Juicy Baked Pork Chops (easy recipe that always turns out tender)
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These oven baked pork chops are the most popular baked pork chop recipe on the internet for good reason: they’re easy to make, tender, super juicy, and flavorful. A few simple ingredients and pantry-staple spices are all you need to make this incredible dinner.
I’ve been told I’m an expert at making pork chops and have more than 16 pork chop recipes for you. Try these smothered pork chops and pan-fried pork chops next. Or go for my popular baked pork tenderloin!
Let’s give it up for easy and delicious pork chop recipes! This is one of my family’s favorite dinner recipes, and we go back to it repeatedly. The flavorful pork chops always turn out tender and juicy. After you make these baked pork chops, you’ll make them again and again. The recipe is speedy and easy to prepare and is a great one to keep in your back pocket for when you need dinner stat or can’t figure out what to make tonight. You can use boneless or bone-in pork chops – it’s your choice!
In this recipe, I keep it simple and don’t sear the chops on the stove. Instead, they go straight into the oven. From my experience, this makes the chops more tender and saves an extra step of work. And with the gorgeous color of the spices, you won’t miss the sear. Serve these with a big salad and some potatoes roasted in the oven at the same time as the pork chops. It makes for the best dinner.
Why you’ll love these baked pork chops
- 100% juicy pork chops. ← truth!
- With these chops, in just over 20 minutes you can be sitting down to a delicious dinner.
- The easy spice rub, made with spices you probably have in your pantry right now, makes the chops taste amazing.
- Pork chops are a budget-friendly protein option. Knowing how to cook them so they don’t dry out will make your dinners less expensive and more delicious.
- The kitchen-staple ingredients mean you shouldn’t have to run to the grocery store to make our recipe.
- Easily made with bone-in or boneless pork chops. Choose whichever you like best!
How long do pork chops take to bake at 400 degrees?
The biggest trick to making oven-baked pork chops is not overcooking them. Since pork chops are lean, they will dry out if left in the oven for too long. But don’t worry, here’s an easy way to know exactly how long you should cook your chops.
Boneless pork chops should cook for 7 minutes per ½-inch of thickness in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven. If you use bone-in pork chops, cook them for 8 minutes per ½ inch.
- Boneless pork chops 1 ½ inches thick should be baked for 21 minutes.
- Bone-in pork chops 1 ½ inches thick should be baked for 24 minutes.
If you’re new to roasting pork chops, using an instant-read meat thermometer is the best way to determine whether they are fully cooked. Pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. We use our meat thermometer to make sure the meat doesn’t overcook.
What spices are the best with pork?
This spice blend is made with simple ingredients and you can use it on both chicken and pork. It’s a delicious way to create flavorful pork chops. It’s my go-to recipe and I’ve made it so many times and never get tired of it. Here are the pantry staples it is made with:
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Oregano – you can substitute Italian seasoning if you’d like
- Salt – sea salt or kosher salt
- Black pepper
It’s a basic spice rub that takes only a couple of minutes to make and has so much flavor. I recommend doubling (or tripling) the amounts so you can have some on hand for other dinners. Try sprinkling a little bit on some potatoes or sweet potatoes and baking them at the same time as your chops.
Pork recipes often call for brown sugar, but it is really not necessary. There is no reason to take a lean cut of meat and add a bunch of sugar. These chops are sugar-free and delicious.
What to serve with your oven baked pork chops
I like to serve these with a simple green salad and a veggie side that gets roasted on a baking sheet in the oven alongside these delicious pork chops. For a great meal that the whole family will love, try adding one of my favorite side dishes:
- Crispy Roasted Potatoes
- Roasted Asparagus or Roasted Broccoli
- Basmati Rice or brown rice
Store and Reheat
Store: I love a good pork chop sliced over a salad for lunch, so sometimes I make extra to have leftovers. They will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in your fridge.
Reheat: I like to slice them thin and warm them briefly in a pan over medium heat. You can also use a microwave.
Freeze: Yes! If you’d like to meal-prep, these baked pork chops will keep for at least three months in the freezer.
Watch how to make baked pork chops:
Juicy Baked Pork Chops (easy recipe that always turns out tender)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 4 boneless pork chops
Instructions
- Turn your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Measure the thickness of your pork chops so you know how long to bake them – see notes.
