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This creamy Lemon & Thyme Smothered Pork Chops recipe always gets rave reviews. It’s flavorful and ready in 35 minutes or less.

Pork chops are a simple, yet impressive, main dish. These chops pair really well with Parmesan Potatoes or Crock Pot Rice.

Smothered pork chop served on a plate with rice

delicious and elegant!

I know I usually stick with sharing sweets and treats, but today I thought I’d switch things up a bit and share one of our favorite smothered pork chop recipes.

These creamy lemon and thyme pork chops are perfect for cozy weekend dinners or elegant holiday dinners.

They’re crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and smothered in a luscious cream sauce that everyone will love! Serve them up with rice, potatoes or even a bed of pasta. The options are endless!

Breading pork chops in seasoned mixture

How to Make Smothered Pork Chops

I generally prefer using boneless pork chops, but when it comes to entertaining, I think bone-in is the way to go. You can use either for this recipe.

CHOPS. The first step is making the breading, then pan-frying the pork chops and letting them finish in the oven.

SAUCE. While they’re baking, you can whip up the cream sauce in the same skillet you used earlier. The fewer the dishes the better, right? Plus you get all of those browned bits in your sauce that make it taste even more amazing!

*Note: The sauce only requires a few ingredients and a few minutes to make. It does however, require FRESH lemon and thyme. No substitutes or shortcuts allowed. This is the main source of seasoning for the pork chops (aside from the breading), so using the correct ingredients is key.

SERVE. Once the pork chops are fully cooked, you’ll want to nestle them into the cream sauce and spoon it over top. We like to use small condiment dishes to serve additional cream sauce on the side, and it’s always gone in no time!

Baked smothered pork chops on a metal sheet pan

Recipe Tips

Keep these tips in mind while making these chops…

  • Searing the pork chops in a skillet first helps to keep them moist. It also creates a nice crust on the outside.
  • Pork chop temp is 145 degrees. Followed by a 3 minute rest time. 
  • Adding fresh lemon zest on top really brings a bright element to the dish.
  • Add a bit of grated Parmesan for a deeper flavor.
How to make smothered pork chops in a skillet

Leftovers

Place any leftover chops, along with the sauce, in an airtight container. STORE it in the fridge for 3-4 days.

You can REHEAT the chops in a pan in the oven or in a skillet on the stove top. If you’re in a hurry you can also use the microwave.

If you’re looking for a delicious recipe to serve for the holidays or just want to do something different with pork, I’d highly suggest giving this recipe a try. It got two BIG thumbs up from everyone!

A smothered pork chop on a plate with rice

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5 from 13 votes

Smothered Pork Chops Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
This creamy Lemon & Thyme Smothered Pork Chops recipe always gets rave reviews. It's flavorful and ready in 35 minutes or less.
Servings: 4
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 35 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 c all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
  • 3/4 tsp pepper, divided
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp parsley *optional
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne
  • 4 pork chops bone-in or boneless
  • 5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/3 c white wine *or chicken broth
  • 1/4 c fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme
  • 3/4 c heavy whipping cream

Instructions 

  • In a glass dish, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, garlic powder, paprika, parsley, and cayenne. Dredge pork chops in mixture, remove any excess.
  • In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter and melt. Brown pork chops well on both sides, about 4-6 minutes per side. Remove from pan and transfer to a lined baking sheet. Place in the oven to bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes (or until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees).
  • Using the same skillet, set over medium heat. Add the wine, and whisk, scraping up any browned bits. Allow to reduce by half. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and thyme, whisk to combine.
  • Add the heavy cream and remaining butter. Bring to a gentle simmer, and cook until slightly thickened.
  • Return the pork chops to the pan, allow to cook for 5 minutes, spooning the sauce over top. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve with remaining sauce.

Notes

Adapted from Creole Contessa

Nutrition

Calories: 577kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 40g, Saturated Fat: 22g, Cholesterol: 189mg, Sodium: 958mg, Potassium: 620mg, Vitamin A: 1430IU, Vitamin C: 8.5mg, Calcium: 47mg, Iron: 1.7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Natalie

I'm the food photographer and blogger behind Life Made Simple. I'm passionate about creating from scratch family-friendly recipes ranging from healthy to decadent.

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5 from 13 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




21 Comments

  1. Kristina says:

    5 stars
    I’m always on the look out for good pork chop recipes. Can’t wait to try this.

  2. Lisalia says:

    5 stars
    Delicious sauce and incredibly tender meat! It was a special occasion meal for a weeknight. The BEST meal because it was so easy to make and turned out perfectly.

    1. LilLunaTeam says:

      I’m so happy it turned out so well! Hope you enjoyed your special occasion! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Suzy says:

    5 stars
    That lemon and thyme together is to die for! So flavorful!

    1. LilLunaTeam says:

      I’m so happy you liked it! I love that combo as well!

  4. Betsy says:

    5 stars
    Wow! These turned out so incredible! Love the flavor of the pork chops and that delicious cream sauce! Cooked absolutely perfectly! Perfect week night meal!

    1. LilLunaTeam says:

      Pork chops and sauce are such a great combo! I’m so happy it turned out so perfectly for you! Thanks for sharing!

  5. Joy says:

    5 stars
    I will be making pork chops this way again! I loved the crispy outer edge & the flavor is incredible! They were so tasty!

  6. Olivia says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. Great tasting pork chops in a creamy sauce.

  7. AJ says:

    5 stars
    This is a faboo recipe, made it today! Just a tip: half the zest, and add a half teaspoon of sugar once you’ve added the cream, it makes it sing! I also topped mine with some grated parm, it was wonderful!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thanks for the tips ๐Ÿ™‚ I am so glad you liked it!! Thank you1

  8. Monica says:

    I love all of your pork recipes, but i don’t eat pork. Would i be able to substitute it with another meat?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Of course ๐Ÿ™‚ Some recipes, I haven’t tried with other meats, but they should still taste good ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Bec says:

    That looks yummy, and we woke up today to a deluge of rain, so this is perfect dinner for a day like that! Lemon and thyme go so well together!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      So, what did you think? Hope you liked them!

  10. Tarah says:

    I love lemon and thyme together! Such a great combo!