
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.

Not to brag, but I’ve been told I’m an expert at making pork chops. I reach for them often as they’re inexpensive and quick to cook. This meal is one of my family’s favorite dinner recipes, and we return to it often. 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. In my experience, this makes the chops more tender and saves an extra step. 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.
Try these smothered pork chops and pan-fried pork chops next. Or go for my popular baked pork tenderloin!
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?
Overcooking is the number one reason pork chops turn out dry, and the fix is simple: bake boneless pork chops for 7 minutes per half inch of thickness at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and bone-in chops for 8 minutes per half inch.
- Bake boneless pork chops 1 ½ inches thick for 21 minutes.
- Bake bone-in pork chops 1 ½ inches thick for 24 minutes.
The most reliable way to check doneness is an instant-read thermometer: pull them at 145°F and let them rest for 5 minutes in the pan before serving.


What spices are the best with pork?
The rub is made with six spices you likely already have: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano (Italian seasoning is a great substitute), salt, and black pepper. It takes two minutes to mix together and works equally well on chicken. I’d recommend doubling or tripling the batch and keeping some on hand, it’s good on roasted potatoes too.
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 I sometimes make extra for leftovers. They will keep for 3-4 days in a covered 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 3 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!
Just made these for the first time and WOW. Amazing, my teenager is picky and he is raving about these. Thanks for sharing. We may eat this like we eat chicken nuggets lol
These pork chops are the best I have ever fixed in 52 years of marriage! The recipe turned out exactly like the recipe said they would! Moist and flavorful and easy to prepare. I’ll be making them again and again!!
Fantastic baked pork chop recipe! Turned out exactly as described, will be making again!
Scrumptious!
Absolutely delicious! Tender and flavourable.
These were delicious! I never seem to get chops right. Flavourful, moist, delicious, a definite add and repeat recipe. Thank you.
Love this recipe, so easy to make
Delicious!
Awesome recipe! Big hit with the whole family. This will be a repeat over and over again.
Easy recipe to follow and delish!! Greatly appreciated Kristen Stevens
I am going to try this recipe!
Will the paprika make it spicy? I don’t usually cook with it. Just wondering if it is spicy… I may use less paprika if needed. Looks amazing.
We use sweet paprika and it’s not spicy at all. 🙂
It says 18 minutes at 400, then later 7 minutes – which is it?
As pork chops vary in thickness you’ll want to measure the chops you have to figure out how long they’ll take to cook. 7 minutes per half-inch, or 18 minutes for average 1 ½ inch chops.
Do you bake these chops covered or uncovered in the oven?
Uncovered!
Thank you so much for asking this question. Wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make them today because covered and uncovered makes a difference. Recipies should ALWAYS specify. Makes it easier on those of us following the recipe.
Yes this is the best recipe ever
5 stars
This is the first time I am leaving a review for a recipe I’ve made online. This was both delicious and easy. I adjust the paprika for different family members (including my almost 4-year-old) and we all love it.
Thank you for the comment!
I want to try this for supper tonight but I’m a little confused by the time listed for cooking. Doesn’t it say to bake 7 minutes per half inch of thickness and add 1 minute per extra half inch? Then in the recipe you state 18 minutes to bake. That comes out to a pork chops that’s about 8 inches thick! LOL! Please tell me I’m misunderstanding something.
The extra minute is if you’re using bone-in pork chops – 7 minutes per ½ inch boneless chops – 8 minutes per ½ inch bone-in chops.
So a 1-inch, boneless pork chop will cook in 14 minutes. Remember that if you’re not at sea level you may need to add a little more time. Using an instant-read meat thermometer is the most reliable way to tell if the chops are done. 🙂
I meant 18 mins, not 28, but it wouldn’t let me edit post.