- In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oregano.1 tablespoon paprika, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon salt
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over both sides of the pork chops. Sprinkle the spice mix evenly over both sides of the pork chops, then place them in a baking dish – see notes. Drizzle them with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.2 tablespoons olive oil, 4 boneless pork chops
- Bake the pork chops uncovered for 7 minutes per ½ inch of thickness, or until they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit – for 1 ½ inch pork chops, you'll bake them for 21 minutes. Once you remove them from the oven, let them rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving.
Last step:
- After you make this recipe, take a picture with your phone and share it in the comments section below. I love seeing it when you make my recipes!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Delicious! Made this exactly as instructed. So tasty and juicy. Husband loved it and wants it again very soon. Thank you for sharing this. Definitely a keeper!
had your pork chop rescipie for dinner tonight. most disappointing, will not do again.
I would give no more than 1 star.
I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t love it.
Hi Kristen! The recipe sounds delicious, but have you got a vegan alternative to it?
You could try using the spice rub on firm tofu or to spice cauliflower. It’s a very versatile rub. 🙂
Hello! Can you cook, freeze, and reheat these? If so, any tips to avoid drying?
I haven’t tried freezing and reheating these so I can’t say for sure. Any leftovers we usually slice thin and serve with a salad for lunch.
I just wanted to suggest using any leftovers for pork fried rice. (I am make the chops tonight and will comment tomorrow.)
That is such a great idea!
I made these last night and they were delicious! Followed the recipe exactly and my husband and I loved them. He ate 3 as a matter of fact;) Very easy to throw together. We will keep this in rotation for sure. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit! Thank you for coming back to comment!
Hey! I’m about to cook these. They are approx half an inch so wouldn’t I cook them for eight minutes? Not eighteen? Just a little confused. Thx!
That’s right!
Wow! Delicious… My kids came back for seconds and that’s unusual for my pork chops. Very moist and tasty recipe.
M Hayes
That’s wonderful to hear! Thank you so much for coming back to comment!
Trying these and they’re in the oven right now. The math doesn’t work for me though. 1 and 3/4 inch pork chops would require a minimum 21 minutes at 7 min per 1/2 inch. Why does the recipe say just 18 minutes? And in one place you say rub spices on but recipe says just sprinkle. Was I supposed to rub the spices in?
I sprinkle the spices on and then usually pat them down. And that was a typo! It was supposed to read (as it does now) 1 1/4 inch thick pork chops. Thank you so much for pointing that out!
I had no time and no ideas. I had defrosted 3 boneless pork chops and needed a quick recipe. I threw the spices together, heated the oven, found a small pan for 3 chops and threw it in the oven. I had to cook longer but I watched them. They were juicy and very good!! Thank you.
Hooray! I’m so happy that you love the recipe!
Take it from a southern boy from Georgia who thought the only way to great tasting pork chops was to grill them, these were amazing and soooo easy!! Definitely put the juice on top of them.
That makes me so happy to hear! Hooray!!
Hi was wondering if you use a glass of metal dish to cook these?
Thanks
I’ve used both with success. The one in the pictures is a ceramic dish. The biggest thing is to make sure that the dish isn’t too big. You want a fairy snug fit. 🙂
I wanted to know if you cover with foil?
I don’t!
Made them tonight for dinner! Delicious! Love this recipe, definitely will be my go-to! My husband, our daughter, and I enjoyed them! Thank you so much for the great idea!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!
I made these for the wife tonight , and comment to me was “you outdid yourself”! So I consider this recipe a huge success. It was just about as simple as a main course can get, was juicy and flavorful. Best pork chops I’ve ever made. And checking the internal temp really helped so thank you.
I’m so happy to hear that the recipe was a success! Hooray!!
I made these as soon as I saw them. You’re right they are juicy. I’ve never been a big fan of pork chops but I think I will be now. Will make them again!
I’m so happy to hear the recipe was a hit!
I made these last night and they were the best baked pork chops ever! I realize mine always came out dry because I left too much room in the pan. Absolutely delicious, thanks so much.
That makes me so happy to hear! Hooray!!
Thank you so much!