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!
So good! Made these last week, and again tonight! Super easy, delicious, economical, and not fussy. Looks like this recipe will be a regular in my rotation! Thank you 😊 for the yummy recipe!
Super easy and my family loved them! Economical, tasty, easy and quick? Yes, please!
Hi! We ADORE this recipe in our family. It is absolutely delicious. One question-my husband is on a grill kick. Do you think these could be grilled?
Yes, I think these would be great on the grill. :)
I’ve been experimenting with different recipes for pork chops and made these last night for the first time. The glazed chops were tasty, tender and easy so I’ll definitely be making them again. I made mine according to the recipe and did bake them for 5 minutes
I prepared with chicken last night and was e-mailed request from my husband to fix again tonight! SCORE!
Question about the chicken… i have Frozen chicken breast so should i cook the chicken first and then add the mixture since chicken takes longer than pork to cook ? Also, i was considering shredding the chicken since my children are more likely to eat that way. Should i cook, shred and then add the sauce mixture and just broil?! Im not a cook obviously with all the questions, my husband is a great chef but Im trying;)
Do you think this recipe can be used on pork loin instead of pork chops? I was thinking of trying it with pork loin for dinner tonight. I have made it with pork chops before and it is AMAZING.
Yep, you’ll probably just need to bake it a little longer at the end to get the internal temp up.
I did this with the tenderloin and it was awesome. This is such a simple recipe but one of my all time favorites! Thank you!!!
Do these go in oven if so how long
Step 4 in the recipe: if the chops are greater than one inch thick, place them in the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145F.
I made this for dinner today, and enjoyed it so much. I didn’t have paprika, but it still tasted great. I let the pork chops marinate in the rub for almost an hour. I cooked it for 4 mins on each side, and cooked mushrooms and green beans in the same pan. So delicious, I’m definitely going to keep it in my recipe book. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t eat meat, but bf does. I stress about cooking it bc I have no idea what I’m doing. The first time I made these he told me they were the best chops he’s ever had. This is huge as no one compares to his moms cooking lol Thank you so much for the great and easy recipe!!!
Don’t have cayenne, could it be left out or substituted?
You can Use Chipotle powder, red chili powder or paprika (preferably a spicy paprika).
By the way, this recipe tastes amazing.
Easy, fast recipe. I will be making this one again and again.
Would love to know why the first thing in the instructions is to set the oven at 350degrees when you are cooking the porkchops on the stove top?
At the end you put it in the oven for a few minutes to finish cooking through. If you are using thin pork chops you don’t need to do the oven step.
What more can I say! The recipe was easy, cook time super short and the taste was amazing. I had my chops seasoned before with garlic powder, black pepper and adobo seasoning before I stumbled upon this recipe. Taste was not affected by these seasonings. My chops were less than 1 inch and with bone in. It was very tender and I did not do the oven step. Thank you!
I tried this recipe tonight. The glaze in the pan was beginning to burn before I felt like they had enough time, so I took the pork chops out, added a bit of balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pan and some chicken stock and let that reduce, put the pork chops back in and put them in the oven. It turned out pretty good, although the glaze was more like a runny gravy.
May I not use brown sugar and will the pork chops still taste good.