Easy Baked Pork Chops with Brown Sugar

My Easy Baked Pork Chops are so tender and juicy, and the brown sugar spice rub gives this boneless pork chops recipe a ton of flavor!

Easy Baked Pork Chops Recipe

I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve never really been a fan of boneless pork chops. They always seem like a good idea, but they come out of the oven dry and tough. But you know what I figured out? It wasn’t the pork’s fault! It was mine. I finally figured out that I was cooking the poor pork chops to death, and it was slow and painful.

baked pork chops tips and tricks

Here are a few tips I’ve learned about keeping this type of meat super tender and juicy without drying it out:

1. Oil and season. Rub the pork chops with a little bit of olive oil before adding the seasoning. This will not only help the seasoning stick to the pork, but it adds a little flavor and keep the pork moist.
2. Don’t overcook it. People tend to think that pork takes a long time to cook, but with boneless pork chops this rule just doesn’t apply. A good rule of thumb for making baked pork chops is 7-8 minutes per half inch of meat in a 400 degree oven. Pork roasts and bone-in pork is a different story and will take much longer.
3. Let it rest. This is true for any meat that you’re cooking, from chicken to steaks to pork. I cannot stress this enough! When meat cooks, and of the juices inside rush to the center. Resting allows those juices to redistribute throughout the meat resulting in a tender and juicy pork chop.
4. Resist the urge to cut. Do not cut these baked pork chops before serving. Keep them in tact and slicing before serving lets all of those juices out and the meat becomes dry very quickly.
5. Feel free to sear the chops first to lock in that sweet and spice. This will also give the pork a nice golden crust. Or, you could flip on the broiler during the last few minutes to caramelize the top.

How to Bake Pork Chops

I like to use a nice, thick boneless pork chop for this recipe – about 1-inch thick is perfect.

Start by rinsing the pork and patting it dry. Place the pork chops in a large baking dish and rub with a little bit of olive oil.

For the brown sugar spice blend, I took notes from my easy baked chicken breast recipe and basically just added some brown sugar. Pork stands up well to a sweet flavor profile (and I just kinda prefer it).

Bake the pork chops in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes. If you have a meat thermometer, (aff) it will come in handy here. You want the pork to register about 145 degrees.

Now, it’s tempting to cut into the baked pork chops to see if they’re done – resist!! Cutting right away will let all of those juices out, negating all of your hard work. Cover the chops with foil and let them rest.

Here are some more delicious pork recipes to try:

• Lemon Herb Pork Tenderloin
• Slow Cooker Garlic & Brown Sugar Teriyaki Pork
• Easy Oven Braised French Onion Pork Chops
• Pan Roasted Pork Loin

Easy Baked Pork Chops

My Easy Baked Pork Chops are so tender and juicy, and the brown sugar spice rub gives this boneless pork chops a ton of flavor!

4.78 from 18 votes

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Kristin

Ingredients

• 4 boneless pork loin chops about 1-inch thick
• 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a large, 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a small bowl combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and brown sugar.
• Lay pork chops in the prepared baking dish, side by side but not touching. Coat both sides of each chop with the olive oil.
• Sprinkle half of the seasoning blend over the tops of the pork chops and rub into the meat with your hands. Repeat on the flip side of the meat.
• Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until pork registers 145 degrees F on a meat thermometer.
• Tent with foil and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

If you're not getting that golden color you're looking for, broil the chops during the last several minutes.

Or, you could opt to sear the chops in a cast iron or stainless steel skillet with a little melted butter or olive oil. This will seal in the flavor and give you a nice golden crust. You will probably want to take several minutes off of the cooking time to account for the pre-cook.

Kristin

Hi! I’m Kristin, the creative mind behind Yellow Bliss Road where you will be inspired by tons of easy to follow recipes, lots of free printables, and a little sprinkling of life thrown in for good measure.