Bone-In Oven Baked Pork Chops
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These tender bone-in oven baked pork chops have a great flavor and are very enjoyable!
Our family loves how quick and easy it is to make these Baked Pork Chops with just a few spices in less than 20 minutes.
Serve with mashed potatoes or consomme rice, and frozen vegetables for a perfect Sunday dinner or an easy meal that can be made any day of the week!
Easy Baked Bone In Pork Chops Recipe
Only a few simple steps then an easy meal with bone in pork chops is ready! My husband said these seared then baked pork chops are likely the best he’s ever eaten!
Properly cooked bone-in oven baked pork chops are so tender that they cut almost as easily as warm butter. We have done a lot of testing to share all of the tips you need to know.
The secret to keeping baked pork chops tender and juicy is using a digital meat thermometer! Check the internal temperature about seven minutes into baking time. Insert the meat thermometer horizontally into the pork chop. The remaining cooking time should be estimated based on this temperature reading.
After learning to make the best pork chops on the grill – our Farmhouse Marinated Pork Chops, I was excited to perfect baking them in the oven.
I’m convinced that more people would enjoy baked bone in pork chops if they tried this recipe and followed these cooking instructions! My husband said twice what an enjoyable meal this is and he’s not a man of many words, so anything worth repeating is serious!
Another way that we bake pork chops is in our Creamy Pork Chop Casserole with Swiss cheese, white wine and stuffing. There are so many delicious ways to enjoy pork chops!
How to Make Bone in Pork Chops in the Oven
- Season chops and set on the counter for 30 minutes to knock off the chill.
- Rub seasoning mixture onto both sides of the chops.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Sear meat in a very hot skillet for one minute on each side.
- Arrange pork chops on a baking sheet with a rim. Put in the preheated oven uncovered for 7 minutes.
- Check the temperature with a digital meat thermometer and flip.
- Bake for an additional 4 – 8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F
- Remove from oven and let rest for 3 minutes before slicing and serving.
How Long Does it Take to Bake Bone-In Pork Chops at 350?
Typical bone-in pork chops take 9 – 15 minutes to bake in my convection oven at 350ºF. We usually cook chops that are 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick.
Baking time for pork chops will vary based on thickness, so it’s very important to use a digital thermometer. Ovens heat differently and altitude can also affect baking time.
This baking time is based on putting a cool to room temperature pork chop that has been seared in the oven. Placing a cold chop in the oven will take longer to bake and may not be as tender because the protein fibers react differently to a larger temperature swing.
Is It Better To Bake Pork Chops at 350 or 400?
The best pork chops are quickly seared and then baked at 350F for a short time. Using a lower temperature keeps the pork juicy and delicious!
Baking at 400F decreases the time window for taking chops out of the oven before they over cook and dry out.
Should Chops Be Seared Before Baking?
Searing in the juices in an ultra hot skillet for one minute per side will help make baked bone-in pork chops so tender they will slice like butter.
Searing pork chops before baking is not an absolute requirement, but does make a noticeable improvement.
If chops are seared the baking time decreases because the chops start baking at a higher temperature. This means it will not take as long to reach an internal temperature of 145ºF.
In the picture is a test of baking raw chops compared to baking seared chops. Searing makes them just a bit more tender and enjoyable!
No oil is necessary for this step. Meat should be seasoned before searing.
Ingredients Needed
- Bone in Pork Chops – choose chops that are an equal thickness, we typically use bone in pork loin center cut chops
- Kosher salt
- Pepper – freshly ground black pepper is best
- Smoked paprika – regular paprika works great too
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Oregano
- Basil
What Temp Should Pork Chops Be Cooked To?
Bone-in oven baked pork chops should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145º F. Always use a digital meat thermometer to find the internal temperature for pork chops.
Tips For Using a Meat Thermometer:
- Make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone
- Make sure the thermometer is surrounded by meat on all side so it’s not touching the pan or the air
- Digital thermometers work MUCH better than instant-read thermometers that are cheaper and may not give an accurate reading
- Pork chops cooked to 145º F are tender, juicy and easy to chew
- Pork chops cooked to 145º F may have a BLUSH of pink in the center
Do You Cover Meat While Baking?
