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    Garlic Butter Pork Chops

    April 11, 2024

    Garlicky butter sauce elevates humble pork chops in our company-worthy, weeknight-friendly garlic butter pork chop recipe.

    garlic butter pork chops in a skillet with melted herb butter being spooned over the top
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    Easy Garlic Butter Pork Chops

    Simple and satisfying, this easy, buttery garlic pork chop dinner is the kind of recipe you’ve got memorized after making it once. Pop it in your weekly rotation, serve it to company — you name it, it’s going to be a hit. Fresh thyme and lots of garlic, salty butter, rich, tender pork and ready in 20 minutes; literally who could be mad about that? For another rich, saucy pork chop recipe, try our Pork Chops in Mushroom Cream Sauce.

    pork chops, Vegetable oil, butter, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper in prep bowls to make garlic butter pork chops

    Garlic Butter Pork Chops Ingredients

    • Bone-in pork chops

    • Vegetable oil

    • Salted butter

    • Thyme sprigs

    • Garlic

    • Salt & pepper

    4 raw bone-in pork chops on a baking sheet seasoned with salt and pepper
    2 bone-in pork chops pork chops seasoned with salt and pepper being cooked in a skillet with vegetable oil
    2 bone-in pork chops seasoned with salt and pepper being cooked in a skillet with vegetable oil
    butter, garlic and thyme in a skillet

    How To Make Garlic Butter Pork Chops

    1. Season and sear the pork chops. Sear the salt-and-peppered chops in a skillet until the internal temperature of the pork reads 135°F on an instant-read thermometer.

    2. Make the garlic butter sauce. Combine the butter, garlic, and thyme in the skillet. That’s the “sauce,” which really is just herby, garlicky butter. AKA the best kind of sauce.

    3. Finish the pork chops in that garlic butter! You’re looking for an internal temp of 145°F on an instant-read thermometer. Spoon the garlic butter over the chops as they finish. Yummmmmmm.

    4. Serve those beautiful, tender pork chops! They’d pair as easily with a simple green salad and loaf of bread as they would with a more elaborate meal. Crispy potatoes, roasted broccoli, would make great sides, or you could serve the pork chops (and any remaining garlic butter) over Classic Mashed Potatoes or even Polenta.

    garlic butter pork chops in a skillet with melted herb butter being spooned over the top

    How To Store + Tips

    • Sear the pork chops in batches so that you don’t crowd the pan. We’re going for a lovely browning with the first sear, and if you crowd the pan you’ll lose that.

    • Leftover pork chops can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but are best eaten fresh.

    garlic butter pork chops in a skillet seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and thyme
    garlic butter pork chops seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and thyme being sliced on a cutting board

    4 Truly Excellent Pork Chop Recipes

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    Garlic Butter Pork Chops Recipe

    Published April 11, 2024

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  5 min
    • Cook Time:  25 min
    • Calories:  396
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    Ingredients

    • 4 (½-inch) thick bone-in pork chops
    • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 6 tablespoons salted butter
    • 4 fresh thyme sprigs
    • 4 large garlic cloves, minced

    Method

    1. Pat the pork chops dry and season all over with the salt and pepper.

      4 raw bone-in pork chops on a baking sheet seasoned with salt and pepper

    2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once the oil is glistening, working in batches, add the pork chops and cook, undisturbed, for 4 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for another 4 minutes. Continue cooking this way, flipping the pork, until the internal temperature of the pork reads 135°F on an instant-read thermometer, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer the pork chops to a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining pork chops.

      2 bone-in pork chops seasoned with salt and pepper being cooked in a skillet with vegetable oil

    3. Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium low and add the butter, garlic, and thyme. Once the butter has melted, return the cooked pork chops to the pan. Cook, continuously spooning the garlic thyme butter over the pork chops, until the internal temperature of the pork reads 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, 1-2 minutes per side.

      garlic butter pork chops in a skillet with melted herb butter being spooned over the top

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 396
    • Protein 23 g
    • Carbohydrates 1 g
    • Total Fat 32 g
    • Dietary Fiber 0 g
    • Cholesterol 45 mg
    • Sodium 856 mg
    • Total Sugars 0 g

    Garlic Butter Pork Chops

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

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    • Ruth

      Is the cook time different for boneless pork chops?

      Yes, it wouldn't take as long to cook as bone-in.

    • Nichole

      I made this dish for my husband, I usually fry pork chops but I decided to do something different and try this recipe. He loved it and told me not to make his pork chops any other way from now on. Preparation was super easy and saved me some time. I will be keeping this recipe in my book.

      Wow, that is so great how much he loved them! Glad you both enjoyed, thanks Nichole!

    • Peter

      This was a hit, I increased the amount of butter and garlic and used dry thyme. I made pasta and put the butter sauce on the pasta. Major hit!

      Thanks Peter, so happy it was enjoyed!

    • Jenny

      5 STARS! Every bite was happily eaten.

      Thanks Jenny!