Pork chops get a bad rap for being dry, tough, hockey-puck-like pieces of meat that no one gets excited about, but this Glazed Pork Chops recipe is guaranteed to change your mind. These boneless pork chops are tender, juicy, and done in just a few minutes, which makes them perfect for weeknight dinners. What’s the secret? Cooking the pork chops fast and coating the pork chops in a smoky, spicy, sugar glaze helps hold in the moisture. So you can stop looking. You’ve found the best pork chop recipe and the last one you’ll ever need!
Ingredients for Glazed Pork Chops
The best part about this pork chop recipe is the incredible flavor you get with just a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious and juicy boneless brown sugar glazed pork chop recipe:
- Pork Chops: You’ll need boneless pork chops for this recipe to make sure they cook through in the quick cook time and before the glaze burns. Aim for pork chops that are about ¾-inch thick.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is the base of the spice rub and is the magic ingredient that transforms into a glaze when it combines with the pork juices and heat. Use dark brown sugar for this recipe.
- Spices: A simple mix of cayenne pepper, garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper creates a deliciously savory and slightly spicy flavor that perfectly balances the sweetness of the brown sugar. You can use smoked paprika for an extra smoky finish!
- Olive Oil: You can use olive oil or your favorite cooking oil for this recipe. The oil helps the pork chops achieve a nice sear in the hot skillet.
What Kind of Pork Chops to Use
This pork chop recipe works best with center-cut boneless pork chops that are about ¾ inch thick. Thin-cut pork chops will cook too quickly and will likely dry out. Bone-in pork chops take much longer to cook, and the glaze will likely burn by the time the pork chops cook through. So, stick to center-cut boneless pork chops for best results!
If you don’t like pork chops, you can make a similar recipe with pre-cooked ham steaks or chicken thighs. See my Glazed Ham Steaks recipe and Sweet and Spicy Chicken Thighs for reference.
Air Fryer Glazed Pork Chops
This brown sugar glazed pork chop recipe is undoubtedly best cooked in a hot skillet where direct contact with the hot pan creates a perfect thick glaze, but you can make these pork chops in an air fryer if needed. Just keep in mind that the glaze will not be as thick and sticky as the pan fry method.
To make these boneless pork chops in an air fryer, follow these instructions:
- Coat the pork chops in a thin layer of oil before coating in the spice mix.
- Preheat the air fryer to 420ºF for five minutes.
- Add the pork chops and cook at 420ºF for 7 minutes. Flip the pork chops and cook for an additional 8 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the pork has reached 145ºF, adding additional time if needed.
Make sure to use boneless center-cut pork chops that are approximately ¾-inch thick. The cook time will increase with a thicker pork chop and decrease with a thinner pork chop.
What to Serve with Glazed Pork Chops
Pork chops are a classic comfort food, so comfort food side dishes are a natural match. Comfort food recipes like Mashed Potatoes, Mac and Cheese, Green Bean Casserole, Fried Cabbage, or Collard Greens would be awesome. If you want to go with something lighter, Roasted Broccoli, Honey Mustard Broccoli Salad, Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad, or even an Apple Dijon, and Kale Salad would be great.
Sweet and Spicy Glazed Pork Chops
Servings 4Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar ($0.12)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne powder ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp paprika ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper ($0.05)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.32)
- 4 thick cut boneless pork chops ($5.97)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Remove the pork chops from their package and rub the seasoning mixture over all sides of each chop. The moisture from the meat will help the seasoning to adhere to the surface.
- Heat olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over a medium flame. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the pork chops. Cook the chops for about 5 minutes on each side, until nicely browned.
- If your chops are greater than one-inch thick, transfer the skillet to the preheated oven for another 5-10 minutes to finish cooking. Test the chops with a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature has reached 145ºF. Cook longer if needed.
- Dredge the chops through the thick sauce in the bottom of the pan just before serving.
