I just got back from the BEST girls beach weekend! We had 11 of us total this year, a gorgeous house and great weather! Not to mention the company… These are some of the funniest, warmest, smartest, most lovely ladies I know. We played games, watched movies, cooked together, drank together, took a yoga class together and just generally relaxed into being surrounded by people who love and adore you. But now it’s back home and back at it! Today I’m sharing these crunchy baked pork chops, which are super easy to put together with just a few pantry staples. And they bake in the oven so they are hands-off while you make some side dishes or help with homework. Or Legos, which have started taking over our house. And oh, that crunchy coating is so super flavorful! Just look at this beautiful browning: Swoon worthy for sure! Just make sure to check the temperature on your pork chops to test for doneness. (I love this inexpensive but highly reliable instant read digital thermometer.) You’ll have perfectly tender, juicy pork chops every time! And you know I’ve got some tips and substitutions for you.
How to bake pork chops:
The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your pork chops. When mine are about 1 inch thick, they are generally ready at 18-20 minutes. When I have thicker, 1 ½-inch pork chops, it takes closer to 25 minutes. If the tops are browning too quickly, you can place a tent of aluminum foil over the tops.
As mentioned, I highly recommend you use a digital thermometer. You can remove the pork when it gets to 135-140 and it’ll finish cooking. You don’t want to overcook pork! OK, let’s get to the specifics of this recipe. (If you want to skip over these other notes and tips, feel free to scroll right on down to the recipe card. It’s at the bottom of the post, just above the comments section.)
Ingredient Notes:
Herbs: I’ve made this without parsley before and it was fine so no worries if you don’t have any. You could also substitute some fresh or dried thyme if you’d rather. Breadcrumbs: I prefer Panko breadcrumbs because they get extra crunchy, but you can use regular breadcrumbs too or substitute gluten-free breadcrumbs. I would go for a plain, not seasoned, breadcrumb but you could try the Italian version and skip the other seasonings here. Spicy: Want to add some spice? Add up to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
Serving Ideas:
As for serving, I love serving this with steamed brown rice or easy microwave baked potatoes and some roasted asparagus for a side dish. Or pick your favorite veggie. To make it easy, you can just add a second sheet pan to the oven with some seasoned asparagus, green beans or broccoli and roast them at the same time as you are cooking the pork chops. Asparagus and green beans take 10-15 minutes, depending on how big they are. Broccoli is usually 20-25 minutes or so. You could also roast some potatoes or sweet potatoes too and make a whole dinner in the oven. Done and done! Sometimes I’ll reserve some of the breadcrumb mixture before I put the pork chops in and sprinkle that on top of the veggies, like I did here. I hope you give these easy baked pork chops a try for a new delicious family dinner night! Happy cooking and enjoy! XO, Kathryn P.S. You may also want to try my spice-rubbed pork chops or balsamic pork tenderloin with thyme! And check out my Air Fryer pork chops if you have an Air Fryer. Cook time: The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your pork chops. When mine are about 1 inch, they are generally ready at 18-20 minutes. When I have thicker, 1 ½-inch pork chops, it takes closer to 25 minutes. If the tops are browning too quickly, you can place a tent of aluminum foil over the tops. Herbs: I’ve made this without parsley before and it was fine so no worries if you don’t have any. You could also substitute some fresh or dried thyme if you prefer. Breadcrumbs: I use and recommend Panko breadcrumbs because they get extra crunchy, but you can substitute regular breadcrumbs in a pinch. Spicy: Want to add some spice? Add up to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
