Description
Southern Country Fried Pork Chops with Bacon Gravy are crispy comfort on your plate, straight from grandma’s kitchen. Sizzling golden chops smothered in rich, smoky bacon gravy make dinner feel like a warm hug from home.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 pork chops (bone-in or boneless, about 1 inch thick)
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Dry Coating:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Wet Ingredients and Cooking Liquids:
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mix 1 cup flour with 1 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and ½ teaspoon salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Whisk 2 large eggs with ½ cup buttermilk in another bowl.
- Dunk each pork chop into egg mixture, coating completely. Press chops firmly into seasoned flour, ensuring thick, even coverage.
- Pour ½ cup vegetable oil into a large skillet, heating to 375°F over medium-high heat. Your oil should shimmer but not smoke.
- Carefully slide breaded pork chops into hot oil. Fry 4-5 minutes per side until exterior turns deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Transfer fried chops to paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Let them rest while preparing gravy.
- Chop 4 bacon slices and cook in same skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 5-6 minutes. Remove bacon, keeping 3 tablespoons grease in pan.
- Add 2 tablespoons butter to bacon grease. Whisk in 2 tablespoons flour to create a roux, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour 2 cups whole milk into roux, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Simmer gravy 3-4 minutes until thickened.
- Season gravy with salt, pepper, and optional ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Stir crispy bacon pieces back into gravy.
- Drench golden pork chops with warm bacon gravy just before serving.
Notes
- Always use a meat thermometer to check that pork chops reach 145°F for safe and perfectly cooked meat.
- Keep the oil at a steady medium-high temperature to ensure a crispy, golden-brown crust without burning the breading.
- Let the pork chops rest on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and maintain their crunchiness.
- For a gluten-free version, replace wheat flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend when breading and making the gravy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 670 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 730 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg