Lemon Pepper Pork Chops
These baked pork chops, with a tasty lemon pepper marinade, are a cinch to make. The whole family will enjoy these flavorful and juicy pork chops any night of the week.
Servings 4
Calories 338kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in or boneless pork chops (about 1 inch thick)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Lemon Pepper store bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- herbs such as oregano, thyme, parsley, or dill (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the marinade. Transfer the marinade to a baking dish or resealable bag.¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 3 garlic cloves, 1 ½ teaspoons Lemon Pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, herbs
- Add the pork chops, coating them well in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours for more flavor).4 bone-in or boneless pork chops
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a clean baking dish.
- Remove pork chops from the marinade and place in the prepared dish. Discard excess marinade.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer reads 145°F in the thickest part of the pork chop.
- Let the pork chops rest 5 minutes before serving so the juices redistribute throughout the meat
Notes
Ang's Recipe Tips
✔️ For kids, I like to make boneless pork chops; they're just easier, and the meal will be ready quicker, too.
✔️ Lemon juice is great for tenderizing meat, but because it's super acidic, you can't leave meat in it for more than 4 hours. Marinating the pork for too long in lemon juice can result in a mealy or mushy texture once it's cooked, so be cautious.
✔️ Avoid dried-out pork chops by using a meat thermometer. Once the thickest part of the chops reaches an internal temperature of 145°F, remove them and let them rest for 3-5 minutes, allowing the juices to redistribute. Following these steps will ensure the juicy chops everyone loves!
Make Ahead
It's best to cook and serve pork the same day. However, you can prepare the marinade the night before and store it in the fridge; just don't add the pork yet.
Nutrition
Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 647mg | Potassium: 543mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
