Hearty, tasty, and easy to prepare, baked breaded pork chops are the ideal main course to delight hungry grown-ups and picky children. A dish that comes from the peasant tradition, it is one of those basic recipes inspired from the soul. The soft yet crispy breaded pork chops is a Sunday meal that sets the perfect mood for a family gathering. Paired with a glass of red dry wine takes the taste to another level.
Baked breaded pork chops, is a recipe relatively easy to make. This particular method of coating the chops in bread crumbs and eggs creates a deliciously crispy and appetizing golden crust around the meat, retaining all its flavor inside it and making this recipe.Â
Compared to the pan-fried version, this recipe of baked braised pork chops is decidedly more delicate thanks to the preliminary frying. The pre-frying technique serves to keep the meat soft by sealing the juices and flavors inside the pork cuts. For this recipe, it is required to use a pan that is also suitable for baking in the oven.Â
Ingredients for the baked in the oven breaded pork chops
As the title suggests, you need pork chops, eggs, and breadcrumbs to coat them in it. However, let’s take it to step by step in order to get the best results. Here is the list of what it takes to cook appetizing and crispy chops:
- Pork chops. You will need at least one chop to feed one person. When raw, they may look big and you might think it is a portion for two. However, the meat will shrink when cooked. Also, there’s the bone that makes the steak visually bigger. Therefore, my advice is to go by the rule – one chop for one person.
- Seasoning, by that I mean salt, pepper, sweet or spicy paprika, and granulated garlic. These basic spices are enough to contour the meat’s already rich taste.
- Eggs, flour, and breadcrumbs to coat the steak in and fry it. These ingredients are necessary in order to keep all the flavors of the meat inside while making it crispy and crunchy on the outside.
- Frying oil. I like frying meat in sunflower oil because it doesn’t change the original taste, the thing that may happen when using olive oil.Â
- Rosemary and garlic for additional flavor.
How to tenderize pork chops?
Pork meat is one of the most versatile meats out there. It has a delicate flavor that goes well with acidic and light ingredients, but also with fuller and fuller sauces, with strong condiments and side dishes. Unlike chicken which is very tender and is cooked in short times and beef which can be cooked rare or medium, pork is considerably more fibrous and needs to be well cooked. So, when you prepare a pork-based dish, it is always a good idea to use one of the available techniques to make it tender so as to properly cook it, not raw nor overcooked.
Therefore, a good idea is to use a meat tenderizer to cook the most delicious breaded pork chops. Pork cuts are harder when the muscle fibers are long and intact. Begin to soften the cuts before seasoning or cooking, thus, break the fibers with a meat tenderizer. If you don’t have these tools, don’t despair. You can use a normal fork to get a similar result. Poke, prick, or crush the meat to make it softer.
How to prepare baked breaded pork chops
In short, it is not a light dish. However, it is certainly a preparation that guarantees indecently good taste and easy accomplishment. To obtain a perfect result, it is necessary to pay particular attention to cooking in every detail.Â
First, wash the chops and pan dry them using a paper towel. Use a tenderizer to lightly soften the meat. Don’t go too strong.
Season the meat with salt, pepper, paprika, and granulated garlic.
Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Pour one cup of regular flour in a plain plate. Do the same with a cup of breadcrumbs.Â
Pat one chop in the flour, then dip it in the egg wash, then coat it in the breadcrumbs. Repeat the steps with all the chops you have. Put them all on a plate, and set aside.
Turn on the stove and use a pan/skillet suitable for cooking in the oven as well. It’s the right time to also preheat the oven at 350 degrees. It shall get well heated. Now add 3-4 tablespoons of frying oil to the skillet, when hot, add the chops. Fry on medium heat on each side for about 5 minutes or until golden. When flipping sides, remember to crush some garlic cloves and add them to the meat. Also, you may consider adding some rosemary sticks to the pan and let it release its flavors.
Take the frying skillet from the oven and put it directly into the oven. Bake the crispy breaded pork chops for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. That should be enough for the heat to evenly penetrate the pork chops and properly cook it.Â
How do you know the breaded pork chops are done?
The easiest way to understand when breaded pork chops are done, or any other meat is properly cooked, is to use a thermometer. The price for such a kitchen tool is somewhere around $15. It’s a good investment that lasts forever but comes handy each time when needed. Moreover, it is a great help especially for those who are new to the kitchen.Â
When the braised pork chops reach 145°F, it’s when they’re perfectly cooked. That’s what we’re looking for.
How to serve the chops?
The crispy yet tender breaded pork chops are a perfect pair to an incredible number of side dishes such as:
Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon and Garlic
Roasted Garlic Potatoes with Veggies
Perfectly Tender Scalloped Potatoes
Crunchy & Healthy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
Humble & Delish Smashed Potatoes
Creamy Tomato Salad
Either your choices, make sure you gather the entire family around the table because the baked breaded pork chops are comfort and home-like dish. Don’t miss out on the pork steak recipe as well as the delish pork ribs recipe to discover your preferred pork meat. Enjoy every bite of it!
Equipment
- meat tenderizer
- ovenproof skillet
Ingredients
- 4 medium pork chops loin
- 2 whole eggs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3-4 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 stick rosemary optional
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the chops
- Tenderize the meat using a meat tenderizer. Be gentle, do not make it thinner than your pinky finger
- Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Pour the four and the breadcrumbs in 2 separate plates
- Pat one chop in the flour, then dip it in the egg wash then coat it in the breadcrumbs
- Repeat the steps with all the chops you have. Put on a plate and set aside
- Preheat oven at 350 degrees
- Heat 3-4 tablespoons of frying oil over medium heat in an ovenproof skillet
- Fry the breaded chops on each side for 5 minutes or until golden
- Optionally, add some garlic cloves and rosemary
- Transfer skillet to the oven for 15 minutes or until properly cooked
- Serve in pair with any preferred side dish
