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!
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Thanks, Cindy!
Only had 1/2 inch chops. Couldn’t believe only 7-8 minutes per 1/2 inch and found out I had to about triple the time to get them cooked; same time as the 1 1/2 chops. The chops were moist though when finally cooked. We had to eat the rest of the meal first then wait for the chops. I think my next go-round making this recipe will be better. I did like the honey butter to top it off. I will make this again with different timing.
Hi! My recipe for thin pork chops is the one to use when cooking thin chops as it works better than baking them. I suggest trying that one next time you have thin pork chops!
Best pork chop recipe I’ve ever tried! My husband and I loved this! Pork chops were juicy, tender & flavorful. Highly recommend! Thanks!
Oh I love hearing that so much! Thanks for coming back to let us know, Beth!
Humm… I followed this recipe but my chops were a little tuff. I guess I’ll try a crock post recipe next time. That seems to make a more tender pork recipe.
I know the USDA lowered the temperature for cooked pork from 160 to 145 several years ago, however, I still cook mine to 150-55 degrees using a digital probe thermomotor throughout the baking process. Then, I let rest covered 10 minutes. I prefer1″ to 1.5″ boonless chops. Delicious.
Tips:
Don’t crowd porkchops. Space 1″ apart.
Don’t use a glass pan. Use stoneware or cast iron.
Try using Italian Seasoning in place of Oregano.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Made this last night. The flavor was good at dinner last night. However, today the flavor was amazing. We had leftovers so I heated them up for breakfast and wow. Amazing!
Such a yummy breakfast!
So easy and quick! Loved it and my boys did too!
I’m so happy to hear that!!
I’m going to try this recipe tonight. I don’t know where you can get 1.5 inch chops. My sirloin chops are half that! Will check temp after 15 minutes as recommended by shake and bake! Which I have used in the past but don’t have…Will let you know how it goes…
If your pork chops are thin, I really recommend using my thin pork chops recipe as it works the best with thin chops.
We buy a Pork Loin and cut our own 🙂
That’s a great option. Usually less expensive, too!
Liked: instructions on how to properly cook. Came out very juicy.
Not liked: it was kinda bland. I think some more salt. Maybe double, and double the pepper.
You can definitely add more salt to taste. I would suggest checking your spices though, there is a lot in this recipe and if it turned out bland it may be that your spices are too old.
This has been my go to pork chop recipe for the last 6 months. always comes out flavorful and cooked perfectly!
I’m thrilled to hear that! Thanks, Judy!
11/2 inches thick. 21 minutes. Internal temp? 108. Wha’?
It’s always best to check (as you did) as oven temperatures vary and the cooking pan and even the elevation you’re at effect cooking. Hopefully a few more minutes did the trick!
Delicious! Made as directed yum.
Thanks, Mac!
Made this last night, couldn’t be easier. It turned out very good.
Thanks, Aimee! So happy to hear it was a hit!
Easy and quick! Great flavor and very juicy! 1000 stars!!!
Thank you so much, Dixie!
Followed recipe exactly except only used 3 pork loin chops. They turned out moist and very tasty! Will definitely make again!
That’s wonderful! Thanks, Rita!
I made this today. Didn’t have oregano. I used soul food seasoning instead. Added a little bit of Italian dressing instead of olive oil on top of the pork chops. Very delicious!
That sounds like a delicious spice blend!
My experience with pork chops is that they’re always dry and unappetizing, so I’ve never made them myself. However, food is expensive and they were on sale, so I used this recipe for some nice, thick bone-in chops. OMG, they were AMAZING! So moist, juicy, and flavorful, and even reheating them the next day they were still juicy! I will never fix them any other way now! Thanks for such a fantastic recipe. Even my boyfriend loved them!
That is so great to hear! Thanks, Jessica!