hot!
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Add a pat of butter on top or a drizzle of olive oil after baking for extra moisture and flavor.
Common Problems and Easy Fixes
If your oven-baked thin pork chops turn out overcooked and dry, here are some easy troubleshooting tips:
- Problem: Chops are dry and chewy
Solution: Don’t overbake. Use a meat thermometer and pull at 145°F. Also, let rest before cutting.
- Problem: Chops are burnt on the outside but undercooked inside
Solution: Lower oven temp to 375°F. Cook a few extra minutes until center reaches 145°F.
- Problem: Chops are flavorless or bland tasting
Solution: Be generous with salt, pepper, spices, herbs and seasonings before baking.
- Problem: Chops warp during baking
Solution: Use chops of similar thickness. Place warp side down first. Weight chops down with foil.
Cooking Your Baked Thin Pork Chops to Perfection
Cooking thin pork chops in the oven takes precision, but it delivers delicious results. Follow these steps:
- Choose 1/2 inch, center-cut chops for tenderness
- Prep by trimming fat, patting dry, seasoning generously
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Bake on a rack 8-10 minutes per side
- Monitor temperature, shoot for 145°F
- Rest 5 minutes before serving
- Prevent overcooking and dryness
With this complete guide, you’ll be able to achieve flawlessly baked thin pork chops every time. Crispy browned outside, tender and juicy inside – oven-baked thin pork chops make an easy and delicious dinner.
How to Bake Pork Chops
- Use paper towels to dry the pork chops, and then rub them with olive oil.
- A simple mix of brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper should be rubbed on the pork chops. As the pork chops bake, the brown sugar helps the seasoning turn into a caramel.
- Put pork chops without bones in the oven and cook them for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are done.
- After cooking, let the pork chops sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
The full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions can be found at the end of this post.
How Long to Bake Pork Chops
Setting the oven to high heat for a shorter time is the best way to keep your pork chops from drying out. I bake my pork chops at 425° F. At this temperature, 1-inch thick boneless pork chops take between 15-20 minutes to cook.
After your pork chops have cooked for about 12 minutes, you will want to check on them often. It is easy to over cook pork chops if you don’t keep an eye on them. They will cook quickly at the end.
You can use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork chops. This is the most accurate way to check that they are cooked through.
The USDA recommends that you cook pork chops to an internal temperature of at least 145° F and then allow the meat to rest for at least 3 minutes, for food safety. I cook my pork chops to an internal temperature of 145-150° F. After removing the pan from the oven, let the meat rest for about 5 minutes. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5 degrees due to carryover cooking.