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For many of us, pork chops bring back memories of childhood. They were an easy meal for parents to cook and have ready by six o'clock. Browned quickly in a pan with apples and onions, sautéed with cabbage, or smothered in gravy—we're happy to relive these warm memories of hearty, fulfilling dinners.
If you grew up eating dry, basic pork chops, you might not have such warm memories. And even if the pork chops of your childhood were tasty, it's time to open up your spice rack, reconsider what's in your vegetable crisper drawer, and try some new things. Pork is subtle enough to work with a wide variety of ingredients, but flavorful enough to hold its own in a medley of competing tastes. Plus, it's often cost-effective compared to pricier beef cuts—and a little more exciting than your standard weeknight chicken dinners. Luckily, we have the pork chop dinner ideas you need to enliven both boneless and bone-in cuts, complementing the savory flavors of the meat with just the right tang and spice.
Vinegared Pork Chop Milanese With Radish Salad
If you enjoy a zingy zip with your pork, opt for this pork chop Milanese, complete with a spicy radish salad on top. The panko-breaded pork soaks up a shallot and white vinegar sauce nicely, and the dill in the salad adds aromatic fragrance and flavor.
Pork Agrodolce With Fennel and White Beans
Grilled bone-in-pork chops find next-level flavor thanks to agrodolce, a simple yet delicious Italian sweet-and-sour sauce made of vinegar and honey. Grilled fennel and cannellini beans finish off this summery repast.
Ginger-Pork Salad
This modern take on pork chops adds just-cooked broccoli, red cabbage, and brown rice to the plate, tossing in cool cucumbers and fresh, tangy scallions. The result is a warm dinner salad that's sure to please.
Parmesan Pork With Polenta and Asparagus
Lemon and Parmesan are a magical mixture in this breaded pork chop dish. Serve with crispy slices of polenta, tender spears of asparagus, and lemon wedges for the citrus lovers.
Spicy Pork Salad With Napa Cabbage, Lime, and Peanuts
Thinly-sliced pork tops this spicy dish. The recipe offers a clever contrast: You char half the cabbage, leaving the other half raw and crunchy. Everything is tossed with cucumber and a piquant lime and fish sauce dressing.
Slow-Cooker Pork Chop
Don't give up on your slow-cooker: It's one of the best ways to get a tender bite when it comes to pork chops. Brown thick-cut bacon and pork shoulder chops beforehand, then add chicken broth to the slow cooker and let is all simmer. Serve with applesauce and sour cream, and garnish with fresh herbs.
Broiled Pork Chops With Yellow-Pepper Puttanesca
This one-sheet-pan dinner is a relaxed option for a fun family dinner. Your broiler is the convenient way to cook tomatoes and bell peppers for this lighter take on puttanesca. Capers and olives are the briny relish that ties the pork and peppers together.
Honey-Soy Grilled Pork Chops With Crunchy Bok Choy
This grilled pork chop dinner idea is summery and easy. Glaze your pork chops with honey, soy sauce, and ginger and grill them; then drizzle the bok choy with sesame oil and grill it. White rice with a touch of rice vinegar makes it a complete meal.
Broiled Spicy Pork and Pineapple
Some like it hot and sweet. Cayenne and pineapple, ginger and lime—this broiled pork will transport you to a tropical vacation, mai tai in hand. Thai chiles are a garnish that's for serious spice lovers only.
Grilled Pork Chops With Peach Relish and Herb Rice
Pork and peaches are a classic combo, but sometimes the peach accompaniment can run too sweet. This recipe is all about balance; you'll whip up a quick peach relish with just a hint of spice, courtesy of a pinch of red pepper flakes, and some thinly sliced red onions.
Orange-and-Rosemary-Brined Pork Chops With Applesauce
The forethought is worth the wait for this aromatic, zesty herbal entrée, which combines bay leaves, orange zest, peppercorns, and rosemary. If brining the meat sounds like too much, just let those aromatics permeate your pork chops in the fridge for a shorter time, then brown in a cast-iron skillet which is super fast. Serve with homemade apple sauce—pink applesauce if you can.
Smothered Pork Chops With Cornbread
Southern cuisine provides rich inspiration for cooking with pork as this recipe—complete with a smothering sauce made with broth and flour and a side pairing of delicious cornbread—shows. Kale adds a bright, vegetal note that's easier to cook down than collard greens.
Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops With Grilled Zucchini
Season your chops in the morning with coriander, brown sugar, cumin, salt, and pepper, then marinate and grill at dinner time. Feast on these succulent chops with grilled zucchini with feta and lime zest.
Pork Chops With Roasted Peppers
Charring peppers maximizes their sweet flavor, and when they accompany cast-iron chops with garlic and capers, they make a pleasing dinner—especially when you serve them over cheesy polenta.
Pork Chops With Tangy Citrus Sauce
Take a cue from Yucatecans, who use citrus juices to marinate pork, and create a sauce for your chops with freshly-squeezed orange juice and zest. Eat the meat with rice—and if there are any leftovers, make a deliciously crusty sandwich the next day.
Seared and Roasted Pork Chops With Lemon
This pork chop dinner idea follows the usual method for cooking steak; sear your pork, then let the oven's even heat finish the job. Season with a simple lemon-flavored squeeze. That's all the juicy meat needs.
Sweet-and-Spicy Pork Chops
Pre-heat your sheet pan in the oven for a smooth cooking flow when you make this pork chop dinner. Roast the broccoli first and then the pork flavored with apricot jam and sambal oelek. Serve your sweet-and-spicy chops with cucumber cilantro salad.
Pork Chops with Pineapple-Cilantro Rice
One skillet is all you need for cooking both pork and pineapple-cilantro rice in this pork chop dinner, leaving less mess for you to clean up. Make your rice like a risotto, punching its flavor up with pineapple, ginger, cilantro, cabbage, and sambal oelek, and serve pork on top of a bed of rice.
Braised Pork Chops With Cabbage
It doesn't need to be St. Patrick's Day for you to relish a pork chop and cabbage dish. This recipe calls for you to upgrade the cabbage with caraway seeds and thyme, then simmer it in stock and apple cider until it softens into the perfect bed for well-seasoned pork chops.
Glazed Pork Chops and Blistered Shishitos
If you've only had blistered shishito peppers at a restaurant, get out the grill rack and cook them at home. Brushing the pork chops with a mixture of hoisin sauce and sambal oelek to pump up the flavor. Finish your feast with cabbage, sesame-ginger sauce, and steamed rice.
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