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!
I made this tonight. It was quick and easy. My husband loved it. The only thing I did differnt was make a rub out of the ingredients. I will definitely make this again.
Happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe, Kathy!
The pork chops were tasty and tender. They were a cinch to prepare. My 90 yr old mom did not agree; she felt that they were not tender enough for her. Oh, well. I had her dip the chop in the wine vinegar I used for the tossed salad and that helped. She did not believe that pork would be ready in 18 minutes. I used my meat thermometer to prove it to her. 🙂
Happy to hear that you liked them! Hopefully your mom wasn’t too disappointed. 🙂
I’ve made this twice and they truly are juicy and delicious! I split the recipe for two chops.
That’s wonderful to hear, Marion!
Made this recipe a few times and love it
Thanks, June! I’m really happy to hear that you love the recipe!
Sorry. Not a fan of the rub.
I’m sorry to hear that it wasn’t for you.
I found this cook time a bit insufficient. Cooked for 15 minutes 1 inch thick chops but they were still very red in places. Idk if that’s how you intended them…
The best way to tell if they are done is with a meat thermometer. They can sometimes still have a pink hue, even once they’ve reached a safe temperature, depending on the type of pork chops you bought. I find that center cut pork chops will often stay a bit pink while rib chops will turn white.
Delicious pork chops and easy to make!
Thanks, Jim!
So flavorful and juicy-this will be my “go to” chops recipe! The entire family loved them!
So great to hear that your family loves this recipe!
Made these pork chops for dinner. They were absolutely delicious!
Thanks, Barbara!!
Exceptional! Thank you so much the most moist pork chops I have ever fixed. My husband and grandson ate every bite. Absolutely delicious,
Love it when a recipe is a hit with the family! So great to hear!
Hi Kristen, Can this meal be cooked in a slow cooker ?
I’ve never made this in a slow cooker so I can’t say.
Just tried this tonight and had to share with the neighbors because they dropped in due to the incredible smells coming out of my oven. So juicy and delicious but so simple.
What a great story! Love it!!
So easy and delicious, even for a novice cook like myself! Cooking time was spot, on but I used a thermometer just to be sure.
That’s so fantastic to hear!
This is the most flavorful pork chops I’ve ever made! The rub is very tasty. And I really appreciate the info on the cooking time per 0.5″ of pork chop. That is very helpful as I always overcooked my pork. I’m a very basic beginner cook so these tips are valuable.
Thank you so much, Mike. I really appreciate your feedback!
So is it ok to brine the pork chops? And what about searing?
Of course! This recipe is for baked pork chops, but they can be cooked in many different ways. 🙂
I have made these using smaller chops and they were delicious the seasoning was delicious and the chops were so moist thanks so much for the recipe
You are very welcome!
My chops are huge shouldn’t I cook them longer
Yes, you should. You’ll want to bake your pork chops for 7 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness. Add an extra minute for each 1/2 inch if you’re using bone-in pork chops.