Nope. Pork chops do not need to be covered while baking. When a meat thermometer is used and the chops are only cooked to an internal temperature of 145º F baking time should be less than 20 minutes.
Sometimes covering a dish helps hold in moisture, but the real trick to holding moisture in pork chops is not to overcook them. In summary, just don’t bake them too long. I recall a lady shared that she bakes chops for an hour and doesn’t know why her family doesn’t like them. I wanted to respond, “Because if you cook meat to shoe leather it will taste like it and people don’t enjoy eating shoe leather!”
So be rational and don’t overcook the meat. Here in the 21st century, there are no worms or diseases or other crazy things in the meat. Follow basic food safety guidelines like washing your hands, storing meat in the refrigerator, etc and know that farmers all over the USA are working really hard to deliver safe meat to the grocery store. When you buy pork at the grocery store you are supporting families like mine!
Seasoning
In a small mixing bowl mix together salt, freshly ground pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and basil.
Stir seasoning up.
Use immediately or store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Step By Step Instructions
Allow pork chops to set out on the counter for about 30 minutes to allow the pork chops to warm up a bit.
The proteins in a piece of pork will remain more tender the less temperature change that is required during cooking.
Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer and spread half of the seasoning out over the chops.
Use fingers to rub into the meat.
Flip chops over and repeat.
Preheat oven to 350°F before beginning to sear chops.
Turn a non-stick skillet to high heat. Ensure skillet is as hot as possible before adding meat.
For the best oven baked pork chops sear them on each side for one minute.
Place seared chops on sheet pan and place in preheated oven.
Cook for 7 minutes.
Use tongs to flip. Return chops to the oven and bake for an additional 2 – 6 minutes until they are cooked to 145°F in the center.
Remove from the heat and let rest for a few minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Searing can be skipped to save time, but it makes them SO much more tender!
- Inserting the meat thermometer horizontally into the pork chop as shown in this video from the National Pork Board is a big key to success.
- Stay in the kitchen while meat is cooking to ensure that you can temperature check regularly and ensure they stay tender.
- Always use a digital meat thermometer for best results.
- Allow chops to rest for a few minutes after baking before slicing.
- Slice chops off the bone before serving to kids to make dinnertime easier.
- Ensure that the meat thermometer is inserted in the center of the chop and does not touch a bone. It doesn’t take long at all for chops to reach an internal temperature of 145ºF.
- Cooking time will decrease slightly for boneless pork chops.
Best Pork Chop Recipes
- Marinated Pork Chops
- Easy Pork Chops with Brown Sugar, Garlic & Rosemary
- Farmhouse Pork Chop & Stuffing Casserole
- Easy Caramel Apple Pork Chops
- Instant Pot Pork Chops with Sauerkraut, Apples and Bacon
What to Serve With Pork Chops:
- Traditional Cornbread Dressing
- Instant Pot Ranch Broccoli
- Ranch Glazed Carrots
- Sweet Potato Souffle
- Ultimate Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
- Loaded Twice Potato Casserole
- Cowboy Baked Beans
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Bone In Oven Baked Pork Chops
Author: JenniferIngredients
- 4 bone-in pork chops
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon basil
Instructions
- Allow pork chops to come to room temperature while following all food safety guidelines.
- Preheat oven to 350° F and mix spices together.
- Arrange pork chops on a single layer and season both sides. Rub seasoning into the meat.
- Sear pork chops in a very hot skillet for one minute on each side.
- Bake for 7 minutes and flip once. Check temperature with a digital meat thermometer.
- Bake for an additional 2 – 6 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145° F. Take out of oven and let rest for 3 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone
- Make sure the thermometer is surrounded by meat on all side so it’s not touching the pan or the air
- Digital thermometers work MUCH better than instant-read thermometers that are cheaper and may not give an accurate reading
- Pork chops cooked to 145º F are tender, juicy and easy to chew
- Searing is not required, but does make the meat more tender
Originally published on June 17, 2019 with pictures updated on February 10, 2023.
