Description
Ina Garten’s baked pork chops deliver rich, herbed flavors straight from her Barefoot Contessa kitchen. Home cooks can create this classic dinner with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques that guarantee a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in pork chops (¾-inch thick, about 2 ¼ lbs/1 kg)
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 5 tbsps vegetable oil
- 3 tbsps grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tsps dried Italian seasoning
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- lemon wedges (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to a blazing 450°F (232°C), setting the stage for a perfectly crisp pork chop experience.
- Seasoning Blend: Combine panko breadcrumbs, olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Italian herbs, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large plastic bag. Thoroughly mix the ingredients by massaging the bag to create a uniform coating mixture.
- Coating Technique: Lightly moisten pork chops with water to help the breadcrumb mixture adhere. Transfer chops into the seasoned breadcrumb bag, shaking and turning to ensure complete, even coverage.
- Baking Setup: Position a wire cooling rack on a rimmed baking sheet to promote air circulation. Arrange breaded pork chops with ample space between them, sprinkling any remaining breadcrumb mixture over the top for extra crunch.
- Roasting Process: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, roasting for 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). Cooking time may vary depending on chop thickness.
- Resting and Serving: Remove pork chops from the oven and let rest for 3-5 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute. Garnish with fresh lemon wedges to add a bright, zesty complement to the crispy exterior.
Notes
- Maximize Crispiness: Use a wire rack on the baking sheet to ensure hot air circulates evenly, creating a uniformly golden and crunchy exterior.
- Moisture Magic: Lightly spray pork chops with water before breading to help the panko crumbs stick better and create a more cohesive coating.
- Temperature Precision: Cook pork chops until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F to guarantee juicy, perfectly cooked meat without drying out.
- Resting Ritual: Allow pork chops to rest 3-5 minutes after cooking, letting juices redistribute for maximum tenderness and flavor preservation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 461
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg