Baked Pork Chops

This Baked Pork Chops recipe will be an instant family dinner favorite! Made with wine, apples, and shallots, there’s so much flavor in this pork recipe!

Baked Pork Chops

Matt and I have never been an overly big fan of pork chops, but this baked pork chops recipe is giving us a whole new outlook on the dish!

You see, we grew up eating shake n’ bake pork chops and well… they just not our style, but this delicious version that’s cooked in a skillet and loaded with flavors like apple, wine, and thyme is a comforting dish we could eat over and over again!

Normally, when it comes to meat, I love a good marinade, and I’m a big believer in bringing it. But also, normally, when it comes to life, I’m just not prepared enough for a marinade.

So for me, it’s important to be able to create a delicious meal rather quickly when I don’t plan ahead… pretty much every night of the week.

I’m betting a lot of you can relate to that, can’t you? So here’s how to oven bake pork chops in less than an hour for busy nights without sacrificing great flavor!

You might also enjoy this recipe for Apple Cider Chicken Thighs!

When making pork chop recipes, there are several cuts you can choose from, but I would recommend using a pork rib chop, also referred to as center-cut rib chop, as pictured.

What is a Pork Rib Chop?

The rib chop is considered the rib-eye portion of a pig or lamb, it comes from the section between the shoulder and the middle loin. The bone is actually rib bone, this portion of the animal can be split into boneless chops and baby back ribs as well.

How Do You Cook Pork Rib Chops?

Since this is a very lean piece of meat, it should cook pretty quickly. Usually, grilling, broiling, or sear-roasting (which is what I used in this recipe) is best and yields tender juicy pork chops.

What is Sear-Roasting?

To sear-roast is a common technique when cooking meat. You sear the meat to lock in flavor and moisture, I prefer using either a castiron or oven-safe stainless steel skillet for this process.

You sear the meat on all sides until they are a nice golden brown, preferably with a little caramelization. Then you transfer the pan to the oven to roast and finish cooking.

Boneless vs. Bone-In:

Many people don’t like to mess with bones, but when it comes to pork chops, you want bone-in chops. Firstly, it’s just one rib bone so there’s not a tone to work around.

Secondly, the bone helps provide protection from overcooking the meat. And lastly, it generally has fat around it which makes the chops more tender and flavorful.

How To Make This Pork Chops Recipe:

These oven-baked pork chops start off simple with a generous rub of kosher salt and pepper before searing in butter and oil (either vegetable or olive oil can be used). The pork is then removed from the skillet and side aside while you cook the apples, shallots, and thyme.

Next, we add red wine, apple cider, and mustard and bring to a boil before adding the chops and any juices from the plate back into the skillet. From there, you’ll put the pork chops in the oven to finish cooking.

Pork is done when an instant-read thermometer reads between 145 and 160 degrees F, I generally lean to the lower temperature for mine, but do what makes you comfortable, just know that the meat is going to rest for a few minutes after coming out of the oven and will continue to cook.

***If you keep it in the oven until it’s 160 degrees F, you’ll likely end up with overcooked pork chops.***

Tools You’ll Need For This Baked Pork Chops Recipe:

• Skillet: Make sure you use a skillet that can be baked in the oven.
• Tongs: Using these is the easiest way to maneuver the meat during the searing process.

Want More Delicious Pork Recipes?

• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
• Pulled Pork Tacos
• Sausage Gravy
• Pork Sausage Rolls