Braising is the best method around to ensure your pork chops will be fork-tender and delicious. After a quick sear, these Skillet Braised Pork Chops are cooked low and slow in a balsamic pan sauce to create an incredibly savory meal.
More favorite pork recipes include Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze and Pork Loin Roast with Gravy.
Pork chops can be a tough bugger… literally. Without the correct cooking method, they can end up as tough as shoe leather. But with the proper technique, you can turn this inexpensive cut into a tender, flavorful, family-pleasing meal.
I attempted to eat these incredibly tasty chops with the manners my mama gave me – lady-like and with a knife and fork – but in the end I was compelled to pick the thing up and go after it until I had every last bit of meat off that bone.
Yeah, that happened. Sorry Mom.
Pork chops were on regular rotation on our dinner menu when I was a kid. My mom cooked them frequently and only one way – pan fried with mashed potatoes and creamy mushroom gravy. You know, the kind of gravy made with good old-fashioned Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup. It was that recipe that was the inspiration behind my Crock-Pot Pork Sirloin Tip Roast recipe and I still love those pork chops dearly to this day.
But, I’ve branched out from my pork chop beginnings and I’m here today to share a great method and a delicious recipe that is a big departure from Mom’s 1970’s style chops.
How to Make Skillet Braised Pork Chops
First, we need some chops! I picked up this package of four bone-in pork loin chops for just a tad over $10.
- Grab a large, heavy skillet – I’m using a nice quality nonstick pan here. Add a couple of tablespoons vegetable oil and place it over high heat. You might need to add more oil if you’re not using a nonstick pan.
- Add the chops and cook them for several minutes until nicely browned on one side.
- As they cook, season both sides of the chops with some salt, fresh ground pepper, and fresh thyme. We aren’t concerned with cooking the chops through at this point, we just want to get a nice sear on them.
- Once browned, transfer the chops to a plate and set aside.
- Remove the chops from the pan, pour off any excess grease, and quickly wipe the pan down with a paper towel. This will help prevent the braising liquid from being too greasy. It’s not a required step but I recommend it.
- Add a little additional vegetable oil, if needed. Reduce the heat to medium and add some chopped onion and minced garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, until the onion is softened and the garlic is fragrant.
- To the cooked onion and garlic add some chicken broth, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, a little brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Cook and stir for about a minute until the sauce is combined.
- Add the browned chops back to the pan, nestling them down into that flavor-packed sauce.
- Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for at least 45 minutes to an hour, until fork-tender. This part can happen in the oven if you’d like. See the printable recipe below for the oven braising directions.
And that, my friends, is that. Plate them up, spooning some of the sauce and onions over the top, and serve them with your choice of sides.
Serving Suggestions
I feel like it’s almost required to serve Skillet Braised Pork Chops with potatoes of some sort and this time I went with my Lemon and Garlic Roasted Potatoes. Pork is absolutely delicious with Roasted Sweet Potatoes too! Those Bourbon Glazed Carrots up there are out-of-this-world-good.
For a great resource on this cut of meat, including a comparison of alternate cooking methods, be sure to check out The Food Lab’s Guide to Pan Seared Pork Chops on Serious Eats.
Now, go forth, and eat pork chops!
More Pork Recipes You’ll Love
- Southwestern Pork Tenderloin
- Juiciest Baked Pork Tenderloin
- Tender Baked Pork Chops
- BBQ Country Style Ribs
Skillet Braised Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided ( or as needed)
- 4 bone-in pork chops
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons chopped, fresh thyme
- 1 cup diced onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy skillet over MEDIUM-HIGH heat, add the pork chops. Cook the chops for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned, seasoning both sides with salt, fresh ground pepper, and fresh thyme. Transfer browned chops to a plate and set aside.
- Drain grease from pan and add remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Reduce heat to MEDIUM and add onions to pan. Cook and stir for about a minute and then add garlic. Cook until onions are softened and lightly browned, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the chicken broth, Dijon, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce to the pan and cook, stirring for about a minute. Add the chops back to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Increase heat and bring mixture to a boil. Cover the pan tightly, reduce heat, and cook over LOW heat for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the pork chops are fork-tender.
