Fried pork chops recipe collection – only tried & true, taste tested recipes!
Browse the Fried Pork Chops Recipe List or
Skim a few key points about frying pork chops first and then browse the recipes.
How To Fry Pork Chops
There are several ways to fry pork chops depending on the technique used.
The cut of pork chop tends to dictate the preparation and the frying approach. The singular goal of course is tender, juicy and flavorful meat with a crispy, delectable outside.
The main ways to fry pork chops are:
- deep-frying – a lot of oil heated to about 350-375 F, the meat cooks really fast
- pan-frying – a moderate amount of oil heated to 350 F
- pan-searing – a little bit of oil at a high enough temperature to brown the meat
- air-frying – in reality just convection baking
How Long to Fry Pork Chops
The rule of thumb is – fry pork chops until they reach internal temperature of 145 F. Use a meat thermometer for best results.
In fact, for many recipes you only want to cook them until they reach about 135 F and then take them off the heat and allow them to rest and settle onto a baking sheet or a plate lined with paper towel. The residual heat brings the temperature up to 145 F during rest, especially if the chops are loosely tented with foil.
So pay attention to all temperature related instructions in the recipe of your choice.
The exact time for pork chops to reach 145 F will vary depending on:
- where they are cut from
- whether they are bone-in pork chops or boneless
- their thickness and size
- the frying method used
Should I Brine Pork Chops Before Cooking Them?
As a general rule pork can always benefit from a good soak in a brine or at least a tenderizing marinade (a meat mallet is not the only option). (Read Brine vs Marinate)
The thicker the pork chop, the more time it will require to cook and the more moisture will be lost in the process – hence the greater the benefit from a brine.
That being said, sometimes brining is not needed. Typically when the pork chop has sufficient fat content and/or the cooking process is short and sweet. If a recipe asks you to brine your pork chops – do not skip the step.
Best Fried Pork Chops Recipes
Truth be told, when people want to eat fried pork chops they are normally having visions of golden brown breaded, deep-fried cutlets with a super crispy outside and a juicy, tender inside.
Yet the pork chops frying universe is larger and we have hand-picked some of the best recipes featuring a variety of ways to prepare them.
Pork Schnitzel
Probably the best known breaded fried pork chop in the world is the pork schnitzel.
Capitalizing on the glory of the classic Wiener schnitzel which is prepared with veal cutlets, thin pork cutlets, breaded and fried, are by far the most popular schnitzel preparation in the world. The meat cut is less expensive than veal and they are just as tender when cut from the center loin of the hog and then pounded before cooking.
Pork schnitzel is a veritable staple of German food and a favorite on Oktoberfest menus.
This is a classic Pork Schnitzel recipe with tips on how to prepare multiple schnitzels for a crowd. Demonstrational video of the technique included.
Southern Fried Pork Chops Recipe
The chicken-fried style treatment applied to these pork chops makes them irresistibly crispy while very moist inside.
In a classic Southern manner they are first soaked in buttermilk (substitute with yogurt if you do not have it handy) which breaks down the protein structure of the meat and tenderizes it.
The delicious, crunchy coating is owed to a spiced flour breading which follows the buttermilk bath.
Overall a very easy recipe to execute and you can whip up the optional cream gravy if you feel like adding on extra calories and goodness. Recipe here.
Tonkatsu Japanese Pork Cutlets
Tonkatsu is a western-inspired deep-fried pork cutlet dish which has been enjoyed in Japan for over 120 years.
Panko bread crumbs- crusted and double-fried these pork chops are extra, extra crispy. Notice how the presentation includes pre-slicing the cooked meat to make it easy to pick up with chopsticks.
The Japanese author of the recipe explains that a plate of tonkatsu is never complete without a heap of thinly shredded cabbage and a generous drizzle of tonkatsu sauce. Recipe here.
Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops
You will appreciate the ease of this pork dinner and the fact that you slather the pork rib chops with mayonnaise before you bread them.
The juciest pork chops cooked with a coat of breading in the air fryer are thicker bone-in cuts. Recipe here.
Air Fryer Pork Chops (No Breading)
Heavily seasoned with garlic powder, salt, paprika, onion powder and ready in 10 minutes. You will not miss the breading on these air fried pork chops – they form a delicious crust whether you cook them in an air fryer unit with a basket or an air fryer oven.
