Description
Succulent brown sugar pork chops deliver a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors from Southern cuisine. Home cooks can easily prepare this comforting dish with simple ingredients you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 pork chops (bone-in or boneless, about 1-inch thick)
- 3 tbsps brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional, for a slight kick)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- ¼ cup chicken broth (optional, for extra sauce)
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat pork chops completely dry using paper towels to maximize seasoning absorption and enhance crust formation.
- Seasoning Blend: Whisk brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper into a unified, aromatic spice mixture.
- Flavor Infusion: Meticulously coat both surfaces of pork chops with the spice blend, pressing gently to ensure deep flavor penetration.
- Skillet Preheation: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high temperature, creating a golden, bubbling cooking surface.
- Searing Process: Carefully place seasoned pork chops into the hot skillet, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side to develop a caramelized, crisp exterior while maintaining tender interior.
- Deglazing and Reduction: Pour chicken broth into the skillet, scraping accumulated flavor bits and allowing sauce to simmer and concentrate, periodically basting the pork chops to enhance their glossy, rich coating.
- Resting and Serving: Remove pork chops from heat, let rest for 5 minutes to redistribute internal juices, then drizzle with remaining pan sauce, presenting a succulent and intensely flavored main dish.
Notes
- Moisture Removal: Pat pork chops completely dry before seasoning to create a perfect crispy exterior and help spices stick effectively.
- Spice Blend Balance: Mix dry ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution of flavors across the meat’s surface for consistent taste.
- Heat Management: Use medium-high heat to achieve golden-brown caramelization without burning the sugar-based spice coating, watching skillet temperature carefully.
- Resting Technique: Allow pork chops to rest after cooking to lock in juices and prevent dryness, ensuring tender and succulent meat texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg