Smothered Pork Chops are a traditional American dish that are simple to prepare and are loaded with flavor. This recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman. A rich and flavorful sauce that is spiced with onions and mushrooms is poured over pork chops that have been sliced into thicker slices.
Why this recipe works:
- This is a classic southern comfort food when accompanied by fresh corn, green beans, or creamed peas with pearl onions.
- This is a very simple recipe that can be made by anyone. No unusual materials or methods are needed.
- Even when not on sale, pork remains one of the cheapest types of meat to buy. Do you know of anything that could top that?
What Are Smothered Pork Chops?
In order to make smothered pork chops, the pork is first seared in a skillet before being finished in the oven. In the meantime, prepare the other components of the dish, such as the caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and gravy to top the chops with. It’s unbelievable in its ease. Be courteous. You are better than succumbing to the temptation of eating everyone else’s pork chops. Keep your cool and fry up some more pork chops.
Ingredients That You’ll Need:
- Pork chops: come in so many different forms that it’s hard to know which to use. For this Smothered Pork Chops recipe, I recommend using pork rib chops, aka bone-in ribeye chops.
- Spices: Season those chops well with salt and pepper. You can add fresh thyme to the gravy for a nice herby contrast.
- Olive oil and butter: I love this combination for pan-frying pork chops!
- All-purpose flour: In order to ensure a beautiful crispy crust, the pork chops are coated in flour.
- Onion: With the onions, you’ll sauté and caramelize. This gravy is a show stopper.
- Garlic: Two garlic cloves, finely minced!
- Chicken stock: This enhances the flavor of the onion-based gravy.
Pork Chops Cut Guide:
To avoid overcooking and drying out, choose pork chops that are between 1 and 1 1/2 inches thick while shopping. Overcooking a pork chop that has been thinly sliced is a common mistake. The recommended internal temperature for pork is 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rib Chop: It is the most desirable cut of pork chop. It is taken from the rib section (hence its name) and has a large bone running along one side. It is tender and flavorful.
- Loin Chop: In this cut, there is a t-bone in the middle, with loin meat on one side and tenderloin meat on the other. These two kinds of meat cook at different rates, so it is a more difficult cut to work with.
- Boneless Chop: It is very easy to overcook this cut of pork and dry it out since it has very little fat, connective tissue, and no bones. In the United States, this is the most popular pork chop cut, but it is not the most desirable cut because it is lean and easy to overcook.
- Shoulder Chop: This is the least desirable cut of pork chop and is not commonly found in American grocery stores. They have a lot of flavor but also have a lot of gristle and bones. These chops are best braised.
How To Make Smothered Pork Chops?
- Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat an oven-safe heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper generously on both sides of the pork chops.
- Sear the chops on each side for 3 to 4 minutes. For thick chops (over 1 inch thick), transfer them to a 9×13 pan and continue cooking at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Return the skillet back to medium-high heat, add the onions and mushrooms, and saute for 5-7 minutes, or until the mushrooms and onions are soft.
- Add butter and garlic and cook for 60 seconds.
- Stir in flour and stir until all the white specks have disappeared, about 1 minute. Pour in the chicken broth and simmer, stirring until the sauce has thickened.
- After the pork is cooked through, return it to the skillet smothered with the onion and mushroom gravy.
What To Serve With Smothered Pork Chops?
Smothered pork chops can be served with a variety of tasty side dishes. Mopping up gravy with rice, mashed cauliflower, mashed potatoes, or a crusty loaf of bread is a great idea.
- Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Creamed Peas And Potatoes
- Cheesy Garlic & Herb Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Easy Buttery Garlic Rice
- Mashed Potatoes
- Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
- Easy 10-Minute Garlic Broccolini
- Cornbread Salad
- Easy Skillet Kale with Lemon & Garlic
- Broccoli Salad
- Simple Arugula Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
Without a doubt. Though bone-in pork chops add a lot of flavor to this dish, boneless pork chops can be used in this recipe to save time. However, the exact time needed to cook them will vary significantly according to their thickness.
The Smothered Pork Chops recipe calls for mushrooms and onion, but you could also throw in some greens like baby spinach or Swiss chard at the very end of cooking for a nutritional boost and added heft.
Check the pork chop’s firmness by bouncing it between your fingers. Using a meat thermometer will help you determine when your Smothered Pork Chops have attained the optimal doneness (about 145 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare and 150 degrees for medium).
It is recommended that you buy center-cut, bone-in loin, or rib chops that are 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick for this recipe.
Simply said, “smothering” the pork chops in the sauce or cooking them on low heat for a long time causes them to become the most soft pork chops I have ever tried. This is one of the parts of the dish that I enjoy the most.
Absolutely! Use your preferred gluten-free flour in its place. The gluten-free flour mix from Cup4Cup is delicious.
Smothered pork chops can be kept for three to five days in the fridge if stored properly. Refrigerating leftover Smothered Pork Chops requires first letting them cool to room temperature in an airtight container.
Freezing your Smothered Pork Chops is an excellent way to keep them fresh for a very long time. Smothered pork chops can be frozen for up to two to three months if stored in an airtight container with the gravy.
Smothered Pork Chops Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
- Calories 255
- Total Fat 11.3g
- Saturated Fat 3.9g
- Cholesterol 62.9mg
- Sodium 765.6mg
- Potassium 531mg
- Total Carbohydrate 13g
- Dietary Fiber 1g
- Sugars 0.5g
- Protein 23.7g
- Vitamin A 0.6%
- Vitamin C 3.3%
- Calcium 3.9%
- Iron 10.5%
Try More Recipes:
Smothered Pork Chops Pioneer Woman
Description
Smothered Pork Chops are a traditional American dish that are simple to prepare and are loaded with flavor. This recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman. A rich and flavorful sauce that is spiced with onions and mushrooms is poured over pork chops that have been sliced into thicker slices.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat an oven-safe heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper generously on both sides of the pork chops.
- Sear the chops on each side for 3 to 4 minutes. For thick chops (over 1 inch thick), transfer them to a 9×13 pan and continue cooking at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Return the skillet back on medium-high heat, add the onions, and mushrooms, and saute for 5-7 minutes, or until the mushrooms and onions are soft.
- Add butter and garlic and cook for 60 seconds.
- Stir in flour and stir until all white specks have disappeared about 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and simmer, stirring until the sauce has thickened.
- After the pork is cooked through, return it to the skillet smothered with the onion and mushroom gravy.
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 255
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 11.3g18%
- Saturated Fat 3.9g20%
- Cholesterol 62.9mg21%
- Sodium 765.6mg32%
- Potassium 531mg16%
- Total Carbohydrate 13g5%
- Dietary Fiber 1g4%
- Sugars 0.5g
- Protein 23.7g48%
- Vitamin A 0.6 IU
- Vitamin C 3.3 mg
- Calcium 3.9 mg
- Iron 10.5 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.