These easy Oven BBQ Pork Chops are coated in a thick, sweet and zesty homemade molasses and mustard barbecue sauce. Best of all, the tender and juicy baked pork chops are ready for the oven with just 10 minutes of prep!
Easy dinner alert! When you're tired of chicken, or if you just need a new and different way to prepare your regular pork chop dinner, this Oven BBQ Pork Chop recipe comes to the rescue. You can use any pork chops that you've got on hand -- bone-in or boneless, thick or thin -- and a family-friendly meal will be ready for the table with just a few minutes of hands-on prep work.
How to cook Oven BBQ Pork Chops:
Yes, grilled bbq pork chops are a delicious summer treat...but sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate, you don't have a grill readily available, or you just need a quick option that you can toss in the oven and forget about for a little while! Believe it or not, you can bake bbq pork chops and still enjoy a delicious and flavorful meal.
Ingredients for Oven BBQ Pork Chops:
- Pork chops
- Yellow mustard
- Ketchup
- Molasses
- Brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tomato paste
- Seasoned salt, smoked paprika, chili powder
Step 1: Season the Pork Chops
Pat the pork chops dry and season liberally with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Brown the Pork Chops in a Skillet
In a skillet, brown the chops on both sides.
Step 3: Make the Barbecue Sauce
While the chops are browning in the skillet, use that time to whisk together your homemade molasses-mustard bbq sauce. This is a thick, rich sauce, which is great because it doesn't get watery and runny in the oven when it mixes with the juices from the meat.
Step 4: Pour the Sauce over the Pork Chops
Pour the sauce over the browned chops.
Step 5: Bake the BBQ Pork Chops
Bake the pork chops uncovered in a 350 degree F oven until the meat is cooked through. See the chart below for more specific baking times, based on the chops that you're using.
How long to bake BBQ Pork Chops at 350 degrees F:
The total amount of time needed to bake the pork chops will vary depending on the size, type and thickness of your pork chops. As a result, I like to use an instant-read meat thermometer to know when they're done. Pork chops should be baked until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Here's a quick chart that should serve as a helpful general guide when baking your seared pork chops at 350 degrees F (just remember, these are merely estimates and the meat thermometer is always your safest bet):
- Bone-in Thick Pork Chops: 25-30 minutes
- Bone-in Thin Pork Chops: 15-20 minutes
- Boneless Thick Pork Chops: 20-25 minutes
- Boneless Thin Pork Chops: 10-15 minutes
If you skip the stovetop browning step and just bake your pork chops right away, you will need to add about 5-8 minutes of cooking time in the oven.
What to serve with Oven BBQ Pork Chops:
Here are a few easy sides that go well with the baked BBQ thick pork chops:
- A simple green salad dressed in creamy Buttermilk Dressing
- Skillet Cornbread
- Sauteed Spinach (shown here)
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits (shown here)
- Slow Cooker Cowboy Pork and Beans
- Coleslaw
- Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
- Creamed Spinach
- Crock Pot Mac and Cheese or Stovetop Mac and Cheese
- Southern Potato Salad or Easy Potato Salad
- Classic Southern Macaroni Salad
- Creamed Peas
- Ranch Style Beans
- Sauteed Kale with Bacon
Preparation and Storage Tips:
- Prep ahead! You can whisk together the sauce up to 1 week in advance.
- For best results, allow the pork chops to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before browning in the skillet.
- Store leftover barbecue pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Wrapped tightly, the baked pork chops will last in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- How to reheat baked bbq pork chops: Place the pork chops in a dish and cover with foil. Warm in a 350 degree F oven for 10-15 minutes, or just until heated through. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will become tough and dry.
Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:
- I like to brown the pork chops on the stovetop before baking them. This step is NOT necessary, so you can certainly skip it if you're in a rush. That said, it only requires a few extra minutes (during which I also have a chance to whisk together my sauce). The browning adds color and flavor to the meat, and it also seals in the juices for a more tender and juicy baked pork chop. If you choose not to sear the chops, you'll need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
- Dutch Oven BBQ Pork Chops: prepare these pork chops in a Dutch oven (or other oven-proof skillet) and you'll have one less dish to wash at the end.
- Use any pork chops that you prefer: thick-cut, thin, boneless or bone-in. See the chart above for suggested cooking times based on the chops that you're using.
- Running short on time? Instead of making your own barbecue sauce, use a bottle of your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce to baste the pork chops before they go in the oven. You'll want a pretty thick bbq sauce (like Sweet Baby Ray's) so that it doesn't get watery and runny in the oven.
- Scale this recipe to feed a crowd! Prepare an extra batch of sauce for each large pan of pork chops.
- Cooking just for two? Cut the sauce ingredients in half and just bake two pork chops.
More pork chop recipes that you might enjoy:
- Oven Fried Breaded Pork Chops
- Crock Pot Ranch Pork Chops
- Pork Chops and Rice with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
- Country Pork Chop and Rice Bake
- Pork Chops with Stuffing
Oven BBQ Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops (I used thick-cut boneless chops here, but you can use any variety -- see the cooking chart for specific baking times)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pat pork chops dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chops and brown on both sides (about 3-5 minutes per side). Transfer the chops to a baking dish or, if using an ovenproof skillet, drain the fat off the skillet.
- While the pork chops are browning, prepare the barbecue sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour over the pork.
- Bake, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes, or until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Notes
- Bone-in Thick Pork Chops: 25-30 minutes
- Bone-in Thin Pork Chops: 15-20 minutes
- Boneless Thick Pork Chops: 20-25 minutes
- Boneless Thin Pork Chops: 10-15 minutes
- I like to brown the pork chops on the stovetop before baking them. This step is NOT necessary, so you can certainly skip it if you're in a rush. That said, it only requires a few extra minutes (during which I also have a chance to whisk together my sauce). The browning adds color and flavor to the meat, and it also seals in the juices for a more tender and juicy baked pork chop. If you choose not to sear the chops, you'll need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
- Dutch Oven BBQ Pork Chops: prepare these pork chops in a Dutch oven (or other oven-proof skillet) and you'll have one less dish to wash at the end.
- Use any pork chops that you prefer: thick-cut, thin, boneless or bone-in. See the chart above for suggesting cooking times based on the chops that you're using.
- Running short on time? Instead of making your own barbecue sauce, use a bottle of your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce to baste the pork chops before they go in the oven. You'll want a pretty thick bbq sauce (like Sweet Baby Ray's) so that it doesn't get watery and runny in the oven.
- Scale this recipe to feed a crowd! Prepare an extra batch of sauce for each large pan of chicken.
- Cooking just for two? Cut the sauce ingredients in half and just bake two pork chops.
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