Description
Classic Southern smothered pork chops blend hearty comfort with rich, savory flavors from generations of home cooking. Tender meat nestled in creamy gravy promises a satisfying meal that connects you to culinary traditions passed down through loving family kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) pork chops (boneless, approx. ¾-1″ thick, room temperature)
- 2 slices bacon (thick-cut, diced)
- 1 medium onion (finely diced)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tbsp salted butter (optional)
- 1½ tbsps seasoning salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme leaves
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Remove pork chops from refrigerator and allow them to rest at ambient temperature for even cooking.
- Heat a large skillet to medium-high temperature, adding cooking oil to create a smooth cooking surface.
- Create a seasoning blend by whisking flour with salt, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, thyme, and pepper in a shallow dish.
- Dredge each pork chop thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, gently tapping off excess coating.
- Sear pork chops in the hot skillet for 2-3 minutes per side until a rich golden crust develops, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Render bacon in the same skillet until crisp and golden, then introduce butter to enhance flavor depth.
- Incorporate diced onions into the skillet, sautéing until translucent and softened.
- Sprinkle reserved flour mixture into the skillet, stirring continuously to create a roux and eliminate raw flour taste.
- Gradually stream chicken broth and heavy cream into the skillet, whisking consistently to develop a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Reintroduce pork chops to the sauce, allowing them to simmer and absorb flavors until internal temperature reaches 145°F, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Serve immediately, drizzling additional sauce over the pork chops for maximum flavor infusion.
Notes
- Let pork chops sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking and maximum tenderness.
- Pat the meat dry with paper towels to help achieve a perfect golden-brown crust and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Experiment with different herbs like rosemary or sage to add unique flavor variations to the traditional seasoning blend.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk and use turkey bacon instead of traditional bacon to reduce overall fat content.
- Gluten-free adaptation can be made by replacing all-purpose flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend when creating the coating and sauce.
- Rest the pork chops for 3-5 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring maximum moisture and flavor retention.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 362 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 1038 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg