Moist Baked Pork Chops

These brined pork chops are moist and tender--seasoned with a brown sugar and spice dry rub, seared, and baked to perfection. Try serving them with nectarine salsa!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 309 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 4 cups cold water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
• aluminum foil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or more as needed
• 4 (5 ounce) center-cut pork chops on the bone
• 0.5 cup packed brown sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.25 cup kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon dry mustard powder

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Combine cold water, salt, peppercorns, and bay leaf for brine in a bowl. Place pork chops in a shallow baking dish and pour the brine over top. Let sit for 1 to 2 hours.

Step 3

Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, mustard powder, salt, and pepper for rub in a small mixing bowl.

Step 4

Remove pork chops from brine, rinse under cold water, and pat dry. Rub pork chops generously on both sides with the seasoning mix. Discard brine.

Step 5

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to the hot skillet. Add pork chops to the hot oil and sear until browned, 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 6

Turn pork chops and place skillet in the preheated oven. Bake until no longer pink in the center, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, tent with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.