Sometimes the best food is the simplest. This is very true about pork chops. In our family, we like to try different ways of preparing pork chops, like the Southern Fried Pork Chops, Broiled Pork Chops, or Smothered Pork Chops, but simple salt and pepper pan-fried boneless pork chops are our favorite by far. This recipe is also one of the healthiest pork chop recipes. It's low carb, or practically zero carb, and fat is kept to a minimum.
They are super quick to prepare, ten minutes or less, really. All you need to do is sprinkle the chops with some salt, pepper, and maybe some other seasonings if you feel like it, then quickly fry them over fairly high heat. If you ask me, this is the best way to cook pork chops.
Quick cooking works the best for all cuts of pork loin. Unless you are roasting the whole loin, cooking should be done in a matter of minutes. Pork chops are just like steaks - the quicker you brown them and get them off the heat, the better they will be.
Unlike fattier cuts of pork, pork loin doesn't have fat pockets to keep it moist during cooking. For cuts like this, higher-heat cooking, such as roasting, grilling, frying, pan-frying, and sauteing, works the best. However, braising, stewing, or slow cooking doesn't work well at all.
If you give pork chops a good sear, they will acquire a lot of color and flavor due to the Maillard reaction. That's why I like to add minimal seasonings to these pan-fried pork chops. Salt and pepper is all that's required. But I like adding some granulated garlic and powdered onion too, as they add a lot of nice flavor. Sometimes, I want to change things up and use other spices, but I always seem to come back to the essential mix of salt, pepper, garlic, and onion. If you are curious, my other favorite seasonings to pair with pan-fried pork chops are coriander, marjoram, cumin, ginger, rosemary, and caraway.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless pork chops cut 3/4" to 1" thick
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- A pinch of powdered/granulated garlic per side
- A pinch of powdered/granulated onion per side
- 2 Tbsp grapeseed oil (or other high smoke point oil)
Instructions
- Season the meat evenly with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion.
- To a large cast iron pan, add just enough oil to fully cover the bottom of the pan. Heat over medium-high heat until it's hot enough to sear meat, about 375F.
- Sear the pork chops on one side for about 3-4 minutes until the side is deep golden brown. Flip and continue frying for another 3-4 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145F.
- Let the chops rest for 3 minutes, then serve with your favorite side dish.
Nutrition
Greg says
Easy and tasty. Added a little brown sugar and chopped onions.
victor says
Thanks for your feedback, Greg. Enjoy!
Helene says
What a positive difference it made to follow this recipe. Before, I had used a spray-on olive oil and cooked the pork chops longer with the result that the pork chops I used to make were always tough. Following this recipe, using vegetable oil, kosher salt, pepper, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder (I didn't have fresh on hand) with the cook time and rest time, these pork chops were juicy, not tough, and very tasty. Thank you, Victor.
victor says
You are very welcome, Helene. Thank you for the kind words and the detailed feedback. Enjoy!
Mary says
Really easy recipe with tender juicy results. Thanks
victor says
You are very welcome. Enjoy!
Betsy says
This recipe was definitely quick and easy. Just what I wanted. And to top it off, it was very tasty and juicy. I will definitely make this again. Thanks Chef Victor!
victor says
🙂 You are very welcome. Enjoy!!!
Jean Gama says
I love your process & even when I merely season boneless chops with Basari, I still use your timing & temp, and they are perfect every time!! Happy hubby too!
victor says
Glad to hear it, Jean. Enjoy!
JoAnn says
These were delicious! I used canola oil and bone-in chops. Quick and easy!
victor says
Enjoy!
Debbie says
I have made these twice now and my teenager absolutely loves this recipe as does my adult son and myself. So easy, quick and delicious! Thank you!
victor says
You are very welcome. Enjoy!
Bob says
I've cooked these chops at least fire times and now, all my guests want them again! Thanks Victor
victor says
You are very welcome, Bob. Glad you like my recipe. Enjoy and please try my other recipes, on this blog and my Taste of Artisan blog.
Tami Villegas says
It looks delicious but I don't have an iron skillet. Will it still taste the same with just a regular pan?
victor says
Tami, I think it should be pretty close. Enjoy!
Shann says
Can you do this with bone in I have a pack of both?
victor says
You can do with bone-in as well but you will need to cook them a little longer.
