Description
Whipping up lemon butter pork chops brings a zesty spark to your dinner table with minimal effort. Fresh citrus and rich butter create a mouthwatering pan sauce that makes your weeknight meal feel like something special.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless pork chops
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Components:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare seasoning blend by thoroughly mixing 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Evenly coat each 1-inch thick pork chop with seasoning mixture, pressing spices gently into the meat’s surface.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (around 400°F) until oil shimmers and appears slightly rippled.
- Carefully place 4 seasoned pork chops into hot skillet, allowing each side to sear for exactly 3-4 minutes until golden brown exterior develops.
- Transfer seared chops to a clean plate, keeping skillet heated at medium temperature.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium-low and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter, allowing it to melt smoothly.
- Add 4 minced garlic cloves to melted butter, stirring constantly for 30-45 seconds until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Pour 1 cup chicken broth, 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, and 1 tsp lemon zest into skillet, creating a bubbling sauce.
- Simmer sauce for 2-3 minutes, letting liquid reduce and flavors concentrate.
- Return pork chops to skillet, nestling them into sauce and cooking for 5-7 minutes at 350°F until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Swirl remaining 1 tbsp butter into sauce and sprinkle 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley over chops.
- Plate pork chops and generously drizzle remaining lemon butter sauce on top before serving immediately.
Notes
- Check the internal temperature of the pork chops reaches 145°F for perfect doneness without drying out the meat.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for the best sear and most flavorful caramelization on the pork chops.
- Fresh lemon zest and juice make a huge difference in brightening the sauce’s flavor compared to bottled alternatives.
- For a gluten-free version, replace chicken broth with white wine or additional lemon juice to maintain the sauce’s richness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 312 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg