Pan Seared Pork Chops (Cast Iron Skillet)

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Baked pork chops are my go-to when it comes to pork chop recipes, but for when you don’t want to turn on your oven or need it for another dish, let me show you how to cook pork chops in a pan instead. These pan seared pork chops are a delicious and easy dinner that’s ready in less than 15 minutes. Serve them with a veggie side dish and dinner is done. I think this cast iron skillet pork chops recipe is one of the best ways to make them!

The beautiful thing about pan seared recipes is that they cook so quickly! There’s no need to wait for the oven to preheat or your protein to bake, so it’s a great fast dinner option. Try juicy pan seared chicken breast, flaky pan fried salmon, or pan seared scallops next and find your new family favorite.

Ingredients For The Best Pan Seared Pork Chops

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for skillet pork chops, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Choosing The Pork Chops:

• Bone-in vs. boneless pork chops – This is always a big debate and it really depends on your preferences. Many people feel that the bone-in gets better flavor and more fat and can also help protect against over-cooking. And others prefer a leaner cut of the boneless pork chop.
• Cuts of pork chops – There are many cuts of pork chops: shoulder chops (darker meat with lots of fat and connective tissue), rib chops (a fattier cut that’s also very tender), loin chops (very lean and mild flavor), boneless chops (also very lean and mild), and sirloin chops (lots of pork flavor, but also very tough). I recommend rib, loin, or boneless varieties for making pan seared pork chops, as these are the most tender.
• Thickness – Pork chops come in a range of thicknesses, which will effect the cooking time. Thicker pork chops are great for a main dish, thinner chops work well for meals like sandwiches. Thicker chops are also harder to overcook, so I recommend at least 1 inch thick.
• Appearance – Fresh pork chops will be light pink and firm, with varying levels of marbling and fat.
• Humanely-raised or not – I prefer to buy humanely-raised pork, as I appreciate the farming practices and I think it tastes better! I get it delivered to my door from here.

How To Season Pork Chops:

• Olive oil – Regular olive oil has a high smoke point, which is great for cast iron skillet pork chop recipes that require hot oil. Avocado oil works great, too. Some people use butter, but it has a low smoke point. If you want the flavor, you can add a tablespoon of butter to the pan toward the end of the cooking process.
• Pork chop seasoning – I like to make my own quick pork chop seasoning, which has just a handful of spices: garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried herbs (thyme and oregano), sea salt (or kosher salt), black pepper, and cayenne pepper. These are all common pantry ingredients and it’s the best! Alternatively, you can also simply season your pork chops with sea salt (1 teaspoon per pound of pork) and black pepper (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per pound).

VARIATION: Use other seasonings.

Although pork seasoning works perfectly with cast iron pork chops, you can give these chops a smokey flavor with blackened seasoning or a zesty flavor with Caribbean jerk seasoning.

How To Pan Sear Pork Chops

This section shows how to cook pork chops in a pan, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For instructions, see the full recipe card below.

1. Bring to room temperature. If you have time, remove the pork chops from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking, which will help them cook more evenly.
2. Make pork chop seasoning. Stir together the pork chop seasoning ingredients. (You can also make a batch of this ahead of time.)
3. Pat dry. Patting the pork chops with a paper towel before seasoning will help the seasonings stick better.
4. Season pork chops generously. Season both sides of the pork chop with the dry rub.

TIP: Use 1 tablespoon of seasoning per pound.

My four pork chops were 8 ounces each, so I used 2 tablespoons of seasoning total.

5. Sear pork chops. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet and add pork chops in a single layer to the hot pan. Sear until the first side is golden brown, then flip and continue pan searing until cooked through (see recommended internal temperature below).

TIP: Let them rest.

Transfer pork chops from pan right away so they don’t continue cooking, then cover with foil and let them rest for 5-10 minutes to let the juices settle before you cut into them.

How Long To Pan Fry Pork Chops?