Penny Hibbs says
I'm pan frying 9 of these bonless pork chops for our supper tonight. Will put steamed okra as a side dish.
victor says
Enjoy!
kathy says
Can I marinate the chops in Teriyaki before cooking?
victor says
Yes, that will work though the pork chops will have a different flavor profile.
Jan says
omg these look mouth watering will be making these today. Did you really have to make them look so good?
victor says
We eat with our eyes as much as with out mouths. So, yeah, I do! LOL Enjoy!
Sadie says
Victor, you’ve done it again! As luck would have it, I bought some boneless pork chops and was contemplating how to cook them. I’ve made pork chops many times in the past, and they were okay, but nothing to write home about. Today, I tried your recipe and I have found my new go to! So easy and quick and absolutely delicious. Several months ago I commented on your Maple Lime Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, which are scrumptious, and now, you’ve done it again! Thank you so much!
victor says
Happy to hear it, Sadie. Enjoy! I will keep them coming.
Elaine says
This was absolutely perfect. Always had trouble with pork chops, not a fan of cooking. This will definitely be our go to.
victor says
Enjoy!
Shirley Hicks says
Made it and turned out great!
victor says
Glad to hear it. Enjoy!
Shawn Manica says
This recipe is exactly what I was looking for!! Thank You! ☆☆☆☆☆
Best wishes,
Shawn
victor says
You are very welcome. Enjoy!
LeAnn says
I forgot to give it a 5 star rating!!
victor says
Thank you!
LeAnn says
Made these tonight for the first time...DELICIOUS!!! I will drop my cooking time by 45 seconds maybe next time. I started with 3 1/2 minutes each side. I did cut into them slightly to check for doneness and were still a little pink. I'm a fanatic about pink in pork...so I added another minute bringing me to 8 minutes. Just a little too long. But nothing to complain about. Loved them and so did my hubby. I used the Kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Thanks for this awesome recipe!!
victor says
You are welcome. Glad you liked it. Happy cooking!
Cynthia Williams says
What other type if oil can you use to fry. They look wonderful thanks you
victor says
You can use avocado oil (refined), almond oil, corn oil, canola oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. Enjoy@
JAX says
What do you do with the spices and when and how long to sit or do you seasoning them afterwy as this is what the recipe suggest ?
victor says
I season them right before frying.
Katie says
Can I use a regular skillet or does it have to be a cast iron?
victor says
Yes, you can use a regular one. Cast iron has a more even heat control and I think it browns better but a regular one will do too.
Valerie says
Came out great. I didn’t let them cook long enough to brown them that dark though…I think they would’ve been overdone.
victor says
Yeah, you don't want to overcook them but you can bump up the heat next time - that will help the crust brown fast without overcooking the inside.
Kelly says
Seriously the only pork chop recipe I follow. The high temp cooking really does make for a juicy pork chop. The only difference I do is crank the oven up to 425-450
Vicki Dale says
I love this so quick, juicy, and pretty
Theresa FitzSimons says
Um, wow. Why have I always over-complicated pork loin chops? This was straight foward and perfect. I fished with some sautéed shallots and a pat of butter just like a steak. Best thing I’ve eaten in months!
Judy says
These pork chops were bang on! Thanks for posting. Look forward to trying more of your recipes.
victor says
Glad to hear it, Judy. You are very welcome. Hope you enjoy my other recipes.
Barb says
Super easy & my guys LOVE them!!
Brigitte says
Absolutely fantastic. I am 70 years old, wanted to see if there is a quick cook with fantastic taste. This is it, going to share with my daughters.
victor says
Happy to hear that, Brigitte. Enjoy!
anne says
i just made these and they were great. i have been cooking pork chops for years, always with bone in because i can never get them tender. never tried boneless until now and they were tender.
Ana says
I made these last night. They were perfectly cooked and juicy. They were tasty too bc I rubbed them with a paste I made in my mortar and pestle of garlic, dried oregano, black peppercorns, salt, and enough olive oil to keep it together. I rubbed that concoction on the pork chops and then drizzled on top a mix of olive oil and apple cider vinegar. I refrigerated for several hours. I took them out of the refrigerator about an hour before cooking.
The chops were about 1 1/8" thick and had a layer of fat on one side. I scored the fat and cooked the chops standing on the side with the fat for a few minutes before proceeding with the cooking instructions bc I wanted the fat browned. DELICIOUS!
