4.9 from 234 votes
How to Cook Thin Pork Chops Recipe
Wondering how to cook thin pork chops so they're caramelized on the outside but still tender and juicy? We've got the secrets! This recipe seasons the pork chops with a spice blend made from common kitchen staples, then finishes it off with a luscious honey garlic butter!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
16 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 194 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
North American
Ingredients
- 4 thin pork chops - 3 ounces each see notes
- ½ teaspoon EACH: sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and sugar
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Honey Garlic Butter
- 1 tablespoon butter softened
- 1 teaspoon finely minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 small garlic clove very finely minced
Instructions
- Turn your cooking element to medium-high and let it heat up while you get your pork chops ready. (If you have a gas or induction cooktop, wait until you're ready to put the pan on the element before turning it on.) In a small bowl, mix the honey garlic butter ingredients until they are well combined.
- Mix the spices together in a small bowl.
- Dry the thin pork chops with paper towels and then sprinkle the spices evenly over both sides.
- Drizzle the oil over the top of the pork chops and use your fingers to spread it around. Place the pork chops, oiled side down, into a cold frying pan - cast iron works great.
- Place the frying pan onto the hot element and wait until you hear them start to sizzle. Once they do, press them gently into the pan. Cook the pork chops without moving them for 4-5 minutes, until they look nearly cooked. They will be opaque all the way up the sides and just a bit red on top.
- Flip the nearly cooked pork chops over and finish cooking for 1 minute on the other side. They are done when they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let the pork chops rest for 5 minutes and then serve them with a dab of the honey garlic butter on top.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You'll find thin pork chops in your grocery store that are between ½-inch to 1-inch thick. If you can't find thin pork chops, you can buy thicker pork chops (usually 1 ½ inches) and cut them in half. The easiest way to do this is to partially freeze them before you cut them.
- In recipe testing, we found rib chops stayed the juiciest. Look for thin pork chops that have some marbling in them as this will help prevent them from drying out.
- rib chops stayed the juiciest. Look for thin pork chops that have some marbling in them as this will help prevent them from drying out.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1 pork chop
Calories
194kcal
(10%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
18g
(36%)
Fat
12g
(18%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
0.2g
Cholesterol
65mg
(22%)
Sodium
354mg
(15%)
Potassium
322mg
(9%)
Fiber
0.02g
(0%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
93IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
0.3mg
(0%)
Calcium
8mg
(1%)
Iron
0.5mg
(3%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 194
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 pork chop | |
| Calories | 194kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 354mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 322mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 0.02g | 0% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 93IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 8mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.5mg | 3% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.