An easy flavor-packed recipe for tender pork chops baked in a simple sauce of balsamic vinegar and French onion soup that turns out perfect every time.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
If you're looking for something simple to make for supper that's delicious, homemade and affordable, this is the recipe for you, my friend!
The flavor is amazing, there are only a few ingredients and the cooking method could not be easier. Really... you turn the oven off halfway through cooking and let the magic happen all on its own.
Since beef prices have shot through the roof (seriously, what in the WORLD?!), I've been cooking a lot of pork. When I can buy 6 big, thick pork chops for the price of one ribeye, we're having pork for supper!
When I first made the Braised Pork & Cabbage recipe I was astonished at how tender the meat was. Like, truly gobsmacked.
Since then, I've been thinking a lot about how to achieve the same results in a simpler recipe for pork chops.
Well, lemme tell you what... I did!
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
The same 3 techniques that work to make the meat so tender in the Braised Pork & Cabbage recipe I mentioned above are used here too: high then slow heat, acid and open baking.
HIGH TO SLOW HEAT: We're browning the chops then tossing them into a hot oven then turning the oven off to let the chops slowly finish cooking and come to a resting point (when the juices decide to stay inside the meat).
ACID: Tomatoes supply the acid in the other recipe and balsamic vinegar brings it here. The acid in the vinegar tenderizes the pork.
OPEN BAKING: By allowing the chops to bake in an open, arid oven the meat cooks more gently (steam and contained heat in a covered pan can be harsh on pork) AND it reduces the cooking liquid into a lovely pan sauce.
INGREDIENTS FOR EASY BALSAMIC BAKED PORK CHOPS
Other than spices and oil, there are only three other ingredients!
- Thick bone-in pork chops
- Olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Dried thyme
- French Onion soup
- Balsamic vinegar
FAQ ON EASY BALSAMIC BAKED PORK CHOPS
Can I use other types of vinegar? Yes! Apple cider vinegar, red and white wine vinegars and rice wine vinegar would all be excellent substitutions for the balsamic vinegar. If using regular white vinegar, reduce to 2 teaspoons.
Do I have to use vinegar? For this recipe, yes BUT if you're dead-set against it, you could use other acidic ingredients like tomato paste or Worcestershire sauce (probably 1.5 tablespoon of either).
Can I use different condensed soups? No and yes. You can't use any creamed soups to achieve the same results but you could use Beef Consommé or Golden Mushroom condensed soup.
What if I don't have an oven-safe skillet big enough to fit all the chops? If you don't a big skillet, simply brown the pork chops in batches then place them into a 13x9 pan. The recipe includes instructions for exactly how to do just that.
Can I use boneless or thin pork chops? I'm not sure because I haven't tested the recipe with either. Bone-in chops are always more tender (and flavorful). My guess would be to reduce the initial oven cooking time to 20 minutes. If you try either, please comment to let us know!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH EASY BALSAMIC BAKED PORK CHOPS
This recipe makes its own pan sauce (holla!) but it does have a twang from the balsamic vinegar so I wouldn't serve it over potatoes (rice, noodles, etc.) as I would gravy.
Since the oven will be off but in use, you'll want to make side dishes that can be prepared on the stove or microwave.
I'll post some of my favorite potato, rice and pasta side dish recipes below that you won't need an oven to prepare!
STOVE-TOP, CROCK POT & MICROWAVE SIDES
Paired with a salad or green vegetable, here are some ideas that come to mind to serve with Easy Balsamic Baked Pork Chops:
EASY CHEESY PARMESAN ORZO - A simple no-fail side dish recipe with orzo pasta cooked in a parmesan cream sauce that comes together in minutes and cooks perfectly every time.
POLISH NOODLES WITH SOUR CREAM & ONIONS - A simple homemade side dish recipe with egg noodles, sauteed onions and a simple sour cream sauce very much like Beef Stroganoff or Noodles Romanoff.
SLOW COOKER RANCH ROASTED POTATOES - A super easy recipe for red potatoes (new potatoes) roasted in the crock pot using dry ranch dressing seasoning mix and olive oil.
GARLIC BUTTER & MUSHROOM RICE - Fresh mushrooms sautéed with garlic and butter cooked with rice on the stovetop in a savory, beefy stock for a quick and easy side dish.
CLASSIC RICE ALMONDINE - A classic side dish recipe with crunchy toasted almonds stirred into tender, savory rice made with buttery sauteed onions and garlic.
NO-FAIL MICROWAVE RICE PILAF - Make perfectly cooked, tender, fluffy rice in the microwave with this recipe for classic Rice Pilaf.
HOT BUTTERED NOODLES - Wide egg noodles (or Amish noodles) cooked in broth and butter with a supper easy "walk away" recipe.
Recipe for How to Cook Easy Balsamic Baked Pork Chops
Easy Balsamic Baked Pork Chops
An easy flavor-packed recipe for tender pork chops baked in a simple sauce of balsamic vinegar and French onion soup that turns out perfect every time.
Ingredients
- 5-6 thick bone-in pork chops
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 can condensed French Onion soup
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine salt and spices then season both sides of pork chops. 1/2 tsp each salt, pepper, garlic, thyme
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (see notes for other types of pans) over medium-high heat until oil is shimmering. Place pork chops in hot skillet then brown on one side for 3-4 minutes. 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Meanwhile, open soup can then add balsamic vinegar straight to the can. Gently stir to combine. 1 can soup, 1 Tbsp vinegar
- Flip pork chops then brown 2 minutes.
- Pour soup mixture into skillet around chops (not over the top of the chops).
- Place skillet in preheated oven then cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
- Baste chops with pan sauce then return to oven.
- Turn off oven then leave pork chops in the hot oven 30-40 minutes.
- Remove chops to a serving plate then pour pan sauce over chops to serve.
Notes
- If you don't have an oven-safe skillet big enough to fit all the pork chops, simply brown in batches then place browned chops in a 13x9 pan. Pour soup mixture into skillet after browning chops then heat and stir until simmering. Pour hot soup mixture into 13x9 pan around chops then bake per recipe.
- See FAQ section above recipe card for more info.
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Hi there! While I’m not able to respond to every comment, I try hard to answer any questions that haven’t been addressed in the post, recipe or in other comments.
I can tell you now 1) I have no idea if you can substitute Minute Rice or brown rice in my recipes because I’ve never used them and 2) If I know how to convert a recipe to a Crock Pot version, I will make a note about it (otherwise, I don’t know).
And though I may not respond to them all, I do read each and every comment and I LOVE to hear from you guys! Thanks, y’all! - Mandy