18 Pork Chop Dinner Ideas to Switch Up Your Weekly Dinner Rotation

Baked, grilled, or smothered in sauce, pork chops never disappoint.

pork chops with yellow pepper puttanesca recipe
Credit: Bryan Gardner

For many of us, pork chops bring back memories of childhood. They were an easy meal for parents to cook and have ready by six o'clock. Browned quickly in a pan with apples and onions, sautéed with cabbage, or smothered in gravy—we're happy to relive these warm memories of hearty, fulfilling dinners.

Pork is subtle enough to work with a wide variety of ingredients, but flavorful enough to hold its own in a medley of competing tastes. Plus, it's often cost-effective compared to pricier beef cuts—and a little more exciting than your standard weeknight chicken dinners. Luckily, we have the pork chop dinner ideas you need to liven up both boneless and bone-in cuts, complementing the savory flavors of the meat with just the right tang and spice.

01 of 18

Vinegared Pork Chop Milanese With Radish Salad

vinegared pork chop milanese with radish salad
Credit: Johnny Miller

If you enjoy a zingy zip with your pork, opt for this pork chop Milanese, complete with a spicy radish salad on top. The panko-breaded pork soaks up a shallot and white vinegar sauce nicely, and the dill in the salad adds aromatic fragrance and flavor.

02 of 18

Pork Scallopini

Pork scaloppine on white dish with arugula
Credit:

Rachel Marek

Whether you're making this traditional Roman dish for a special occasion or merely for a speedy weeknight dinner, we guarantee it'll be a total hit. In under 45 minutes, you’ll be able to pound slices of pork loin into cutlets, pan-sear them, and even whip up a buttery caper-and-herb pan sauce. Serve with green salad, and get ready to wow your family.

03 of 18

Parmesan Pork With Polenta and Asparagus

Parmesan Pork with Polenta and Asparagus
Credit: Ren Fuller

Lemon and Parmesan are a magical mixture in this breaded pork chop dish. Serve with crispy slices of polenta, tender spears of asparagus, and lemon wedges for citrus lovers.

04 of 18

Pork Chops With Apples and Onions

Pork Chops with Apples and Onions
Credit:

Brie Goldman

Here, the pork chops are cooked, braised, and bathed in just one pot. The addition of apples and onions will turn this dish into a five-star meal—nobody would believe how easy it was to make it!

05 of 18

Broiled Pork Chops With Yellow-Pepper Puttanesca

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Credit: Bryan Gardner

This one-sheet-pan dinner is a relaxed option for a fun family dinner. Your broiler is the convenient way to cook tomatoes and bell peppers for this lighter take on puttanesca. Capers and olives are the briny relish that ties the pork and peppers together.

06 of 18

Orange-and-Honey Glazed Pork Chops

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Credit: Johnny Miller

Marinating in an orange-rosemary mixture before going under the broiler makes these bone-in pork chops sweet and savory.

07 of 18

Broiled Spicy Pork and Pineapple

pork pineapple plate
Credit: Joseph De Leo

Some like it hot and sweet. Cayenne and pineapple, ginger, and lime—this broiled pork will transport you to a tropical vacation, mai tai in hand. Thai chiles are a garnish that's for serious spice lovers only.

08 of 18

Grilled Pork Loin With Lemongrass

grilled pork loin with lemongrass
Credit: Christopher Testani

While lengthy, this recipe grills in under 40 minutes, and the rest of the time is simply marinating in the fridge overnight. The beauty of butterflying and rolling up a pork loin is that the marinade covers more of it, spicing up every bite. 

09 of 18

Orange-and-Rosemary-Brined Pork Chops With Applesauce

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Credit: Marcus Nilsson

The forethought is worth the wait for this aromatic, zesty herbal entrée, which combines bay leaves, orange zest, peppercorns, and rosemary. If brining the meat sounds like too much, just let those aromatics permeate your pork chops in the fridge for a shorter time, then brown them in a cast-iron skillet which is super fast. Serve with homemade apple sauce—pink applesauce if you can.

10 of 18

Pork Chops With Bacon and Cabbage

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Sear the pork chops first, then bake them in this creamed cabbage and bacon sauce for maximum flavor.

11 of 18

Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops With Grilled Zucchini

Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops with Grilled Zucchini

Season your chops in the morning with coriander, brown sugar, cumin, salt, and pepper, then marinate and grill at dinner time. Feast on these succulent chops with grilled zucchini, feta, and lime zest.

12 of 18

Sautéed Pork and Plums

pork medallion in skillet
Credit: Jonathan Lovekin

Quick, easy, and absolutely delicious, that’s this one-pan entree you’ll want to make on repeat. The pork is lightly browned in a large skillet, then it’s removed to a platter, and sliced red onion and plums are added to the pan, and cooked until tender. How's that for a restaurant-style weekday meal?

13 of 18

Orange Pork With Watercress Rice

orange pork with watercress rice
Credit: Armando Rafael

Orange marmalade amped up with fish sauce, fresh lime juice, garlic, and ginger makes a delectable syrupy sauce for juicy pork tenderloin.

14 of 18

Seared and Roasted Pork Chops With Lemon

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This pork chop dinner idea follows the usual method for cooking steak; sear your pork, then let the oven's even heat finish the job. Season with a simple lemon-flavored squeeze. That's all the juicy meat needs.

15 of 18

Pork Chops With Rhubarb-Cherry Sauce

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A flavor combo of cherry, rhubarb, and sugar will sweeten up these pork chops for a decadent weeknight meal. The cherries can be replaced with other dried fruit, such as golden raisins, so the possibilities can truly be endless!

16 of 18

Crispy Breaded Pork Cutlets

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Crunchy, tender, mustard-coated pork is a simple family-friendly meal. The perfect contender for chicken nuggets or fried chicken Milanese!

17 of 18

Braised Pork Chops

Pork Chops

After an hour of braising, this largely hands-off recipe will reward you with tender pork chops bathed in a tangy, savory sauce. It makes for a delicious, satisfying dinner, especially when served with a side of coleslaw and some crunchy potatoes.

18 of 18

Soy-and-Ginger-Marinated Pork Chops

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A brief stint in the refrigerator with a soy-and-ginger marinade gives the pork flavor while tenderizing the meat. Serve with rice for the perfect take-out-at-home dinner.

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