One of the few meals we can agree on as a family is pork chops. My husband devours them. Our teenage son always asks for seconds. Even our picky nine-year-old cleans her plate. Oh, and full disclosure– the vegetarian sister-in-law looks at them longingly and says they smell delicious.
As much as pork chops are a dinner win for us, sometimes my tried-and-true pork chop recipe gets a bit…stale. I try to spice things up as much as possible in my kitchen, so I went searching for ways to make my pork chops pop. Thanks to inspiration from The Food Network and AllRecipes, I’ve found some new twists on the beloved classic.
Here are 9 of the newest tricks in my repertoire:
1. Sauted Boneless Pork Chops
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I felt on top of my culinary game when I realized that The Food Network’s recipe very closely mirrored my own. This makes for the perfect ‘basic’ pork chop recipe to store in your arsenal. However, they did offer one tip that never even crossed my mind: serving with uncooked relish. I can taste the juxtaposition of those flavors in my mind already. Time to up my side item game.
2. Creamy Herbed Pork Chops
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“If this isn’t comfort food, I don’t know what is” was the opening line on this recipe. Sold! Pork chops in and of themselves are comfort food, yet this rich, creamy gravy feels just like one of Grandma’s homestyle creations. Butter, milk, and beef bouillon form the foundation of the gravy. It’s so good you’ll want to top everything with it. Consider drizzling the excess over a side dish of mashed potatoes.
3. Honey Mustard Pork Chops
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For the youngsters who aren’t automatically sold on pork chops, this is a surefire way to get them to the table. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a child that isn’t sold on honey mustard, so whip up some sauce and slather liberally.
4. Fennel-Rubbed Pork Chops with Apple, Kale, and Sweet Potato
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Indulge in this gourmet recipe designed to impress the discerning tastes of adults. If you’re looking to unwind, enjoy the catharsis of pounding fennel with a rolling pin. Something about this combination of ingredients just screams ‘sophisticated’ to me. I feel like a chef as opposed to a woman cooking dinner.
5. Easy Baked BBQ Pork Chops
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Are you looking for an alternative to BBQ ribs and chicken? Try using a tangy BBQ sauce with pork chops. You won’t regret it. As opposed to the traditional BBQ sides, consider serving these with long grain rice, turmeric, and peas.
6. Instant Pot Pork Chops
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When it comes to kitchen genius, there are few inventions greater than the Instant Pot. Isn’t it delightful to toss everything in and go about your day without a second thought? Of course, it is! Butter, apple juice, and dry onion soup slow cook with the pork chops to make a tasty, low-effort dinner.
7. Grilled Pork Chops with Fresh Nectarine Salsa
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I cannot even read about the nectarine salsa without drooling. It makes for a delicious pork chop topping, yet the uses for nectarine salsa are endless. You’ll definitely want to add this one to your arsenal.
8. Pesto Stuffed Pork Chops
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Stuffing is certainly one way to elevate the basic pork chop to the next level. A zesty, Italian-style filling with feta cheese makes the meat delectable inside and out. Can’t you just feel the flavor exploding on your tongue?
9. Butter Schnitzel
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My husband’s Oma kept schnitzel in regular rotation. This German dish, served with noodles, is rich, buttery comfort food. It takes almost an hour from start to finish but is well worth the time.
What’s your favorite way to cook pork chops? I hope your family gets as much delight out of these as we did. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the kitchen!
