Easy and Juicy Thin Cut Pork Chops (Optional breading) ✅

Ingredients

• 4 boneless thin cut pork chops (¼ inch to ½ inch thick)
• 2 ½ tablespoons oil (use olive oil and low heat if not breading)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon brown sugar

For optional breading

• Bowl 1: ¼ cup All-purpose flour
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Bowl 2: 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp water, beaten well.
• Bowl 3: 24 crushed saltines (6 per chop)

Steps

1. Mix the seasonings: To a small bowl, add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Stir until well blended. Break up any clumps from the brown sugar. Set aside.

2. Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel. Season the pork chops on both sides with the pork chop seasoning. Rub the seasoning into the pork chops.

3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

4. Once the skillet is hot, add the pork chops to the skillet in a single layer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side. Flip, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the other side until browned and has an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Remove the pork chops from the heat and place them on a plate to rest for 3 minutes.

   Optional breading:

6. Setup the three bowls as indicated above

7. Pat the chops bone-dry with a paper towel. This is the secret to the breading not sliding off.

8. Dredge in flour (shake off the excess until it’s just a ghosting).

9. Dip in egg (let the extra drip off).

10. Press into saltines (press hard so the crumbs anchor into the meat).

11. Let them sit on a plate for 5 minutes. This lets the cracker crumbs hydrate and stick.

Notes