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!
I tried the 7 mins for 1/2 thickness. Did not work at all it’s now been at least 14 minutes and still barely brown. Oven is either not working right or someone got the time wrong.
These pork chops will not brown like they do when you sear them. A meat thermometer is the best way to tell if they are fully cooked. 🙂
Without a doubt these were the juiciest pork chops I have ever tasted. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
I also brined the chops beforehand and it adds to the moisture retention and flavor. Thanks!
I tried this recipe with boneless pork chops and they were delicious
Excellent and so easy. Delicious! I will definitely make this again!
Made these tonight 22/06/21 and they were very tasty both me n my son enjoyed them. I didn’t put as much salt as suggested because I’m not a lover of it but much better than plain old pork steaks. We had them with new baby potatoes sweet corn mixed with peppers and i added 1 cup of oxo vegetable stock cube to the dish so it mixed in with the spices at the bottom of the dish and gave us more sauce to pour over the the whole dinner. We will definitely be making again
I added garlic pepper to the spice mix. I wrapped 6 chops in foil after seasoning them and baked them in a 350* oven for about an hour. Got them to temp then took foil off to brown them a little bit. Basted chops with the juices and they were delicious! Served with fried potatoes and onions and fried zucchini. Hubs LOVED the meal. Leftover chop will go with his breakfast in the am
Made this for us and they turned out so moist and delicious. Made them again two days later. This will be the only way I will make my chop from now on
I love the spice combo and I used the smoked paprika instead of the regular and WOW what a flavorful rub! I made a batch and placed it in a shaker for chicken, fish ,and ribs. One of the best, thank you!
So I make my own rubs but added the oregano to about an inch thick bone in pork chops. Cooked them about 9 minutes and they came out perfect. Sided them with mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts for a meal fit for a king
Thanks so much for finding a way to bake pork chops that will be tasty and juicy and tender.
My husband said that they are the best pork chops ever.
Making these for the second time tonight. They were excellent the first time around. No more dried out pan fried pork chops. I stuck a Probe thermometer in so I didn’t have to cut and peek for doneness. We are a mile high and they did require extra cooking time. Very tasty! Highly recommend!
Do you use all of the spices? it seems like a lot. well i’m gonna do it and let you know. lol
We do!
Yummy!
Just let me say, these pork chops ARE the best oven baked pork chops I’ve ever made; just as juicy and tender as they can be. An added bonus is that fantastic spice mix. I actually keep a batch of that spice mix on hand in a shaker and put it on EVERYTHING; chicken, salmon, ribs; I sprinkle it on potato salad, hard boiled eggs, steamed veggies, etc. So thank you, Kristen, not only for the fabulous pork chop recipe but for my new favorite spice mix. :O)
Best pork chops I’ve ever eaten or made. Will definitely make again.