Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops with Garlic Butter.
A short soak in buttermilk tenderizes these bone-in pork chops before they hit a hot cast iron skillet, where they sear fast and finish bathed in melted garlic and herb butter. The actual cooking only takes about 10 minutes, even though the marinade needs a couple hours on its own. It's the technique, not a long ingredient list, that makes these worth making again.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pork chops (bone-in, 1 inch thick or more)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic (smashed)
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Marinate the pork chop in buttermilk overnight or for at least 2 hours. Rinse, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil at medium-high heat until the pan is hot. Add the pork chops; they should sizzle as they touch the pan. Sear for 1 minute. Flip and sear for 1 minute more. Turn down the heat to medium and continue cooking, turning periodically until the chops reach an internal temperature of 120º when testing in the thickest part, about 2-4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chops.
- Move the pork chops to the edge of the skillet and add butter, herbs, and garlic to the center of the pan. Baste the chops with the butter mixture. Once the internal temperature reaches 135ºF remove from the pan and let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes.
- Pour the butter mixture remaining in the pan over the pork chops and serve hot.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- Pull the chops at 135°F, not 145°F. They'll finish cooking the rest of the way as they rest for 5 minutes.
- Keep the chops from touching in the pan. Use a larger skillet or cook in batches if you're making more than 2.
- Let the pan get very hot before the pork goes in, that's what gives you the sear.
- Pat the chops completely dry after marinating so they sear instead of steam.
Nutrition
Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 430IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
