Description
A comforting, self-care dinner featuring bone-in pork chops seared to perfection and served with a rich, velvety garlic butter sauce. Simple enough for tired evenings but indulgent enough to feel special.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in pork chops (approx. 1.5 inches thick / 680g)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (85g)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced (3 tbsp)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (120ml)
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (60ml)
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme (1 tbsp leaves)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat pork chops dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a 10-inch cast iron or heavy stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
- Sear pork chops for 3-4 minutes on the first side without moving them to develop a golden-brown crust. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Check internal temperature; pull chops when they reach 140°F (60°C). Transfer to a plate and tent loosely with foil to rest for 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted and foaming, add minced garlic and thyme. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 30 seconds.
- Slowly pour in heavy cream while whisking. Simmer gently for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Return pork chops to the pan to warm through for 30 seconds, or spoon the sauce over them on the plate. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not crowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary to ensure a good sear. Patting the chops dry is crucial for browning. Watch the garlic closely as it burns quickly. Pork is safe to eat at 145°F. This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but check broth labels. The sauce may separate if frozen, so store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chop with sauce
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Protein: 35
Keywords: pork chops, garlic butter sauce, pan-seared, self-care dinner, comfort food, easy dinner, bone-in pork chops, quick meals