Juicy Baked Pork Chops
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These baked pork chops are the most popular oven 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.
We’ve been told we’re experts at making pork chops, and have more than 16 pork chop recipes for you to choose from. Try these smothered pork chops and pan-fried pork chops next. Or go for our popular baked pork tenderloin!
Let’s give it up for easy and delicious pork chop recipes! This is one of our family’s favorite dinner recipes, and we go back to it time and again. The flavorful pork chops always turn out tender and juicy. After you make these baked pork chops once you’ll make them again and again. The recipe is really fast and easy to prepare and is a great one to keep in your back pocket for when you need dinner stat or just can’t figure out what to make tonight. You can use boneless pork chops or bone-in pork chops – your choice!
In this recipe, we keep it simple and don’t sear the chops on the stove. Instead, they go straight into the oven. From our 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 healthy and 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 original recipe.
- Easily made with bone-in or boneless pork chops. Choose whichever you like best!
- They are low-carb, gluten-free, paleo, and a healthy dinner recipe!
Watch how to make baked pork chops:
How to bake pork chops
Making pork chops in the oven is super easy and requires minimal effort. You can also cook your veggies at the same time, making dinner quick and easy.
The trick here is to choose a baking dish that’s not too big. You want the pork chops to be fairly snug so their juices don’t evaporate while cooking, making them juicier.
- Measure your pork chops so you know how thick they are – their thickness will determine the baking time.
- Mix up a simple pork chop spice rub.
- Rub a little olive oil and spices over the pork chops.
- Pop them into your oven.
That’s it! Seriously, these are easy pork chops at their best. The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
READ MORE: Pineapple Pork Stir Fry
How long to bake pork chops at 400 degrees?
The biggest ‘trick' to making oven-baked pork chops is to not overcook them. Since pork chops are lean meat, they will dry out if you leave them 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.
In a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven, boneless pork chops need to cook for 7 minutes per ½ inch of thickness. If you are using bone-in pork chops, cook them for 8 minutes per ½ inch.
- Boneless pork chops that are 1 ½ inches thick should be baked for 21 minutes.
- Bone-in pork chops that are 1 ½ inches thick should be backed for 24 minutes.
If you're new to making roasted pork chops, the best way to tell if they are fully cooked is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. 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.
For an extra special pork dinner, try making our porchetta recipe!
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 our go-to recipe and we've made it so many times and we 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. We 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.
Is this baked pork chop recipe healthy?
Yes! Pork chops are lean meat and are low in calories and fat and high in protein. This is a healthy pork chop recipe as it is made without any sugar. Pork recipes will often call for brown sugar, but it is really not necessary. There is no reason to take a healthy cut of meat and add a bunch of sugar to it. These chops are sugar-free and delicious. Create a healthy and easy dinner recipe by pairing these easy baked pork chops with a side salad!
READ MORE: Baked Chicken Thighs
Does this recipe work with thin pork chops?
This recipe works best with pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. We prefer to use thick pork chops that are closer to 1 ½ inches thick. If your pork chops are thinner, we recommend using our thin pork chops recipe to cook them quickly on the stovetop
What to serve with your oven baked pork chops
We 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 our favorite side dishes:
- Smoky Roast Potatoes or Crispy Roasted Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
- Spicy Honey Roasted Carrots
- Whole Roasted Brussels Sprouts with garlic and lemon
- Sauteed Asparagus with garlic and parmesan
- Sauteed Green Beans with garlic
- Roasted Asparagus or Roasted Broccoli
- Basmati Rice or brown rice
For a summer-friendly version of these perfect pork chops, try this juicy grilled pork chops recipe. It's the BBQ version of this one!
Frequently asked questions
If you don't find the answer you're looking for here, you can ask it in the comments below, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
Do I need to use thick chops?
This recipe works best with chops that are at least 1 inch thick — we prefer 1 ½ inches. If your chops are thinner, we recommend using our thin pork chops recipe instead!
I don’t have extra virgin olive oil, what can I use instead?
Any cooking oil will work in this recipe. We sometimes use avocado oil.
How can I store leftovers?
We love a good pork chop sliced over a salad for lunch, so sometimes we make extra just to have leftovers. They will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in your fridge.
Can I freeze cooked pork chops?
Yes! If you’d like to meal pre, these baked pork chops will keep for at least 3 months in the freezer.
What cuts of pork should I use to make this recipe?
We love using rib chops, but pork loin chops and center-cut chops also work great. If the pork chops you buy don’t indicate what type they are, don’t worry! This recipe works great with all chops that are at least 1 inch thick.
Do I need to cover the pork chops with aluminum foil when baking?
No! There is no need to cover the baking dish.
I like to dip pork chops in bread crumbs. Will that work in this recipe?
For a breaded pork chops recipe, we recommend making our Italian dressing pork chops!
Can I make these in a cast iron skillet?
If you don’t have a baking dish that is the right size, you can use an ovenproof skillet. Just make sure that the pork chops nestle fairly tightly in the pan.
Can I use a different spice mix?
One of the best parts about this recipe is how flexible it is. While we love the spice mix in the recipe, you can definitely use one that you have in your pantry!
Juicy Baked Pork Chops Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons EACH: onion powder and garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon EACH: salt, pepper, and oregano
- 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 note 1 and 2.
- In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oregano.1 tablespoon paprika, 2 teaspoons EACH: onion powder and garlic powder, 1 teaspoon EACH: salt, pepper, and oregano
- 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 note 3.) 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.
Equipment Used
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
We absolutely adore pork chops for dinner. If you love them too, make sure to check out all of our pork chop recipes!
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 recipe called for too much seasoning. I think it needs to be dialed down a bit. Also the pork chops ended up a but overcooked and dry, even though we tried reducing the baking time to account for the thickness of the chops. It sounded great in theory but in reality I wouldn’t make it again.
I’m sorry to hear that the recipe wasn’t a hit for you.
HELP. I just measured out all of the of the ingredients for the “Rub” – totals about 8 Tablespoons – and mixed it together. Do I put ALL of the rub on the 4 pork chops or only some ? It’s an awful lot of seasoning and I don’t want to over do it. Please advise ASAP.
You should have just over 3 tablespoons of the rub. I’m wondering if you may have accidentally clicked the scale recipe button and made x2 or x3 of the rub. If that’s what happened, simply use about 3 tablespoons on your 4 pork chops and save the rest for next time. It’s great on chicken, too.
Excellent, my chops were half-inch think so cooked them for 10 minutes and came out great.
Thanks, Zuheir! So happy they turned out!
I cooked as directed and these came out very dry. Added chicken broth and popped back in the oven on 350. Hopefully that will help.
It sounds like the pork chops were overcooked. Were the ones you bought 1 ¼ inch thick? If they were thinner, that would cause them to overcook and dry out.
I tried you recipe today, they were sooooooooo good!! Also very moist and juicy. This recipe is a keeper.
Awesome! So happy the recipe turned out for you!
A+
Thanks, Alan!
Hi! I love this recipe, this is the second time I made it and it turned out great. Am I supposed to flip over the pork chap mid-way through the 18 minute cook time? I used a cooking thermometer and i got the internal temp up to 140 degrees, but I didn’t flip them over.
Nope … just keep them in the pan on the same side for the entire cooking time. 🙂
I had pork chops that were only about a half inch thick so had to adjust time (went 12 minutes to be safe). I was worried it may have been too long and even though I could have tried a few minutes less, figured safe rather than sorry and under-cooking. I didn’t trust my meat thermometer. Anyway, excellent flavor! Moist…..Super easy! I used a good quality smoked paprika. Did not use onion powder because I was out, and my oil was a combo of Olive and Grape seed. They truly were terrific. Will be making them again soon.
That is so wonderful to hear!!
Thank you for sharing this recipe you are an angel making my life a little simpler + 71 came out great we loved it staying with my family to help out and wanted to please them this was the winner
You are very welcome! 🙂
For juicy pork chops is that 18 minutes both sides at 400 degrees
For pork chops that are 1 ¼ inch thick, bake them for 18 minutes total. 🙂
Made this for my family of picky eaters and plates were licked clean. Will be making this again! Thanks!
That’s wonderful to hear!
Delicious, easy, and something my whole family eats. It’s become a staple! Thank you!
Really happy to hear that everyone is enjoying the recipe!
I was looking for another way to prepare pork chops and found this recipe. I was a little skeptical about the ingredients but decided to give it a try. Wow!! My pork chops came out tender, juicy and very tasty. I got rave reviews on the flavor. This is a great recipe.
I’m really happy to hear you like the recipe!
This was simple, with pantry staples, quick, AND delicious! Amazing! Hard to believe dinner can be this good, this quick! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome!
Are you supposed to cover these with foil?
Nope! They’re baked uncovered. 🙂
Best ever!
Yay!!