Mediterranean Pork Chops Recipe: A Cooking Technique Makes Them Super Juicy by 30Seconds Food

Pork chops are at the top of many people's weekly recipe rotation. And for good reason. Pork chops are simple to prepare, easy to cook and so versatile. Pork chops can be fried, pan-seared, grilled, baked and broiled. These Mediterranean pork chops are cooked in a skillet after being marinated. They're a quick and easy dinner not lacking in juiciness or flavor.

The boneless gluten-free pork chops are marinated in olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried oregano, lemon zest and garlic. (You'll save a little of the marinade for later.) The pork can marinate for as little as two hours, but try to let them soak in the tasty marinade as long as you can. The pork chops go straight from the marinade into a hot skillet to cook.

The secret in this recipe for juicy chops is turning off the heat, covering the pan and letting the residual heat finish the cooking. This technique takes out the fear of overcooking and lets the chops soak up the pan juices. Delish! To serve, drizzle with the saved marinade and fresh parsley.

These juicy Mediterranean pork chops are delicious with an arugula salad or your favorite side dishes.

Cuisine: Mediterranean / American
Prep Time: 5 minutes plus 2 hours to marinate 
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes plus time to marinate 
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 boneless pork chops
• fresh chopped parsley, for garnish

Marinade

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Recipe Notes

• If you don't like using plastic food storage bags, marinate the pork chops in a shallow dish, turning often.

• Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your pork chops.

Here's how to make it: 

1. Stir together the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Put the pork chops and about 3 tablespoons of the marinade into a food storage bag. (Reserve the remaining marinade for serving.) Seal and marinate at least 2 hours and up to overnight. 
2. When ready to cook, heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and cook about 2 minutes per side or until golden. Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Let the residual heat in the pan finish cooking the pork chops, about 3 to 5 minutes depending on thickness. (Pork is done at 145 degrees F internal temperature.)
3. Drizzle the remaining marinade and chopped parsley over the chops before serving. 

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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