This Smothered Pork Chops recipe is simple but delivers the most tender, juicy pork chops smothered in a rich, creamy onion gravy. What I love most is how it all cooks in one pan, making clean-up easy while still serving up a comforting, flavorful dish.
These pork chops are pan-fried to perfection and then covered in a creamy, flavorful gravy. It’s the kind of dish that’s easy to cook, yet so cozy and satisfying. If you ask me, there’s nothing better than a juicy, pan-fried pork chop with creamy gravy on top!
The pork stays so moist because it’s first pan-fried to lock in the juices, then simmered in a rich gravy that makes the chops extra tender. And bonus, it all comes together in one pan, which I love for the convenience and ease.
This recipe is a true comfort food classic, making it perfect for any occasion. Whether it's a busy weeknight or a special meal, these Smothered Pork Chops will have your family coming back for seconds. Plus, if you're worried about tough pork chops, don’t be, this recipe is a game changer. With just a few simple tips, you'll achieve tender, juicy pork chops every time!
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⭐Why You'll Love This Smothered Pork Chops
- Simple Yet Delicious: It's super easy to make but tastes like a special meal, so it’s perfect for a cozy dinner or when you want to impress.
- Rich, Creamy Gravy: The gravy is smooth and creamy with just the right amount of flavor from the onions, garlic, and a little heat from the chili flakes.
- Great for Family or Guests: It’s a great meal to serve to family or guests, it feels like a treat, but it’s not a hassle to make!
🧾Smothered Pork Chops Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Smothered Pork Chops recipe:
For the Pork Chops:
- Boneless Pork Chops: I go with boneless because they cook quickly and stay tender. It makes the meal easy and hassle-free, without dealing with bones.
- Garlic Powder & Onion Powder: These are my secret weapons for adding a warm, savory flavor to the pork. They’re simple but pack a punch, making the pork taste amazing without any extra effort.
- Paprika & Cayenne: I love the smokiness of paprika and the kick of cayenne. It adds just the right amount of warmth, without making it too spicy, and it really brings the flavors to life.
- Salt & Black Pepper: These two are essential for bringing everything together. Salt helps balance out all the flavors, while black pepper adds a little sharpness to round it all out.
- All-Purpose Flour: I use flour to coat the pork chops, giving them that golden, crispy crust. It also helps thicken the gravy, so it’s nice and creamy.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I sear the pork chops in olive oil for that rich flavor and to help them get perfectly crispy and golden. It makes such a difference in the texture!
For the Gravy:
- Unsalted Butter: I love adding butter to the gravy. It makes everything smooth and rich, and it helps cook the onions and garlic to perfection.
- Onion: Onions bring so much flavor to the gravy. I caramelize them slowly so they become sweet and soft, adding a deep richness to the sauce.
- Garlic Cloves: Garlic is a must because it gives the gravy a fragrant, savory kick that perfectly complements the pork while also adding a wonderful depth of flavor.
- Chili Flakes: I use just a little bit of chili flakes for a touch of heat. It balances out the creamy gravy and adds a little zing without being overwhelming.
- All-Purpose Flour: This thickens the gravy to a perfect, velvety consistency, so it’s rich and smooth, exactly what you want for smothering the pork chops.
- Chicken Broth: I add chicken broth for that savory depth it brings to the gravy. It’s the perfect base that makes the sauce flavorful and satisfying.
- Cream: Cream makes the gravy extra rich and smooth. It gives it that luxurious texture that coats the pork chops so beautifully.
- Parsley: I always finish with fresh parsley. It adds a pop of color and a fresh flavor that cuts through the richness of the gravy, making everything feel balanced.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Smothered Pork Chops
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Pat the pork chops dry, place them in a bowl, and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne. Rub the spices evenly to coat.
2. Lightly dust the pork chops with flour, then shake off the extra.
3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the pork chops for 3-4 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.
4. Lower the heat to medium, add butter, and cook the chopped onion for 6-7 minutes until soft and lightly caramelized. Stir in the garlic and chili flakes, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Sprinkle in the flour, stir, and cook for 2 minutes to remove the raw taste.
6. Add the chicken broth, whisk, and scrape up any browned bits. Let it simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
7. Stir in the cream and let it gently simmer.
8. Put the pork chops back in the skillet, coat them in the sauce, and simmer for 4-5 minutes until fully cooked and the gravy thickens.
🍽 What to Serve with Smothered Pork Chops
I love pairing Smothered Pork Chops with garlic bread or ciabatta to soak up the creamy gravy. Crispy potato wedges add a nice crunch, while a fresh tomato or pasta salad lightens things up. To finish, a classic lemon posset or light lemon mousse is the perfect sweet touch to end the meal.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Let the Pork Chops Rest Before Cooking: I always let the pork chops sit out for 10-15 minutes before cooking. It helps them cook more evenly and keeps them juicy, which makes a big difference in the final dish.
Slowly Caramelize the Onions: I take my time with the onions. Cooking them slowly until they're soft and golden brings out their sweetness and makes the gravy so much richer in flavor.
Scrape the Pan for Flavor: After searing the pork chops, I always scrape up the brown bits from the pan when adding the broth. Those little bits are packed with flavor, and they help make the gravy taste amazing.
Use Full-Fat Cream for Richness: I prefer to use full-fat cream in the gravy. It makes it super creamy and gives the sauce a rich, velvety texture that coats the pork chops perfectly.
Storage: I like to store any leftover smothered pork chops in an airtight container in the fridge, and they stay good for about 3 days.
🥩More Pork Recipes to Try!
If you love cooking with pork, try these recipes for inspiration:
- Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Pork Tenderloin Recipe
- Juicy Skillet Pork Chops
- Pork Stroganoff
- Braised Pork Cheeks in Wine Sauce
- Baked Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Thin Pork Chops
🍛More Dinner Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dinner recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Smothered Pork Chops
Ingredients
For Pork Chops:
- 4 Boneless Pork Chops
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 40 g All-Purpose Flour
- 3 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For Gravy:
- 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- 1 Onion
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- ¼ teaspoon Chili Flakes
- 2 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
- 250 ml Chicken Broth
- 120 ml Cream
- Parsley
Instructions
- Pat the pork chops dry and place them in a bowl. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne. Rub the spices evenly over the pork to coat well.
- Lightly coat the pork chops in flour, shaking off any excess.
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the butter. Add the chopped onion and cook for 6-7 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized.
- Stir in the minced garlic and chili flakes, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Sprinkle in the flour and stir well, cooking for 2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Pour in the chicken broth and whisk, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let the mixture simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in the cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Return the pork chops to the skillet, coating them in the sauce. Simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until the pork is fully cooked and the gravy has thickened.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
I can’t wait to try this smothered pork chops recipe! It looks so rich and comforting, and I love that it all comes together in one pan. Definitely making this for dinner soon!