How to Cook Thin Pork Chops (with delicious honey garlic butter)
Wondering how to cook thin pork chops so they're caramelized on the outside but still tender and juicy? We've got the secrets! This recipe seasons the pork chops with a spice blend made from common kitchen staples, then finishes it off with a luscious honey garlic butter!
Ingredients
- 4 thin pork chops, see notes
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Honey Garlic Butter
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon finely minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 small garlic clove, very finely minced
Instructions
- Turn your cooking element to medium-high and let it heat up while you get your pork chops ready. (If you have a gas or induction cooktop, wait until you're ready to put the pan on the element before turning it on.) In a small bowl, mix the honey garlic butter ingredients until they are well combined.1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon finely minced parsley, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 small garlic clove
- Mix the spices together in a small bowl.½ teaspoon sweet paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon sugar
- Dry the thin pork chops with paper towels and then sprinkle the spices evenly over both sides.4 thin pork chops
- Drizzle the oil over the top of the pork chops and use your fingers to spread it around. Place the pork chops, oiled side down, into a cold frying pan - cast iron works great.1 tablespoon cooking oil
- Place the frying pan onto the hot element and wait until you hear them start to sizzle. Once they do, press them gently into the pan. Cook the pork chops without moving them for 4-5 minutes, until they look nearly cooked. They will be opaque all the way up the sides and just a bit red on top.
- Flip the nearly cooked pork chops over and finish cooking for 1 minute on the other side. They are done when they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let the pork chops rest for 5 minutes and then serve them with a dab of the honey garlic butter on top.
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!
Notes
Pork chops: You'll find thin pork chops in your grocery store that are between ½-inch and 1-inch thick. If you can't find thin pork chops, you can buy thicker pork chops (usually 1 ½ inches) and cut them in half. The easiest way to do this is to partially freeze them before cutting.
In recipe testing, I found rib chops stayed juicier. Look for thin pork chops with some marbling, as this will help prevent them from drying out.
Serving: 1 pork chop, Calories: 194kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 354mg, Potassium: 322mg, Fiber: 0.02g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 93IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 0.5mg