Dutch Oven pork chops are a quick and healthy family dinner recipe. You only need some simple ingredients and a few easy tips to ensure juicy, flavorful chops.
Why this recipe is just so good....
- Dutch oven cooking is one of my favorite ways to make dinner. You will love how quick and easy it is. You don't have to wait for Sunday to cook a family roast! Some other favorite pork recipes cooked with this method are Dutch Oven Pork Roast and Dutch Oven Pork Tenderloin.
- Pork chops are a budget-friendly, low carb and keto form of protein. This recipe uses bone on chops since that makes for tastier pork.
- With the addition of tomatoes and squash, this recipe can be a one-pot low carb meal. You can add some other side dishes to complete the dinner as well.
- And you won't need to make gravy. The cooked juices from the pork and vegetables make a delicious pan sauce to spoon over some mashed cauliflower, cauliflower rice. Or if not following a low carb diet, you can add a baked potato.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- We are using cherry tomatoes but in a pinch you can use a can of drained, diced tomatoes.
- The zucchini and squash cook very quickly in the oven and compliment the flavor of the pork. Broccoli, asparagus or spinach are also softer vegetables and should cook in about the same time as well.
- When I can, I always use fresh herbs if available. Dried herbs, as long as they are not too old will do as a substitute. Try rubbing the dried spices between your fingers before you put in the pot to release the flavors.
- Bone in pork chops are usually my preference over boneless. The chops turn out juicier and more flavorful, with less possibility of drying out.
Step by Step Directions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in the Dutch Oven. Rub salt and pepper onto the chops and sear each side of the pork for 2 minutes. Remove to platter.
- Heat remaining oil and lightly brown the onions and cook the garlic for a minute. Add the rest of vegetables and dried seasonings. Return the pork to Dutch oven. Stir together the balsamic vinegar and sugar and pour over the pork chops.
- Top with the fresh herbs. Cover the pot and cook in oven for 30 minutes. Test for doneness. If pork registers 140°F., it is done. Let rest on platter and temperature will rise to 145°F, the USDA recommendation.
Cooking Tips
- Remove pork from refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking.
- Pat dry with a paper towel. This helps the meat to sear and not steam.
- Season both sides of the pork for the best flavoring.
- Don't overcook. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness.
- Since the chops are thin, and not a roast, they only need to rest briefly after removing from oven.
FAQ
A Dutch oven is a multipurpose, versatile piece of kitchen equipment that I believe everyone will love. I use my Dutch Oven every week; for roasts, vegetables, chilis and soups. According to America's Test Kitchen, it is heavy and thick enough to conduct and retain heat and deep enough to handle large cuts of meat and many quarts of liquid. (for soups)
The Huff Post has some great suggestions:
Buy bone in pork chops.
Bring meat to room temperature before cooking.
Try a marinade.
Quickly sear on the stove (to seal in juices) and finish in the oven.
Use a meat thermometer to prevent overcooking.
Let the pork chops rest briefly on platter before serving to allow juices to reabsorb into the meat.
The USDA recommends pork to be cooked to 145°F. You can take the meat out of the oven when it registers 140°F. The temperature will rise while it is on the platter due to carryover cooking. So as long as the pork reaches that temperature, it is safe to eat even if it is a bit pink.
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Here are more Dutch Oven recipes to try:
Dutch Oven Pork Chops
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Dutch Oven pork chops are a quick and healthy family dinner recipe. You only need some simple ingredients and a few easy tips to ensure juicy, flavorful chops.
Ingredients
- 4 bone in pork chops, ½" thick, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes whole *
- 1 zucchini sliced *
- 1 yellow squash, sliced
- ½ cup roasted red peppers, chopped *
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme *
- 2 sprigs fresh sage *
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar or sugar substitute
- chopped parsley for garnish
- shaved parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Remove pork chops fro refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking. Dry well with paper towel. Rub salt and pepper onto both sides of meat.
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or other oven safe pot.
- Fry the chops for 2 minutes per side. Remove to platter.
- Heat remaining oil and fry the onions for 2 minutes until light brown. Add sliced garlic and fry for one minute. Turn down the heat if necessary so that it doesn't burn. Add the dry seasonings, tomatoes, red peppers, squash. Stir to combine.
- Add back the pork chops on top of vegetable mixture, place fresh herbs on top of pork. Stir together the balsamic vinegar and sugar, and pour over pork.
- Cover Dutch oven and bake in oven for 30 minutes. Test the meat with a thermometer and if it registers 140°F., it is done. Remove to platter and let rest for just a few minutes.
- Serve with vegetables, spoon the juices from the Dutch oven over the pork. Garnish with optional chopped parsley and shaved parmesan.
Notes
*You can substitute the cherry tomatoes for a can of diced tomatoes, drained of the juice.
*You don't have to peel the squash and zucchini unless you prefer to. The skin is fairly thin and will soften as it cooks.
*Any leftover pork will stay fresh tightly wrapped up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
*If you double the recipe and want to freeze any leftovers, the pork will freeze well up to 3 months. Save some of the cooked liquids in the same container with the pork to reheat together after defrosted. I don't recommend freezing the squash, it will be too mushy when defrosted.
* I used a bit of Monk fruit for the sugar just to save a few carbs.
Keywords: Dutch Oven dinner, pan seared pork chops
Katie says
This made a really nice sauce to dip pork in. I made mashed cauliflower and the sauce was great over thst too.
★★★★★