One thing we recommend prior to using the recipe is to brine your pork chops – they end up much jucier than if you don’t. Here is a basic pork chop brine recipe. Place them in brine in the morning and when it is time to cook dinner simply rinse and pat dry. Then follow this recipe.
Chuletas Fritas
This chuleta frita recipe is iconic for the Caribbean islands and nations of Central America.
These are truly easy fried pork chops. There is no breading involved. Instead, before frying the chuletas are marinated in a flavorful acidic concoction which also tenderizes the meat.
They can be deep-fried, pan-fried or pan-seared with just a bit of oil. For an extra decadent touch you can opt for the Cuban style presentation which involves frying thinly sliced onion to top the chuletas. Recipe here.
Peking Pork Chops
Deep fried tender cutlets covered in delectable peking sauce. They may look too good to be true but fear not – this is a very easy to follow recipe and you will love the outcome.
The Mandarin name for the pork chops is Jing Du Pork ( 京都排骨) and they are often prepared for the Chinese New Year because the pig symbolizes abundance and prosperity. The red sticky sauce also has auspicious connotations. Recipe here.
Smothered Pork Chops
Smothered pork chops are a Southern culinary symbol and pure comfort food.
In Southern parlance the term to smother means to cook meat low and slow in a rich gravy until it relaxes and becomes perfectly tender.
The pork chops are lightly breaded with flour and then pan-seared over medium-high heat just long enough to brown nicely. Then they are smothered in a rich and savory brown gravy.
From all the recipes we have tried over the years this one is our top pick. Recipe here.
Pan-Seared Thin Pork Chops with Creamy Honey Mustard Sauce
A very quick pork dinner at your fingertips! Grab your cast-iron skillet.
Center-cut loin boneless thin pork chops are lightly dusted in all-purpose flour then pan-seared to form a nicely browned, flavorful surface. Next they are simmered to tender perfection in a creamy sauce flavored by a combination of honey and Dijon mustard.
If you are not into honey mustard you can use the base sauce recipe and flavor the cream with just mustard and some garlic, or chipotles in adobo, or sun-dried tomatoes or whatever speaks to you. Recipe here.
Italian Breaded Pork Chops
A classic Italian entree with a healthy dose of parmesan cheese in the breading. It infuses the outside of these pork chops with umami and they taste much more flavorful than you would expect.
The workflow for preparing the Italian pan-seared chops is very straight forward – no surpises. Be sure to heed the temperature related instructions – these chops can really benefit if you remove them from the heat a bit earlier before the internal temperature registers 145 F and allowed to come up to temperature as they rest. Recipe here.
Quick Pan-Fried Pork Chops
So often in life less is more and this is very true with these easy pan-fried pork chops.
The method of preparation is as simple as it gets and you really allow the pork to come forward with its legendary deliciousness. Some cayenne pepper adds heat.
Thin bone-in ribeye pork chops work great here – the more fat, the better they will taste. Serve them with some fresh cracked black pepper and vegetables. Recipe here.
Din Tai Fung Pork Chop Fried Rice
Din Tai Fung is a world-renowned restaurant chain out of Taiwan that specializes in soup dumplings and noodles but also serves a variety of mouthwatering Chinese food. If you ever tried their pork chop fried rice (they have several locations in the US) you are not likely to forget it.
These pork chops are customarily prepared with Korubuta pork (Berkshire breed) and because the cut is the lean, center loin boneless type they are brined before cooking. Heed the instructions in the recipe to prepare a meal that is as close to the original as possible. Recipe here.
You Might Be Interested
How to Brine Pork Chops
Sauces for Pork Chops
12+ Best Fried Pork Chop Recipes
Tried and true fried pork chops recipe collection.
Ingredients
- Pork Schnitzel
- Southern Fried Pork Chops
- Tonkatsu
- Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fried Pork Chops (No Breading)
- Chuletas Fritas
- Peking Pork Chops
- Smothered Pork Chops
- Pan-seared Thin Pork Chops with Creamy Honey Mustard Sauce
- Italian Breaded Pork Chops
- Quick Pan-Fried Pork Chops
- Pork Chops Fried Rice (Din Tai Fung)
Instructions
- Choose a fried pork chops recipe by following the direct link.
- Prepare the needed ingredients and kitchen equipment.
- Fry some delicious pork chops!
Leave a Reply