Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops ~ We Love delicious Food, Recipes, and Cooking Techniques

Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops are a quick and delicious way to serve a satisfying gourmet meal. Bone in pork chops are coated with a garlic herb mixture and seared in a seasoned cast iron skillet for the juiciest and most flavorful pork chop you’ve ever had!

This easy skillet pork chop recipe is your new go-to fancy weeknight supper. Thick-cut pieces of bone-in pork are first marinated with olive oil, fresh herbs, and garlic to infuse more flavor into each bite. It cooks in just 10 minutes for a fast and flavorful main dish. There are so many amazing things you can cook in a skillet! Try this Skillet Pizza, this delicious Shrimp and Asparagus Skillet, or easy Pan Seared Scallops with Lemon Caper Sauce.

Cast iron skillet pork chops in a cast iron pan.

Pork Chops in Cast Iron Skillet

Center cut bone-in pork chops are lean and tender, with a very mild flavor. This makes them perfect for adding a simple herb marinade right before cooking. It also means some people might be a little worried about cooking them at home. You don’t want a boring and dry pork chop, right? Well this recipe is a tried and true method for infusing the most flavor into your pork chop while keeping it so tender and moist you won’t believe it’s pork.

The fragrant natural oils in the thyme and pungent garlic flavor infuse into the olive oil so the pork cooks with a bouquet of aromas that transfers to the meat. The actual cooking time is less than 15 minutes, so you can quickly start to feast! This skillet pork chop is perfect served with some grilled asparagus, crispy skillet potatoes and maybe even a fun horseradish sauce. I recently became a fan of dipping my pork in vinegar and soy sauce! Don’t knock it until you try it, because a little acid really elevates this dish. Get creative with how you serve it in your home.

Ingredients

A simple and fast marinade for these cast iron skillet pork chops can be made with just a handful of ingredients. I like to combine roughly chopped garlic, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. That’s it! I find that not skipping this step makes lean proteins so much more flavorful, like for my chicken marinade. The pork gets a generous coating of the paste before cooking. You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.

Pork Chops: I prefer bone in pork chops because they stay jucier and the bone adds lots of flavor to the pan while cooking.
Garlic: Minced, for the herb rub.
Olive Oil: This helps the rub come together. Olive oil has the best flavor in my opinion.
Thyme: It’s earthy, slightly minty, and a little lemony. It’s a must!
Parsley: Fresh parsley adds tons of earthy flavor with a hint of pepper.
Kosher Salt: A high quality salt makes all the difference.
Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper adds warmth to the pork.
Butter: For basting the pork after it’s done cooking.
Fresh Herbs for Garnish: I like to add parsley and thyme for an extra pop of fresh flavor.

Process photos showing the herb rub being added to the pork and then added to the skillet.

Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops Recipe

After a brief 30 to 60-minute marination, the pork is ready to pan-fry. I like to use cast iron skillet because it retains heat really well, which transfers straight to the surface of the pork to develop a beautiful golden sear. The skillet pork chop is flipped several times for even cooking, and to keep it moist and tender.

Make Herb Rub: In a small bowl combine garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper.
Add to Pork: Rub the herb paste evenly over both sides of the pork chops. Then marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Heat Skillet: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Add Oil to Pan: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Once hot then add the pork chops.
Cook Pork Chops: Lightly press the pork chops down into the pan to get a nice sear. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then flip and sear the other side. Then cook the sides of the pork chops if needed depending on the thickness of the pork.
Flip and Temp: Turn the heat down to medium, and then cook the pork chops until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees Fahrenheit. It will take about 4 to 6 minutes depending on the thickness of the chops. Keep flipping every minute for even cooking.
Add Butter: Turn off the heat and then add the remaining tablespoon of thyme and butter to the pan.
Baste: Once the butter is melted tilt the pan, and then pour the butter over the top of the pork chops several times to baste.
Rest and Enjoy: Transfer pork to a cutting board and then allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving for carving.

Tips for Making Skillet Pork Chops

Cooking pork in a cast iron skillet is going to be your new go-to method! It’s so flavorful and juicy you won’t want it any other way. If you have questions about your type of pork chop and how to cook it, then these tips are for you. Make sure to read them before making this recipe because they are here to help.

Best Pork Chops to Use: Shop for frenched, bone-in center-cut pork chops that are 1 to 1 ½-inches thick. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chop. The bone provides extra flavor to the meat and prevents the protein from cooking too fast and drying out. The marinade and the thick-cut give the juiciest pork chops you’ll ever taste!
Thickness of Pork Chop: If you chose a thicker or thinner pork chop, or one without a bone, then that will change the amount of time it needs to cook. If your bone-in pork chop is ½ inch thick, then it will need about 2-4 minutes per side. If you chose a ½ inch boneless piece, then it will need 2-3 minutes per side. It kind of depends on how hot your stove is, so make sure to keep an eye on it. Always check the internal temperature to make sure they are fully cooked.

A cast iron skillet pork chop on a plate with mashed potatoes and broccoli.

Storing Leftovers

Skillet pork chops make great leftovers. They stay juicy and flavorful for days, and reheat really easily! Here is how to store your leftovers.

In the Refrigerator: Store your pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.