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!
What a waste of good meat! I used boneless chops, just shy of the half inch thickness and only 2 of them. They were raw after 7 minutes in a 400 degree oven. They were still raw after another 3 minutes. Side dishes were ready and I was hungry. Finished them off in the microwave; dry although not tasteless thanks to the tasty rub. Very disappointing!
Every time I make these I wonder why I ever waste money on beef steak.
Because “beef is what’s for dinner!” It’s also delicious.
Delicious
My husband didn’t want to use the grill tonight, so I went in search of a recipe for some locally produced pork chops. The were 3/4″ thick, and we are in the Boulder, CO area, so higher elevation. Based on the notes, I added about 5 minutes. I was almost afraid I over-cooked them based on my thermometer, but they were perfect. The spice mix using smoked paprika instead of regular boring paprika, was yummy, so I recommend that substitution if you like a bit more spice. I added some carrots, onion, and garlic to the baking dish to fill it out, but the carrots didn’t cook as fast as everything else. So, we had those after the rest. Next time, I’ll start those in a separate pan, first, though I have to say that the spice mix was good on those, as well. Am printing this recipe to use it again!
145 degrees or 140. both mentioned. Guessing take out at 140 rest til 145
That’s right! It will rise in temp after you take it out of the oven. 🙂
Fantastic and super easy to make! My picky boys and my hubby and I all love them – thank you!!!
F after planning to fry my pork chops and discovering I no oil, I decided to try cooking them in the oven. (First time at bat) After viewing several online recipes, i cam across this one and decided to give it a shot. Honestly, these were the juiciest, tender, and I will say Tastiest pork chops I have ever eaten. I gathered the kids around told them to try it and couple gave me lame excuses but i would not stand for a NO. After trying a bite, the three of them went after the last chop. Thanx for the recipe and the entertainment of watching 3 teenagers try to get the last port chop.
This recipe is excellent. I tried it and I feel these were the best pork chops I have ever made. The chops were tender and very juicy. The flavor was so good. I am very happy with this recipe.
Excellent! Finally I can enjoy eating pork. I was just about to give up since every recipe in the Instant Pot was tender but tasted more boiled/bland than I liked. This roast version is tender but also has a lovely flavor and texture. And the cook time was perfect. I cooked it in an iron skillet which was a good size to keep the juices in.
Thank you so much for developing and sharing!
So happy to have found this easy, delicious recipe!! No more dry pork chops for my family 💕
Finally a pork chop recipe that comes out juicy! Thanks! I might play around with the seasonings next time, but the method is spot on.
My 88 year old mother who is extremely picky & plain Jane!! As she says only likes American, lol Anyway, she absolutely loved them!! Thank You!!
As advertised. Pork chops were juicy and delicious!
Super tender and delicious!!
I have made these pork chops multiple times now with success! My family of picky eaters love them but I first brine the pork chops for 4 hours with 3 cups water mixed with 3 Tbsp. of Kosher salt and some garlic and No Salt spices. I then drain and coat with the olive oil and spice mix you give and put them in the oven for 20 minutes and Voila!!! Even my texture sensitive child is willing to eat them and ask for them in her lunchbox! Thank you!!!!
Super Simple and Delicious! Perfect quick Weeknight meal!