Paolo says
I'm definitely not a chef I can do simple meals Tonight I wanted to try to fry some boneless pork chops I followed the 10 min way to fry and it came out nice and tender
Thank you for the great advice
victor says
You are very welcome, Paolo. Happy cooking!
Rebecca Simonson says
I made this tonite. I used boneless pork loin chops. While the pork rested I made sauce for the meat. I added white wine to the cast iron pan & scraped all the bits into the wine then I added onions & mushrooms. It came out perfect. I was upset when my husband came home from the store with these the other day. In the past I've either hammered them or the middle wasn't done enough! This came out perfect! This is my new go to. It only took me 25 yrs to find the right recipe! LOL
Nana says
These were amazing! I added garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. So moist and tender. Definitely a keeper! Thank you.
Lorr K says
I have always preferred chops on the bone but the boneless just seem to be so much more readily available (and cheaper) where I live. I just really struggle with cooking temp and time with the boneless. I just wanted a recipe with straight forward cooking directions and yours was perfect! Followed your recipe as written choosing to add just a little onion powder to the seasoning. The chops came out delicious. Thanks so much for a simple, straightforward recipe that I will continue to use from now on!
victor says
You are very welcome. Enjoy!
Melissa says
Everything is closed (sad face) and Monday night dinner with babe was scrumptious, juicy and most of all satisfying (smile)! We turned the other white meat into a pork stir fry over rice.
We thank you so much from Poughkeepsie, NY!
Mel
victor says
You are very welcome, Mel! Happy cooking and stay healthy.
Michele says
Delicious, juicy, and so quick! Love these pork chops! Thank you!
Yvonne says
Made these tonight ..AWESOME!! I added a bit of season salt & lemon pepper to the recipe. So tender & juicy. Served w/potatoes cooked w/garlic salt, parsley, onion powder & minced onion, s&p. Drained , added butter & splash of milk to do a chunky mash. Phenomenal together!!
Em Foster says
I tried this recipe tonight (or rather this technique, since I changed up the spices to salt, pepper, dry mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne) and it's a winner! First time I've ever gotten a moist, delicious result from a pork loin chop recipe. Thank you so much!
victor says
Happy to hear that!!!
Rosalina Villarruel says
This recipe is awesome. Unfortunately my dog will have less bones to enjoy but he'll have to take one for the team!
Betsy says
You REALLY should not be giving your dogs the bones! They can splinter and cause bleeding in the stomach!!
Dianne says
Made these last night exactly to the recipe. I had two one and half inch thick boneless chops and two big chicken thighs that I marinated in buttermilk over night. Preheated my cast iron skillet, grape seed oil and seasoned the meats. Started the chicken first then added the chops. Timed the chops and took them out to rest. Finished the thighs to temp and out to rest. I deglazed the pan with white wine, added sliced onions and then mushrooms and let them cook down. Served with roasted brussel sprouts and cream cheese mashed potatoes. The chops and chicken, so tender and juicy. This is a keeper!!! Thank you Victor!
victor says
Thank you for kind words, Dianne. Happy to hear that you liked the recipe.
Angela says
Delicious! I seasoned mine with original Mrs Dash,dry mustard,Himalayan pink salt and fresh cracked pepper in a cast iron pan and avocado oil. Also sautéd peeled sliced Granny Smith apples with sliced Vidalia Onion in the drippings while the chops rested. Best chop evah! Wish I could post a picture. Served with baked potato wrapped in bacon and baked butternut squash with nutmeg.honey and butter. My belly is full and so satisfied! Mmmm!
April says
I'm going to make these tonight. I have boneless for the kids and a couple bone-in chops... can I still cook the bone in the same? Will cook time vary between the two cuts?
victor says
You can cook them the same way. Bone in will take a little longer to cook, but not by much, about 4-5 min per side. Of course, that depends on the thickness of the chops. You want cook them until 145F internal. You can also try my Southern Fried Pork Chop recipe, it uses bone-in chops and is very good.
myra says
These were delicious! Stayed moist and did not dry out. I used olive oil instead of grape seed oil
Tori says
I’ve failed at pork chops for over 5 years! This is the first instructions I’ve used that actually work and make my chops awesome!!! (I even tried t three different time before commenting Incase I just got lucky 😂) thank you so much
victor says
You are so very welcome, Tori. Glad I could help.
Dede says
Can butter be used instead of oil?
victor says
Butter will burn at 375-400F. If you want the flavor, try 50/50 butter and oil to increase the smoke point and cook at a slightly lower temperature, e.g. 350-375F. It will work.
Brittanie says
You could also use ghee which has a higher smoke point 😉
Susan says
I love the ease of this recipe and it turned out great. I’ve never commented or rated a recipe before but felt compelled to remark on yours, as I am grateful for this simple and delicious, weeknight recipe. Thanks!
Kathy says
Making this tonight. Rest in the pan or out??
victor says
Take out. They will overcook if left in a hot pan.
Monica Walters says
Made these tonight. I used butter instead of oil and these pork chops came out great! Crunchy outside, juicy inside. A keeper!
Abigail says
Do you think the timing of cooking the pork chops should be less of the chops are thin cut? I don’t make pork chops often and I really don’t want to over cook it.
victor says
Definitely less time. You don't want to overcook them. I'd say a couple of minutes per side or so. It would help to use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness or cut one and make sure the meat is cooked through.
Melissa Justice says
This turned out great. I did fresh crushed garlic with thyme in the pan and added a little butter. Seasoned with Salt and pepper. Was a hit!!!
Dee says
Why if you don't have a cast iron frying pan
Melissa Justice says
I do have a cast iron pan and that's what I used. ?
Reta says
Love these. I did these just like u said but I used bacon grease for the oil. I have learned it adds so much flavor that my family loves. Thnx for the recipe. I have problems with the actual cooking time. Now thnx to u I have that down as well.
victor says
Happy to hear that I could help, Reta.
Jen Weller says
I am going to make these but I am going to add Adobo for added flavor.
Monica says
I used Adobo instead of salt. Delish!
Andrea says
I can’t believe how easy and delicious these were. I used butter and when the chips were done I sautéed onions and mushrooms in the skillet. I can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow!
Jenn says
I searched for a pork chop recipe online and came across this one. This is my new favorite way to cook pork chops. They came out perfect and even my oftentimes picky 4 year old liked them! This was so fast and easy. Thank you!
victor says
You are very welcome! Glad to hear that you and your little one enjoyed them.
Kim says
Will a regular frying pan do? I don't own a cast Iron one.
victor says
A regular pan will work too.
meredith says
I’ve made it your way several times now, will never do any other way again! Thank you!!!
victor says
Glad you liked it. Thanks for your feedback.
Susan L says
Absolutely fabulous! No more 30 minutes in the oven, coated with Stuff.
Michelle LaPersonerie says
I have been looking for this type of recipe for pork chops, for a long time. After viewing the show today, October 27, I tried to find this recipe in my copy of your cookbook. I have spent quite some time searching the cookbook and still can’t find it. I know you always tell us, at the end of the recipe, that you can find the recipe in the cookbook. Could you please tell me where I can locate it, in the book?
victor says
You must have confused me with someone else, I never published a cookbook.
Renate says
This recipe was fantastic and so easy! I put an onion in pan after flipping pork chops & they were the perfect topping. Turned out delicious. Thank you.
Joan says
Purchased center cut thin boneless pork chops.
Help !! Need simple but delicious was to cook
Thanks
victor says
I'd say you found it.
Valerie A Gilbert says
Gonna try tonight thank you....mine are always dry
Summur says
WOW!! I had never fried pork chops before (or baked them for that matter!) I was intimidated about making them. I found this recipe and thought "I can do this". It was very easy!! The chops turned out beautifully!! I even made a pan sauce (which I have never done) with the drippings. I would recommend this recipe to anyone that is afraid of frying pork chops! Thank you!!!!!
victor says
You are very welcome.
Alexis says
Summer, what sauce did you make with the drippings?
Jake says
I like pork chops as an alternative to chicken breasts but most recipes out there intimidate me. I am not much of a cook and like simple and quick recipes that also taste good. Your pork chop recipe fits the bill perfectly. I love these chops. And it really, literally took me 10 minutes to prepare them. Great recipe!
GB says
Agreed, this is the best way to cook pork chops. Yours look amazing!
victor says
Thanks!
Kevin says
Thank you for the simple and fast way to cook pork. I'm no longer making hockey pucks for dinner... TY