Easy Skillet Seared Maple Glazed Pork Chops

These Easy Skillet Seared Maple Glazed Pork Chops are tender, juicy and dripping with maple glaze flavor. They are a quick delicious dinner that can be make in under 20 minutes.

Do you find pork chops hard to cook? I used to set my hopes on a tender juicy meal only to be disappointed by unsuccessful dried out pork chops. I kind of gave up.

Then my eyes were opened to “resting your meat”. It was one of the pinnacle moments in my cooking journey. Rest my meat? Why would I do that? Don’t you want to eat your meat while it’s hot?

Of course you do, but here is a quick science lesson. The meat will continue to cook a little after it’s removed from the heat source. Resting also redistributes the moisture back into the meat. Cutting into your meat right away will drain the liquid from your meat and what was perfectly cooked becomes tough and dry.

This was a lightbulb moment for me. In all honesty, when I found this out it was almost a relief. It wasn’t my cooking that was the problem, it was not letting my meat rest! And the best part about this is, it provides me time to finish preparing the rest of my meal. I don’t have to feel rushed to make my whole meal come together all at the same time.

Moral of the story, let your pork chops rest for about 10-15 minutes before you eat them. This is the key to the success in making these Maple Glazed Pork Chops.

Ingredients to make Maple Glazed Pork Chops

1. Pork Chops (I recommend sourcing from a local farm where the pork is pastured and organic. Why Organic and Pasture Raised?
2. Garlic Powder
3. Paprika
4. Unrefined Salt
5. Maple Syrup
6. Dijon Mustard
7. Coconut Aminos
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
9. Butter, Ghee or Lard

How to make Maple Glazed Pork Chops

First, pat your pork chops dry. Sprinkle pork chops with garlic powder, paprika and salt and rub into the meat on both sides. Set meat aside.

Preheat Cast Iron Skillet to medium heat and your oven to 350 degrees F. While those are preheating, make the maple glaze. In a small bowl add maple syrup, dijon mustard, coconut aminos and apple cider vinegar. Whisk them together. I love my Steel Ball Whisk for mixing everything together.

Add 2 Tbsp Butter or Lard to hot skillet (Why Fat’s). Place seasoned pork chops onto hot skillet. Sear pork chops for about 2-3 minutes on each side. You’re looking for the outside to develop a crispy brown crust.

Pour the maple glaze overtop the pork chops and around the skillet. Bring sauce to a boil, this will only take a minute or two.

Transfer skillet to preheated oven. Bake for 5-7 minutes. Check the center of the pork with a thermometer and when it reaches 145 degree F remove from oven.

The last step is important, I talked about this above. Rest your pork chops in your skillet for 10-15 minutes before serving. This is the key in keeping the pork chops tender and juicy.

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Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

Fish Spatula

Thermometer

Steel Ball Whisk