Fast and Easy Pork Chop Recipes for One
The BEST tender and juicy oven baked pork chop recipe - this perfectly seasoned, tender, and juicy pork chop is baked to perfection in just 15 minutes. Plus helpful tips for purchasing pork, freezing pork, and tips for cooking perfect pork chops.
Turn this baked boneless pork chop into a meal by serving it with a side of potatoes au gratin, creamy risotto, or a fresh avocado berry salad.
If you love pork recipes, you'll love our juicy pork tenderloin for one!
Why This Recipe Works
- The best pork chop recipe! I have a method of baking pork chops in the oven that has always delivered outstanding results. Pork chops have a reputation for being dry and sometimes tough to eat. If that's what you're thinking, I urge you to give them a chance again. The recipe I'm sharing delivers tender, juicy, perfectly cooked pork chops every single time.
- Cooks quickly: Seasoned and cooked very simply, the pork chop is baked and ready to be enjoyed in under 20 minutes!
- Recipe doubles well: I've scaled down my recipe and have created this wonderful single serving pork chop recipe that I'm sure you'll love. If you'd like to make more than one pork chop, double the ingredients and bake for the same amount of time as called for in the recipe.
- Healthy meal idea: Pork chops are low carb, gluten-free, and paleo too!
RELATED: Easy Slow Cooker Recipes For One
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Pork chop: I recommend using one boneless pork chop that is about ½-inch to ¾-inch thick. Any thinner and the pork will dry out too quickly.
- Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this pork chop recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains a more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It's my favorite type of olive oil to use but you may use a lighter olive oil instead.
- Seasonings: I use kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder for great flavor.
See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.
How To Bake One Pork Chop
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking sheet lined with foil.
- Rub olive oil over the pork chop.
- In a small bowl, mix together salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Sprinkle over both sides of pork chops.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the pork chop reaches an internal temperature of 145° F.
Pro Tip: Baked pork chops couldn't be easier to make but the trick is to make sure you don't overbake them. Baking in the oven for too long can lead to dry pork.
- Remove from the oven, cover, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Expert Tips
Be sure to follow these tips so that your pork chops are perfectly tender every time:
- Be sure to season the pork before cooking. Pork is lean and it is also bland. Seasoning with salt and other spices is essential for enhancing the texture and taste of the meat.
- Do not cook the pork straight from the refrigerator. Remove the pork from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before you are ready to cook it. This will help the pork to cook more evenly.
- Do not overcook the pork. This tip is definitely worth repeating. Overcooked pork is tough, dry, and not worth eating. Follow the cook times in this recipe for the best-tasting pork chop. The USDA states that pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 °F (62.8 °C).
- Let the pork rest. After you remove the pork from the oven, cover it and let it rest for 10 minutes or so. This gives you a juicier and more tender piece of meat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Buy Pork Chops, Especially If I'm Cooking For One?
When shopping for pork chops, you will often see a packages with 4 to 8 pork chops inside. This may seem like too much food to purchase if you're cooking for one. But many grocery stores have a butcher inside and often the butcher can divide a package of meat into a smaller portion to purchase. Don't be afraid to ask.
How Do I Freeze Pork?
Pork freezes well. If you purchase a large package of pork chops and want to freeze them, be sure to re-wrap the pork into convenient portions in either heavy-duty freezer zip-top bags or freezer paper. Label and date the package so you know when it was packed.
Fresh cuts of pork such as pork tenderloin, roast, and pork chops can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. Well wrapped ground pork can be safely kept for three months.
The best way to thaw frozen pork chops is in the refrigerator in its wrapping. For a one inch pork chop, allow 12-14 hours to fully thaw.
How Long Will Pork Stay Good In The Refrigerator?
If you want to refrigerate the pork, sealed pork can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or use by the sell-by date on the package.
How Long To Bake Pork Chops?
The secret to making juicy pork chops in the oven is to not overcook them. Since pork is a lean protein, it will dry out if you leave it in the oven for too long. We cook our pork chops in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 400°F.
Another tip is to cover and let the pork rest for 10 minutes after removing it from the oven. If you cut into it immediately, the juices from the pork spill out. By giving the meat a few minutes to rest, the juices will be reabsorbed, ensuring that each bite is as juicy as possible.
Serving Suggestions
Consider any one of these single serving or small batch side dishes. Any would go well with a pork chop.
- Rice Pilaf
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Black Eyed Peas
- Mashed Potatoes
- Pan Fried Okra
- Risotto
- Buttered Noodles
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this pork chop recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes.
- Olive oil: At One Dish Kitchen, we use olive oil in so many recipes. You might like to use it in: Saag Paneer, Pork Stir Fry, Stuffed Peppers, Shepherd's Pie
- Smoked paprika: Cheese Grits, Homemade Taco Seasoning, Cioppino, Chili
- Garlic powder: Hash Browns, Crustless Pizza Quiche, Steak Fajitas, Baked Shrimp
RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One
If you've tried this pork chop recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we'd love to see it!
- 1 boneless pork chop , ½-inch thick
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
-
Heat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking sheet lined with foil.
-
Rub olive oil over the pork chop.
-
In a small bowl, mix together salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Sprinkle over both sides of pork chops.
-
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
-
Remove from oven, cover and let rest for 10 minutes before eating.
Expert Tips
Be sure to follow these tips so that your pork chops are perfectly tender every time:
- Be sure to season the pork before cooking. Pork is lean and it is also bland. Seasoning with salt and other spices is essential for enhancing the texture and taste of the meat.
- Do not cook the pork straight from the refrigerator. Remove the pork from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before you are ready to cook it. This will help the pork to cook more evenly.
- Do not overcook the pork. This tip is definitely worth repeating. Overcooked pork is tough, dry, and not worth eating. Follow the cook times in this recipe for the best tasting pork chop. The USDA states that pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 °F (62.8 °C).
- Let the pork rest. After you remove the pork from the oven, cover it and let it rest for 10 minutes or so. This gives you a juicier and more tender piece of meat.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Baked Pork Chop For One
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 274 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 4g 25%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 646mg 28%
Potassium 499mg 14%
Protein 29g 58%
Vitamin A 245IU 5%
Iron 0.7mg 4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.
Reader Interactions
Source: https://onedishkitchen.com/baked-pork-chop-recipe/
0 Response to "Fast and Easy Pork Chop Recipes for One"
Post a Comment