Creamy Smothered Pork Chops seared and simmered in a rich onion and mushroom gravy. A super easy, extra delicious, dinner recipe perfect for any night of the week.
Easy Smothered Pork Chops Recipe from Scratch
These creamy smothered pork chops are a family favorite at my house.
Made with perfectly seasoned and seared thick-cut pork chops, these beautiful looking chops are juicy and flavorful – NOT dried-out or rubbery.
Served smothered in a homemade mushroom and onion gravy, it is true that although pork chops are delicious on their own, they’re even better with a comforting mushroom-filled sauce.
If you enjoy easy dinners and delicious comfort food, then you’re going to love this recipe. And so will the whole family.
Different Cuts of Pork Chops
There are four different cuts of pork chops that you will find at the grocery store. Realistically, you can use any cut in this recipe, but each cut cooks a little differently.
Which one should you use? This comes down to preference and budget. However, I always encourage bone-in pork chops.
Why? Well, bone-in pork chops are just, better. They’re not as lean, and therefore more flavorful, plus they’re less likely to dry out. And we all know what dried out pork chops are like, right? Tough, rubbery, not good.
Also aim to get chops that are at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. It’s really easy to over-cook pork chops, so the added thickness helps prevent that from happening.
Finally, pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit as measured with a digital meat thermometer.
- Shoulder Chop – generally have more fat and connective tissue, darker-colored meat, and some blade bones. They typically have loads of flavor, but with that, you’ll also find more gristle and bone. For the best results, it should be braised before cooking.
- Rib Chop – The rib chop comes with a large eye of lean loin meat and no tenderloin meat. It is a bone-in chop, often with a layer of fat on the outside. It’s mild and tender, but fattier than a loin chop. It is recommended to use a quick-cooking method.
- Loin (Center Cut) Chop – Very lean and very mild pork flavor. Like a T-bone steak, pork loin chops come with loin on one side and tenderloin on the other. Typically, the more tenderloin that is present, the higher the cost. Because loin and tenderloin cook at different rates, cooking properly can sometimes be a challenge.
- Boneless Chop – The cut of pork I grew up eating, boneless pork chops are basically top loin or rib chops with the bones removed. Given the lack of bones, fat, or connective tissue, boneless cuts are typically less flavorful and more likely to dry out.
How to Make Smothered Pork Chops from Scratch
- Pat dry the pork chops with a paper towel and generously season with salt and pepper.
- Sear the pork chops until golden brown, approximately 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook the onions and mushrooms until soft and caramelized, then season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Make the sauce. Melt the butter and mix in the flour. Slowly add the chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
- After approximately 5 minutes, add the heavy cream.
- Return the pork chops to the skillet and smother with the homemade onion and mushroom gravy.
- Enjoy!
How to Serve Smothered Pork Chops?
Serve this awesome weeknight dish with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, buttered corn, or green beans. Sometimes, I’ll even make some buttery cornbread, too.
How to Store Leftovers?
Allow your pork chops to cool then transfer to an airtight container. Keep stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
If you love pork chops, be sure to check out some of our other fabulous pork chop recipes:
Pork Chops with Apples and Butternut Squash
Garlic Butter Pork Chop Recipe (Ready in Just 15 Minutes!)
Easy Pork Chops with Blueberry Apple Compote
Have you tried making this Smothered Pork Chops Recipe?
Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts.
Smothered Pork Chops
Ingredients
For the Pork Chops
- 4 thick-cut pork chops (bone-in or boneless)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion (diced)
- 8 ounces crimini mushrooms (sliced)
- salt and pepper (to season)
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or homemade chicken stock)
- ½ cup heavy cream (at room temperature)
- fresh thyme or parsley (to garnish)
Instructions
- Pat dry the pork chops with a paper towel to remove any moisture. Season with salt and pepper on both sides (optional seasoning - garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or cayenne).
- Add the butter and olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. As soon as your pan is nice and hot, add the pork chops and sear for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side. If your pork chops are especially thick (more than 1-inch) remove them to a baking dish lined with parchment paper and finish cooking in a preheated 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until the internal temperature registers 145°F as measured by a digital meat thermometer. Remove from pan and set aside on a plate.
- Return the pan to medium heat. Add the additional tablespoon of olive oil plus the onions and mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté until the mushrooms are soft and the onions are soft and slightly caramelized. Season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine and cook until fragrant - about a minute.
- Melt the butter and sprinkle the mushrooms and onions with flour. Mix well to combine.
- Slowly stir in the chicken broth, whisking continuously to create a thick gravy. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Allow the gravy to simmer until it begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Add the heavy cream.
- Nestle the pork chops back into the gravy mixture and cook for five minutes over low heat, flipping the chops once. Garnish with fresh parsley or thyme. Enjoy!
Video
Jessica's Notes
- Try to purchase bone-in pork chops at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick.
- Pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If, after you've removed your seared pork chops from your skillet, you notice browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan, you may deglaze the pan with a splash of white wine or water and scrape them up with a spatula. Don't toss them out, though. Those little brown bits offer loads of yummy flavor.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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