The Secret to the Best Pork Chops? Your Trusty Cast Iron Pan

These simple pork chops are cooked to perfection in a cast iron pan. Make sure you get good quality pork chops - otherwise you only need a handful of ingredients to create restaurant-quality pork chops.

a cast iron cooked pork chop served over mashed potatoes.
Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Stand Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
4

“This is a great simple recipe when you want to impress your loved ones,” recipe developer and culinary specialist Juliana Hale says of these cast iron pork chops.

Cast Iron Pork Chops Ingredients

This delicious cast iron pork chop recipe comes together with relatively few ingredients: 

  • Pork chops: Start with four bone-in pork chops. 
  • Seasonings: Season the pork chops with salt, pepper, fresh rosemary, and garlic. 
  • Oil: Cook the chops in vegetable oil. 
  • Butter: Melted butter cooked with garlic is a rich and flavorful finishing touch. 

How to Make Cast Iron Pork Chops

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below – but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade cast iron pork chops: 

  1. Season the pork chops. 
  2. Add oil to the cast iron skillet and cook each pork chop for two minutes on both sides.
  3. Melt butter and garlic in the skillet and place rosemary sprigs on top of each top. 
  4. Spoon the garlicky butter over the chops occasionally while cooking. 
  5. Cook until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center reads 140 degrees F. 

Recipe Tip

You’ll need to adjust the cook time depending on the thickness of your bone-in chops: 

  • For 1 1/2-inch bone-in chops, total cooking time is 11 to 13 minutes.
  • For 3/4-inch to 1-inch bone-in chops, total cooking time is 8 to 10 minutes.
  • For 1/2-inch bone-in chops, total cooking time is 4 to 8 minutes.

Test Kitchen Tips

This recipe was developed in our test kitchen. Check out some tips and tricks from culinary experts that might make the cooking process easier: 

  • The temperature of the meat will continue to rise upon standing. We have found that cooking to 140 degrees F with a 5 minute standing time achieves moist and juicy pork chops.
  • For boneless pork chops, decrease cooking time by about 1 minute.

What to Serve With Cast Iron Pork Chops

For delicious serving inspiration, explore our collection of 15 Best Side Dishes for Pork Chops. Here are a few of the mouthwatering recipes you’ll find: 

How to Store Cast Iron Pork Chops

Store cooked pork chops in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to three days. 

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

  • 4 (3/4 to 1-inch thick) bone-in pork chops (6 to 8 ounces each)

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus chopped fresh rosemary for garnish

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Take chops out of the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.

    all ingredients to make cast iron pork chops gathered on a kitchen counter.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. If there is a fat cap on the sides of the chops, make a few vertical slits through them, so the chops will not curl as they cook.

    fat cap of each pork chop scored in a crosshatch pattern.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Blot chops dry with paper towels, and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

    seasoned pork chops on a baking sheet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Heat a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add oil. Add chops and cook 2 minutes. Turn and cook 2 minutes more.

    pork chops seared until golden-brown in a cast iron skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Add butter and garlic to the skillet.

    aromatics added to cast iron skillet with browned pork chops.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Place rosemary sprigs atop each chop. Tilt skillet to allow melted butter and oil to pool on one side.

    rosemary added to cast iron skillet with pork chops.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Spoon butter and garlic mixture over chops occasionally while cooking 2 minutes. Remove rosemary, turn chops, replace rosemary and cook, basting chops occasionally, cooking 2 to 3 minutes more or until chops are 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) in the center when tested with an instant-read thermometer.

    basting chops with herbed oil in a cast iron skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Remove chops from skillet and place on a cutting board or serving platter.

    pork chops removed from cast iron resting in a baking dish.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Tent with foil and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Temperature will rise to 145 degrees F (62 degrees C) upon standing.

    pork chops in baking dish covered with foil.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  10. Garnish with chopped rosemary.

    pork chops removed from cast iron resting in a baking dish.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

504 Calories
32g Fat
1g Carbs
51g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 504
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 9g 47%
Cholesterol 174mg 58%
Sodium 290mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 51g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 55mg 4%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 697mg 15%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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