Description
Smothered Pork Chops bring Southern comfort straight to your dinner table with rich gravy and tender meat that melts in your mouth. Creamy onion sauce and perfectly seasoned chops make this classic dish a weeknight winner that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 thin pork chops
Coating and Seasoning:
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Liquids and Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons bacon fat
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups buttermilk
- Chopped fresh parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup flour, 2 tbsp onion powder, 2 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tsp red pepper, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper in a pie plate, mixing thoroughly to create an even seasoning blend.
- Take each pork chop and coat it completely in the flour mixture, tapping off any excess coating.
- Heat 2 tbsp bacon fat and 2 tbsp olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat (375°F) until the fat shimmers and looks hot.
- Carefully place the seasoned pork chops into the hot skillet, cooking for 5 minutes until the bottom turns golden brown and crispy.
- Flip the pork chops and cook the opposite side for another 5 minutes, ensuring a consistent golden color across both surfaces.
- Remove the pork chops from the skillet and set them on a clean plate temporarily.
- Whisk ½ cup of the remaining flour mixture with 2 cups buttermilk directly in the same skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Stir the gravy continuously over medium-low heat for 7-8 minutes until it thickens and reaches a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Return the cooked pork chops to the skillet, gently nestling them into the gravy to reheat for 3-4 minutes.
- Taste the gravy and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle chopped parsley or green onions on top before serving.
Notes
- Use a cast iron skillet for the best flavor and even heat distribution when frying the pork chops.
- Shake off excess flour coating to prevent a thick, pasty crust and ensure a crispy, golden exterior.
- Work with room temperature pork chops to help them cook more evenly and prevent tough, dry meat.
- For a lighter version, swap bacon fat with olive oil and use low-fat buttermilk to reduce overall calories.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pork
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg