How To Cook Thin Pork Chops – Ready To Eat In 15 Minutes!

Thin pork chops are one of my favorite things to cook for dinner, especially on a busy weeknight. They are one of the most inexpensive cuts of meat, and when cooked right, they turn out juicy and delicious.

Because thin cut, boneless pork chops are bland by nature, they will take on whatever flavor that they are cooked with. Add a few seasonings, use your favorite dry rub and sauce, and a delicious main dish will be ready to eat in only 15 minutes!

I have included my favorite sauce to use when making pork chops below. It is an easy mixture that is made with a few common ingredients.

However, you can use whatever type of sauce that you enjoy. Some of other favorite sauces that pair well with pork chops include: honey barbecue, lemon pepper, pesto and of course a classic creamy mushroom sauce.

And you can never go wrong adding an applesauce mixture to the pan as well. Come on, I know you are all wanting to quote the famous saying from Brady Bunch – “Pork Chops and Applesauce.”

However there are a few key tips to making sure the meat turns out perfect every time.

6 Tips When Cooking Thin Pork Chops

1. Cook Room Temperature, Not Cold Pork Chops

Thin pork chops cook very quickly. If they’re cold, the outside burns or dries out before the inside reaches a safe temperature for consuming. In addition, bringing them to room temperature shortens the cook time, so the inside finishes cooking just as the outside browns beautifully.

2. Season The Pork Chops

Thin pork chops, especially boneless ones, are lean and bland on their own. Seasoning adds depth and complexity of flavor, transforming them from a basic protein into a delicious dish.

3. Coat the Pork Chops In Flour

Flour creates a barrier between the meat and the pan, allowing for more even browning. In addition the crust acts as a seal so that the juices stay inside the meat. Feel free to use all-purpose flour or gluten free flour.

4. Pan Sear Over High Heat

The best cooking method for thin pork chops is to pan sear. However, in order to gain that nice golden exterior your pan must be nice and hot.

5. Flip and Cover

When browning the pork chops on the initial side, let them become nice and golden brown in color and then flip them. Cover the skillet and let the pork chops continue to cook. Covering the pan will trap the condensation, making the pork chops nice and juicy.

6. Use an Instant Read Digital Meat Thermometer

There is no better way to get perfectly cooked pork chops than to use an instant read digital thermometer. It is truly the only way to know exactly when they are just at the right temperature to remove from the skillet.

The Importance of a Digital Thermometer

In fact, I can’t stress enough how important it is to use an instant read digital food thermometer when cooking any type of meat. And this is especially true when cooking pork.

You want the center of the meat to reach an internal temperature of 145°F and no higher. Otherwise, the meat will turn tough and become chewy.

And if you buy thin cutlets, this will only take minutes to happen! However, when cooked using the method described below, you will have a new favorite way to make this inexpensive cut of meat!

The Best Way To Cook Thin Pork Chops

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 6-8 boneless thin pork chops
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp honey

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making this recipe is to dredge the pork chops in a mixture of flour, salt and pepper. You can use standard, all purpose flour or a gluten free flour.

Whisk together the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish and then coat each side of the cutlets, shaking off any excess. Set aside.

Sear The Pork Chops

Now heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add oil and butter. As soon as the butter is melted and the oil is nice and hot, add the thin pork chop cutlets.

Sear for 60-75 seconds, then flip over and continue to sear for another minute. Remove the pork from the skillet to a plate and reduce the heat of the burner to medium.

Make The Honey Mustard Sauce

In that same pan, add the cream, mustard and honey and whisk to combine. I absolutely love my silicone coated whisks because I never have to worry about scraping the bottom of my non-stick skillets.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and then add the seared pork chops back into the pan. Be sure to push the pork chops down into the skillet so that they are submerged in the honey mustard sauce.

Once the pork chops have been added, cover and let simmer for 5-6 minutes. Although it is not necessary, I prefer to flip the thin pork chops half way through the simmering time so that the top has a chance to absorb the sauce as well.

Remove the pork chops from the skillet and drizzle with some of the remaining sauce.

Other Methods For Cooking Pork Chops

As much as I love to cook pork chops in my air fryer and in my Instant Pot, there are some times that cooking them on the skillet makes more sense.

• Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops Recipe
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Chops Recipe

This is especially true when your Air Fryer or Pressure Cooker is already in use! And that was exactly the case for me this week. I already had Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer and was just deciding how to make the pork chops. So I decided to pull out my skillet and make this delicious Honey Mustard Pork Chops recipe.

Because thin pork chops have very little fat, they can get overcooked very easily. However, by cooking them in the skillet, you can keep a close eye on them and remove them away from the heat just in time to make sure that they remain moist and delicious!

Serving Suggestions

So what can you serve with thin pork chops? Because pork chops have a mild flavor, you can add just about any side dish to make it a complete meal.

However, here are some of our favorite side dishes that pair well with honey mustard coated pork chops.

• Air Fryer Potato Wedges
• Hasselback Potatoes
• Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
• Garlic Butter Smashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Garlic Green Beans
• ‘Thanksgiving’ Dressing
• Slow Cooker Applesauce
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts

ENJOY! Mary

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