This Easy Pan Fried Pork Chops recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes and makes the most delicious and tender pork chops ever!
EASY PAN FRIED PORK CHOPS
I'm very fortunate to live in a state that's official meat is ham. Who doesn't love a good pork product? We like to eat pork pretty often (especially when I can get it on sale!). I love to make pork chops and this is hands down my favorite way to make them. It is so simple. Almost as simple as my CROCK POT PORK CHOPS AND GRAVY.
TIPS FOR MAKING SKILLET PORK CHOPS:
- Bone-in pork chops can be substituted for the boneless.
- Don't overcook the pork chops. Pork is a very lean meat and if it's cooked too long it can dry out. The optimal internal temperature is 145F degrees. If you want it more well done, you can cook it up to 160F degrees.
- The seasoning can easily be tailored to your taste. If you want a bit of spice, try adding a little bit of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Don't skip the step of drying the pork chops with a paper towel. This step helps the flour coating adhere better to the pork chops and ensures a crispy coating.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- boneless pork chops
- vegetable oil
- salted butter
- all-purpose flour
- corn starch
- lemon pepper seasoning
- cajun seasoning (like Tony Chachere's)
- salt and pepper
HOW TO MAKE PAN FRIED PORK CHOPS:
In a shallow bowl or dish, combine flour, corn starch, lemon pepper seasoning and cajun seasoning. Mix it all together until combined.
Get the oil heated in the skillet (over medium high heat). You need it nice and hot. With a paper towel, pat the pork chops until they are dry (it will help the flour stick better.)
Sprinkle chops lightly with a bit of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Don't be too heavy handed here because the lemon pepper and cajun seasoning also have salt and pepper in it as well.
Dredge the pork chops in the flour mixture (one at a time) and shake off excess flour. Just put them on a plate until you are ready to fry.
Once you got all the chops floured, add the two tablespoons of butter to the skillet and let it melt in the oil.
Add pork chops to the skillet. Don't overcrowd the pan. If your skillet is small, you may need to only cook 2 at a time. Adjust the heat to medium. My cast iron skillet does a good job of hanging onto heat and distributing it evenly. So make a judgement call, if they are cooking too fast just turn it down a bit.
Pork can dry out if you cook it too long so just monitor the progress and if you aren't sure about doneness, just poke them with a fork or knife and if the juices run clear then they are done. Serve these right away with your favorite sides.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
EASY PAN FRIED PORK CHOPS
Ingredients
- 4 boneless pork chops
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoon salted butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon cajun seasoning
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl or dish, combine flour, corn starch, lemon pepper seasoning and cajun seasoning. Mix it all together until combined.
- Pour oil in the skillet (over medium high heat). You need it nice and hot.
- With a paper towel, pat the pork chops until they are dry.
- Sprinkle lightly with a bit of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Don't be too heavy handed here because the lemon pepper and cajun seasoning also have salt and pepper in it as well.
- Dredge the pork chops in the flour mixture (one at a time) and shake off excess flour. Set them aside until ready to fry.
- Once all the pork chops are floured, add two tablespoons of butter to the skillet and let it melt in the oil.
- Add pork chops to the skillet. Don't overcrowd the pan. If your skillet is small, you may need to only cook 2 at a time.
- Adjust the heat to medium. Usually a cast iron skillet does a good job of hanging onto heat and distributing it evenly. So make a judgement call, if they are cooking too fast just turn it down a bit.
- Cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side. An internal temperature of the pork chops should be a minimum of 145F degrees for medium rare and a maximum temperature of 160F degrees for well done.
- Serve these right away with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Bone-in pork chops can be substituted for the boneless.
- Don't overcook the pork chops. Pork is a very lean meat and if it's cooked too long it can dry out. The optimal internal temperature is 145F degrees. If you want it more well done, you can cook it up to 160F degrees.
- The seasoning can easily be tailored to your taste. If you want a bit of spice, try adding a little bit of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Don't skip the step of drying the pork chops with a paper towel. This step helps the flour coating adhere better to the pork chops and ensures a crispy coating.
Nutrition
Originally published: March. 2011
Updated & republished: April 2021
Linda DORAN
Donna Gunsalus
Except for the seasoning (lemon pepper and Cajun seasoning) this sounds just like what my Mama taught me to cook. Still do and they are delicious.
Laura
I never would have thought to combine lemon pepper and Cajun seasoning, but this was fantastic. Excellent recipe for an "I’m just done day, during tax season!" Super fast and still tasted great. I added some microwave bag of butternut squash and greenbeans and was ready in 13 minutes. You can't even get through a drive thru line that fast and it absolutely tasted fantastic. Thanks for the great recipe, my husband loved it!
Mark Carpenter
Making these as we speak and ive got to say it smells amazing !!!!!
cajunlicious
I am so glad I came across your blog. I love pork chops, I grew up eating them smothered, but this looks so good.
Polish Mama on the Prairie
Yumm! Found you through WhipperBerry.
We used to go camping by Cumberland Gap, so I know what you mean by that pork. I'm also Polish and we love us some pig! Delicious!
Cindi
THese sound wonderful! I found you through the gooseberry patch link party and I am so glad I did! You have some wonderful recipes here! 🙂 I am always looking for something new to try for my family- these pork chops will be next on my menu. I don't know why I never thought to use lemon pepper on my pork chops before! 🙂 Thank you for posting your link!
The Mom Chef
Now you have me craving pork chops. Being in North Carolina, I live in pork country too and am so very glad for that. I love the way you've cooked this. It lets the pork shine through. That's always a good thing.
Becky
These pork chops look the kind my Grandma used to make, nothing better.
Sometimes simpler is better
Sally Darling
This has my hubbys name written all over it! Nothing better than pan fried pork chops! Ohhhh yes. I think this is a MUST for this Sunday! Thanks for the great recipe!
Candace
This is "hands down" my favorite way to eat pork chops! I always leave here so hungry, Brandie. Those look delicious!
MrsJenB
Have I told you lately how much I love your recipes??
Leah
These look so good! Now I want a pork chop for breakfast!
Lindsay
We don't eat a lot of pork but this looks delicious!
Ang
So simple Brandie, yet you know it's amazing too by the looks of it. My friend Amy and I (the canning wife) were just chatting over lunch the other day about your slow cooker pork chops. She said they were amazing! Thought you should know, have a great night.
Anonymous
My mama would absolutely love this! She just loves pork chops. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your recipe, it is soooo good.
Lizzy
Oh, yum, Brandie!!! We've only given up meat on Fridays...so pork is just fine the other 6 days of the week 🙂 These chops look fabulous!!!
scratch-made wife
We ate a lot of grilled pork chops when I was growing up; strangely enough, the husband ate a lot of pork loin with his parents. This could be why I can't remember the last time we ate pork in *our* house, but your recipe looks delish. And pat the pork with a paper towel to help the flour stick? What a novel idea - that never crossed my mind!
Sandra
Well this is kind of pork chops that my kids loveeee(and me too shh)
I can almost smell it..ah I am drooling now:))
Holly
Bean... Oh I mean Bran! lol These chops sound grrr-eat!! Great minds think alike girlie! I am posting some pork chops next week : )
Kristen
These are great chops. I love Slap Ya Mama. I have my brother in Houston bring it to me!
Natalie
I got a new cast iron pan for Christmas and I've been needing some new recipes for it. I'll be sure to give this a try. I'd rather have pork over chicken any day.
Brooks Walker
It's always a pleasure to visit you Brandie. How lucky you are to be so proxomate to "piggy central" and these pork chops are a fine illustration of your country cooking. Good going, girl!
Carol
We live in the Carolinas and we love our pork too. Your pork chops are wonderful!!
Carolyn
Okay, slap ya mama is a hilarious name! Love it. The pork chops look great and easy to throw together, which is always good for this mama of three!
Elisabeth
Brandie-More and more people tend to shy away from pork meat, but as for me and my family, we love it, any way you fix it. A nice easy, and yummy pork chops the way you fixed it is always a welcome, especially made in the cast iron skillet.
I always used to have lemon pepper on hand, but lately I've been using fresh grated lemon rind, and freshly grated pepper, but the lemon-pepper seasoning has more of an "intense" flavor. Great comforting and delicious every day "no fuss" meal!
Cheryl
This is the smell of my mother's house. There was nothing better than coming home to the aroma of pork chops frying. Thanks for the memories!
The Country Cook
Hi Kristin K- I grew up in Norfolk! What a small world!
The Cumberland Gap provision company is based out of Kentucky. According to their website though, they sell their pork all around the eastern portion of the U.S.
It is good stuff if you can get your hands on it 🙂
Molly
These are delicious and so easy! Those dinners are the best- because you can enjoy them without being super tired from cooking! I love pork especially like the other peeps are saying, with apples. yum!
Patty
When I see pork chops the first thing I think of is sitting back around my mama's table and having homemade applesauce to go with it. These pork chops sound perfect and make me want to recreate it "mama" style. So delicious and now my stomach is growling something fierce over this one! Yummy!
ravienomnoms
Oh wow, that looks delicious!