- If you prefer to use the oven, cover the skillet (ovenproof) or transfer to a baking pan and cover tightly with foil. Braise the pork chops at 325 degrees for about 45 to 55 minutes, until tender
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
More Meaty Main Dish Recipes
Tried this recipe today. There was a fantastic sale on pork sirloin chops that I couldn’t pass up. We don’t eat a lot of meat or pork in our home so I looked up some recipes . I landed on this one and gave it a try. OMG, it was tender, moist and the sauce was delicious. I coupled them up with mashed potatoes and green beans. My husband, who does really care for pork, loved it. I will use this recipe again. AMAZINGLY good!
Made this last night. Only difference, is that I had two thick bone-in pork chops instead of the four recommended. Otherwise I made it just like the recipe. Can I just say, YUMMM! They were so tender and delicious. I only plated one between my granddaughter (age 12) and I, but we both wanted more, so we ate the second one as well! Easy and delicious, just like I like to cook!
Made Thise tonight for supper and let me tell you my husband ate 2 pork chops!!! My kids demolished their plates!!! It was a huge hit in our house. Will most definitely be saving and reusing this recipe!!! AMAZING!!!
These were terrific. I usually avoid braised dishes, but this recipe dealt with tough chops and was very flavorful. Will definitely do it again.
Wow! Just wow! Especially the sauce. No talking at the table tonight. Everyone was too busy eating. There was a lot of moaning and grunting going on from the men folk. It was like eating dinner with a baboon? However, that is when I know dinner turned out really good.
This is wonderful to hear, Tammie! So glad you all enjoyed the chops 🙂
This pork chop recipe is sooo good. I made it almost exactly the way you said. The only thing I didn’t do is drain the grease from the pork chops!!! That is where all the flavor is and it’s crazy to drain it out only to put more oil in the pan!! I left the grease and cooked my onions right in it. Definitely a great recipe.
Made your chops they were a hit
Will be making them again.
May I say… WOW! I made this last night for dinner with some modifications. I added tater and carrot chunks with the onion and used whole cloves of garlic, because…. GARLIC! I sprinkled rosemary on the veggies and steak, doubled the broth and fixin’s and added a splash of liquid smoke. We ate until we were bursting and I still wanted MORE!
I think this would be awesome with chicken as well and I will try it with a tough cut of beef without my rosemary addition too. Very good, thank you for sharing!
I’m scared to cook pork chops because I always mess them up. This recipe was easy and the pork chops came out delicious! Hubby and I had enjoyed and will make again. Thank you! 5 stars from me ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved this recipe! Usually my pork chops come out really dry so I rarely make them but they were tender and moist using this cooking method. The sauce was really good too. I did make a few changes. I only used 2 TBS of brown sugar and added 2 Tbs of red wine. I also added a cup of chopped mushrooms and half a shallot. It was excellent! Will totally make this again.
I made this for my picky-eater husband and he absolutely loved it. The meat was tender and moist and well-flavored. I also added sliced mushrooms with the onions. This recipe is a keeper—and it was easy enough to make. 5⭐️‘s. Thanks!
Sorry, Valerie, but this was not a winner for me. Too sweet. Even though I reduced the amount of brown sugar by half, it tasted more like a dessert than an entree! I guess I’m just a “savory” person. The basics were there and the pork was very tender. I’m going to try it again, leaving out the brown sugar and adding more herbs – rosemary & sage. BTW, love you, just not a fan of this recipe. xxoo Donna
Sorry to hear it didn’t work out for you, Donna. I love what brown sugar does to balance the balsamic in this recipe and feel it works really well with pork but you could definitely reduce the amount to suit your taste. It really shouldn’t seem very sweet at all if you reduced the brown sugar down to 1-1/2 tablespoons but maybe this flavor combo is just not for you. I hope your next attempt is more successful 🙂