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Nutrition
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Look at that juicy, glazed goodness… 🤤
How to Make Glazed Pork Chops – Step By Step Photos
In a small bowl stir together 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked pepper.
Rub the spice mix over both sides of four thick-cut boneless pork chops. The moisture from the meat will dissolve the sugar and help the spices adhere to the surface.
Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until the oil is shimmering. Place the chops in the pan and cook on each side for about 5 minutes or until browned.
Depending on the thickness of the chops, you may need to transfer the skillet to the oven (only if using an oven-safe skillet) to finish cooking. These chops were about an inch thick and were cooked through once browned on both sides. If any thicker you may need to finish in a 350ºF oven for 5-10 minutes to make sure the internal temperature reaches 145ºF.
Dredge the pork chops in the glaze that has formed in the skillet before serving. You can also tilt the skillet and scoop it up with a spoon, then drizzle it over the chops.
😍😍😍 This glazed pork chops recipe has me mesmerized!
I added a little chopped parsley to the brown sugar glazed pork chops just for kicks (or color, actually), but it’s not necessary for flavor!
I followed the recipe exactly and these turned out great – my picky eater of a husband cleaned his plate! I needed a quick, easy recipe and loved that I already had all of the ingredients handy. Thank you so much for this easy to make yet delicious dinner idea – I’ll be making this again for sure.
Would I have to make any changes of using chicken tenders?
They will probably cook much faster and since they’re smaller, you most likely won’t need to finish them in the oven.
These were SO easy and SO delicious. This is only the 2nd time in my life I have made pork chops. I am typically not a huge fan of pork, but these were yummy. I found myself sneaking spoons of the sauce ;-)
Made this for dinner tonight and my family LOVED it! It was so simple and quick to make. Perfect for the busy weeknight dinner!
10/10
I’m so glad I found this recipe! Thank you for posting. It was a great combination of sweet and spicy. I did extend the cooking time in the oven to 30 minutes. My husband said it was restaurant quality. Will definitely be making this one again!
This was truly a ferric recipe. The only think I will change when I remake the recipe is change the amount of cayenne pepper. I like a little kick but it was a little more than my taste buds could deal with, will use a pinch only. I used a 1/2 cup of brown sugar and smoked paprika ( instead of plain ) and the flavored were amazing The meat was tender exactly the way we like it!! It will go in to my monthly recipe . Thank you fora new way to cooking chops as it is one of our favorite meats❤️
My pork chops came out perfectly! I used bone in (I find these cook better than the thick cut). The flavor was spot on! Thanks for the great recipe!
Another fantastic recipe. I made this exactly as written.
I had the same problem as several others in the comments where I followed the recipe to the tee but my porkchops were left raw in the middle. I had to leave them back in the oven for another 30-40 minutes, but unfortunately I over-did it. I kept pulling them out every 5 minutes for the first 15-20 minutes because I didn’t want to overcook it, given the recipe only said 5 minutes!
I added the leftover glaze that formed in the frying pan into the baking dish when I went to bake the pork chops. I made creamy mashed potatoes and the extra sauce after baking accented the taste of the potatoes. It was a hit!
My husband loved this recipe. However it is a little spicy for the kiddos. Their eyes watered the whole meal. I will make this again however I will cut cayenne and paprika in half. Thanks for sharing!
I cut out the Cayenne and just used Paprika. I use Paprika in a lot of my foods to give it a crispier taste and color and haven’t experienced any spiciness.
This was delicious! I’d like to try it again but make the glaze a bit sweeter… any suggestions?
I’d add a touch more brown sugar. :)
I loved the recipe minus the cayenne powder, however I followed your directions to a T and the only problem I had is the pork chops weren’t tender. What can I do differently to make them tender next time?
Try lowering the heat just slightly. It might have been that particular cut of meat as well. It’s hard to say, but I’d try the heat first.
Horrible recipe. Followed it exactly and chops were still completely raw in yhh centre. Had to cook at a higher temperature for 1/2 an hour more to get them cooked.