Depending on their thickness, pan fried pork chops will take 2-6 minutes per side. However, how long to cook pork chops in a skillet will also vary depending on the pan you use and whether you are using boneless or bone-in pork chops.

With this recipe for perfect pan seared pork chops, here are the approximate cook times over medium high heat:

• 1/2-inch-thick boneless pork chops: 2-3 minutes per side
• 1-inch-thick boneless pork chops: 4-5 minutes per side
• 1/2-inch-thick bone-in pork chops: 2-4 minutes per side
• 1-inch-thick bone-in pork chops: 4-6 minutes per side

On average, cast iron skillet boneless pork chops will cook about 1 minute quicker than bone-in chops.

At What Temperature Are Skillet Pork Chops Done?

For perfect pork chops, use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. Pork chops are done when the internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 145 degrees F, but because the temperature rises as they rest, it’s best to remove then at 140 degrees F for the juiciest pork chops.

You can use either a probe thermometer like this (insert it after flipping), but for stovetop pork chops where I’m nearby during the cooking process anyway, I usually use this regular instant-read thermometer.

If you don’t have a thermometer, you can still use the time chart above as a guide.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Keep cast iron skillet pork chops in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Reheat: Reheat the pork chops in a skillet for best results, just until heated through so you don’t overcook them.
• Freeze: Freeze stove top pork chop recipes like this one in an airtight container for 2-3 months.

What To Serve With Pan Seared Pork Chops

Cast iron skillet pork chop recipes go with all kinds of side dishes! Try these to make a full meal:

• Vegetables – You can make roasted asparagus, zucchini fries, or roasted cauliflower in the oven while your cast iron pork chops are cooking on the stove. Alternatively, make it an entirely stovetop meal with green beans almondine or sauteed cabbage.
• Potatoes – Serve crispy roasted potatoes or (the fastest ever) air fryer baked potatoes for a hearty meal, or try mashed sweet potatoes or simple baked sweet potatoes for a bit more nutrition. Mashed cauliflower is great for a lighter option.
• Salads – Pan seared pork chops work with hearty salads like broccoli cauliflower salad or quinoa salad, as well as light options like tomato cucumber avocado salad or spring mix salad. You can also replace other proteins with sliced pork chops in cobb salad or chef salad.

More Pork Chop Recipes

• Baked Pork Chops
• Stuffed Pork Chops
• Air Fryer Pork Chops
• Quick Pork Chop Marinade
• Smothered Pork Chops – Make this if you prefer your chops with a sauce.

5 from 35 votes

Pan Seared Pork Chops (Cast Iron Skillet)

Learn how to cook pork chops in a cast iron skillet, juicy every time! This pan seared pork chops recipe is an easy 15-minute skillet dinner.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 6 minutes

Resting Time 5 minutes

Total: 11 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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• 2 tbsp Pork Chop Seasoning ▢
• 4 8-oz Pork chops (boneless or bone-in; preferably at room temperature) ▢
• 2 tbsp Olive oil ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Make the pork chop seasoning according to the instructions here.

2. Use a paper towel to pat the pork chops dry.

3. Season pork chops with pork chop seasoning on both sides, about 1/2 tablespoon per pork chop.

4. Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Add the pork chops in a single layer. Sear for 3-5 minutes per side, without moving except to flip, until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Use a probe thermometer for best results, but here is a guideline for pork chop baking times:

   * 1" thick boneless pork chops: 4-5 minutes per side

   * 1/2" thick boneless pork chops: 2-3 minutes per side

   * 1" thick bone-in pork chops: 4-6 minutes per side

   * 1/2" thick bone-in pork chops: 2-4 minutes per side

5. Transfer pork chops to a plate. Rest for 5 minutes before serving (internal temperature should rise to 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) during resting).

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 seared pork chop

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 489

Fat 31.1g

Protein 47.3g

Total Carbs 1.6g

Net Carbs 1g

Fiber 0.6g

Sugar 0.1g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keywords: how to cook pork chops in a pan, pan fried pork chops, pan seared pork chops, skillet pork chops

Calories: 489 kcal

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