Paleo Pork Chips Recipe for When You're Short on Time (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making tender pork chops? ›

While there are a number of ways to cook pork chops for dinner, baking is arguably the easiest path to perfection. The hands-off cooking method cooks pork chops gently and evenly without the need for extra fat, resulting in juicy, healthier pork chops that pair well with practically any side dish.

Cook them low and slow. Most times, when we cook pork, we cook it at high temps. Pork, and pork chops in particular, cook up pretty fast. However, pork only needs an internal temperature of 145 degrees.

Seitan. Seitan is a wheat-based protein that has a savory taste and chewy texture similar to seasoned chicken or pork.

To tenderize pork before cooking it, try breaking up the tough muscle by hitting it with a meat mallet evenly across the surface of the meat. Then, if you want your pork to be extra tender, you can marinate it in a tenderizing marinade made with acids, like citrus juices, vinegar, or wine.

Best Seasoning for Pork Chops

Thyme and sage add herby and floral notes complementing pork's flavor exceptionally well. There's also a combination of smoked paprika, pepper, and a little bit of cayenne pepper, which all give your pork chops a lovely, not overly spicy, kiss of heat.

Is it better to bake pork chops at 350 or 400? Unless a meat or vegetable is being covered for a “Low and Slow” approach, I like higher-temp cooking. 400 degrees is efficient at maintaining the sear on the outside while cooking the meat through for juicy results.

Butter, with its luxurious richness and distinctive nutty flavor, is a classic choice for frying pork chops, whether they are breaded or not. As the butter melts and sputters in the pan, it imparts a depth of flavor to the dish.

A brine is essentially just salt and water. It helps prevent moisture loss during cooking, and the salt also helps tenderize the meat from the inside out. If you want an extra juicy piece of pork, brine it before cooking. You can make an effective brine just with salt and water, but additional seasonings do help.

Beer also delivers a nice, subtle flavor to pork; use dark, nutty ones like porters and stouts to give the pork a boost of sweetness. Since the pork has plenty of time to marinate in the slow cooker, you can also build flavor by combining various sauces and liquids.

What cooking method is best for pork chops? ›

Bake your pork chops at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. If you want to add an extra step, sear your pork chops in a pan first and transfer to a baking sheet to cook for about 6-8 more minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.

Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking. When they're cooked for even a few minutes too long, whether it's in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, they're quick to dry out, and — you guessed it — become tough, chewy, and less than appealing.

Pork chops are an easy-to-cook lean red meat. They offer important nutrients like protein, selenium, zinc, and iron that support everyday body functions and can be helpful in losing weight. Because pork chops are considered red meat, you should be mindful of how frequently you eat them.

There's also no shame in going with the classics, like roasted fingerling potatoes, mac & cheese, or homemade Instant Pot applesauce. Generally speaking, you can never go wrong with potatoes as a side dish, and we love shaking things up with baked sweet potatoes and even fluffy potato rolls on occasion too.

Out of the three, chicken is the healthiest, because it is a lean protein source that doesn't contain saturated fat – the bad kind of fat that raises blood cholesterol. But the pork comes in at a fast second. But keep in mind that the cut of the meat and trimming away excess fat and skin makes all the difference.

Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking. When they're cooked for even a few minutes too long, whether it's in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, they're quick to dry out, and — you guessed it — become tough, chewy, and less than appealing.

The citrus and vinegar in the brine tenderize the pork, leaving you with a more succulent bite of the other white meat.