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A seasoned, cooked lemon pepper pork chop garnished with fresh herbs sits next to a serving of mashed potatoes on a white plate. A bunch of parsley is partially visible in the background.
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Lemon Pepper Pork Chops

These Lemon Pepper Pork Chops are ready in 30 minutes with simple ingredients. Juicy, flavorful pork chops with bright citrus and garlic make the perfect easy dinner.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Resting Time2 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Ingredients

  • 4 pork chops, boneless or bone-in *See note!
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Juice of 2 lemons

Instructions

  • Add your pork chops to a large ziploc bag along with the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Shake the bag vigorously until the pork chops are evenly coated. Let marinate for 10-15 minutes.
  • Melt the butter in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Once the butter is completely melted add your pork chops.
  • Cook the pork for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
  • Remove the meat from heat and let rest up to 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pork Chop Options & Cook Time:
  • Use whatever kind of pork chops you have on hand or find on sale — boneless, bone-in, thin or thick. The cooking time will vary with thinner, boneless cuts cooking the quickest, and bone-in, thicker cuts taking longer.
  • I highly recommend using a digital thermometer so you know exactly when the meat is done. Pork, especially thin cuts, are so easy to overcook and dry out!
Zesty Flavor: I love the lemon flavor of these pork chops! It's easy to customize the citrus zesty flavor and the spicy pepper, too.
  • For more zesty zing, add the zest of the second lemon. You can also top your pork chops with lemon zest or lemon slices for serving.
  • For an extra spicy kick, add another 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Using fresh ground pepper will also raise the peppery kick.
My Kids' Favorite Sides: My kids' favorite sides for these pork chops are creamy mashed potatoes and easy stove top green beans or asparagus when it's in season. I personally like adding a small fresh salad with a lemon vinaigrette since I enjoy the lemon flavor so much!
Make-ahead Tip: You can marinate the pork chops up to 24 hours in advance - the lemon will actually help tenderize the meat slightly. Just cook when ready to serve for the best texture and flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 647mg | Potassium: 519mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

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