Description
Succulent honey garlic pork chops deliver a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Quick weeknight dinner solution that brings restaurant-quality meal directly to home kitchens with minimal preparation effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless pork chops (about 1-inch thick)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsps soy sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (for extra richness)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season: Thoroughly pat pork chops dry and generously coat each side with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, ensuring an even and flavorful coverage.
- Sear: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, carefully placing seasoned pork chops to develop a rich golden-brown crust, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until perfectly caramelized.
- Aromatics: Lower skillet temperature to medium, introducing minced garlic and sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant and translucent, releasing its aromatic essence.
- Create Sauce: Blend honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes into the garlic-infused pan, simmering and reducing for 2 minutes to develop a complex, tantalizing liquid.
- Finish Cooking: Return pork chops to the skillet, coating them thoroughly with the glossy sauce and continuing to cook until reaching an internal temperature of 145F (63C), approximately 2-3 additional minutes.
- Enhance Flavor: Incorporate a pat of butter, creating a luxurious sheen and adding depth to the dish’s overall richness.
- Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and plate alongside complementary rice or roasted vegetables for a complete and satisfying culinary experience.
Notes
- Meat Moisture Check: Pat pork chops completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Heat Precision: Use medium-high heat for initial searing to create a perfect caramelized crust without burning the meat or seasonings.
- Temperature Safety: Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 145F, guaranteeing juicy, safe-to-eat pork chops without overcooking.
- Sauce Thickness Control: Let the honey-garlic sauce reduce slightly to achieve a glossy, clingy consistency that beautifully coats the meat without becoming too runny or too thick.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg