How to Bake Pork Chops
What to do so you get juicy results.
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By Fraya Berg for Food Network Kitchen
Fraya is a chef and a contributing writer at Food Network.
There's no need to grill pork chops or even sear them; you can cook them entirely in your oven. Follow our step-by-step guide to achieve the juiciest interior and crispiest crust.
Pork Rib Chops
Think of this pork chop at the ribeye steak of pork. It can be on the bone or off the bone, and just like a ribeye, it’s marbled and will be the juiciest loin chop you can buy. On the bone chops will stay a bit juicer when baking, as the bone acts an insulator for that side of the chop. A rib chop can also be labeled as a center-cut rib chop, pork chop end cut, pork rib cut chop, rib end cut or rib pork chop.
Porterhouse Pork Chops
Just like a porterhouse steak, these pork chops have the T-shaped bone down the middle, with a round piece of pork tenderloin on one side and sirloin on the other. They are also labeled as center loin chop, center-cut loin chop, loin pork chop, pork loin end chop, loin chop, top-loin chop at the market. Like rib chops, the bone will keep the center of the chops juicer.
Boneless Pork Chops
A boneless pork chop is a slice from a pork loin, the cut you would order if you were making a pork roast. They will bake faster than the rib or porterhouse chops because the bone isn’t there to insulate them from direct heat. You might see these chops labeled as pork loin filets, center cut boneless chops or just loin chops.
Sirloin Pork Chops
Sirloin chops are from the end of the loin that’s closer to the back of a hog, where the ham is. They are the least expensive loin chops as they are made up of more than one muscle, some connective tissue and bone. They aren’t as tender as the other chops and are best prepared braised.
Pork Shoulder Chops
Pork shoulder chops are slices of pork shoulder; a cut also known as picnic ham when it’s boneless. There is more streaky fat running through the meat in these chops, and it’s not easy to get rid of it and still have a chop that’s in one piece. Pork steaks need to be tenderized (pounded with a meat mallet) before baking. They can also be baked longer than the other pork chops cuts, with an internal temp going up to 165 degrees F. Pork should chops might also be labeled as blade chops, blade steaks, pork shoulder steaks, pork shoulder blade steaks or pork steaks.
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How to Bake Pork Chops
Baking pork chops is easy, but you want to be sure you’re doing all you can to keep them juicy.
1. Buy the Right Chops
When shopping, buy pork chops that are the same thickness, so they all bake at the same time.
2. Trim the Fat
Trim the fat from the outer edge of the pork chops. Fat on the inner area can stay: it will help keep the meat juicy.
3. Brine
Combine 2 tablespoons each salt and sugar in a quart of water; bring the mixture to a boil, and cool completely (it's helpful to make a brine the day before to allow it to cool). Then soak the pork chops in the brine for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours before baking. Brining will make for juicier, tastier results.
4. Season
Season pork chops with pepper and spices according to the recipe you choose, being careful to cut down on salt if you did brine the chops.
5. Let Pork Chops Come to Room Temperature
Allow the meat to come to room temperature before cooking, at least 30 minutes.
6. Bread and Bake
Breading pork chops before baking achieves an extra crispy exterior. When baking breaded pork chops, dry them well after taking them out of the brine, then bread according to the recipe directions. Breaded Pork Chops with Warm Apple-Cabbage Slaw uses thin, boneless chops, while Baked Pork Chops uses panko bread crumbs, spices and parmesan cheese to coat bone-in chops that are prepared by shaking and baking.
7. Or Bake Un-breaded
To bake pork chops without breading, sear them in a cast iron skillet before baking. The brown crust that develops when searing is where the great flavor comes from. Sear on each side for 2 to 3 minutes. For easy clean-up you can bake your chops right in the pan you used for searing.
8. They're Done at 145 Degrees F
No matter which way you cook your pork chops—breaded or not—they’re ready to come out of the oven when they reach 145 degrees F. Test them with an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chop, making sure not to touch the bone.
9. Rest and Serve
Just like a steak or a roast, let the chops rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. During that time, the temperature will go up a bit and the chops will be just a bit pink when cut.
How Long to Bake Pork Chops
The amount of time it takes to bake pork chops depends entirely on how thick they are. The info below will give you a good idea how long it takes for bake pork chops at a variety of temperatures.
How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 425 Degrees F
When you bake breaded chops, you need a hotter oven to crisp up the crumbs, so 425 degrees F is typical. 1/2- to 3/4-inch-thick chops will take about 20 minutes.
How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 400 Degrees F
At 400 degrees F you can count on 7 to 8 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness your pork chops are. So, 3/4-inch-thick chops will take 10 to 12 minutes, 1-inch-thick cooks in 15 to 16 minutes, and so on.
How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 375 Degrees F
When you’ve set your oven to 375 degrees F for baking pork chops, check them at 15 minutes no matter how thick they are. Unless they’re over 1 1/2-inches-thick, they will be ready in under 30 minutes.
How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 350 Degrees F
There is a definite pattern here: at 350 degrees F, you may need to bake your pork chops for up to 35 minutes. The thermometer is really your best friend here, since you don’t want to overcook them.
Baked Pork Chop Recipes
Ryan Dausch
Baked Pork Chops with Cornbread Stuffing have definite Southern charm, thanks to the cornbread, green beans and pan gravy.
We love the sheet pan dinner concept: one pan for everything, and we save so much time. You’ll start the parsnips first, then add the apples and the pork chops.
Armando Rafael
Panko, cooking spray and a 425-degree F oven guarantee a crispy crust on these boneless baked pork chops. The creamy mustard sauce can pull double duty as gravy and salad dressing.
This recipe for baked pork chops calls for a 350-degree F oven, and you’ll be developing the flavor on the chops by searing them before they go in the oven.
Christopher Testani
Fresh sage, prosciutto, some lemon and a slice of cheese turn baked pork chops into a really tasty saltimbocca. Spinach is the traditional side dish.
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