This baked stuffed pork chops recipe is an easy and fancy way to add some finesse to any ordinary pork dinner. These pork chops are stuffed with a delicious and juicy pesto, cheese, and breadcrumb mixture that will tantalize the taste buds!
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
This easy stuffed pork chops recipe is a great way to upgrade your traditional baked pork chops with a gourmet feel. The combination of the Italian ingredients stuffed inside tender and juicy pork chops gives this dish an incredible flavor that will have your family begging for seconds!
The flavors of the pesto sauce mixed with breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and melted mozzarella cheese create a mouthwatering mixture to stuff inside the thick-cut pork chops. And you can buy the pork chops from the butchers with a center cut to save you even more time on prep.
Juicy stuffed pork chops are easier than they look to make and don't require a huge list of ingredients for the stuffing mixture.
With minimal prep and only 15 minutes of baking, you can have this delicious dish on the table in less than half an hour, making it a great meal to prepare during busy weeknights.
No matter the dinner occasion, your guests are guaranteed to love this amazing stuffed pork chop recipe! And if you love stuffed recipes, we have even more for you to try, like: stuffed portobello mushrooms, hearty stuffed peppers, stuffed rigatoni, or a classic chicken wellington.
🍽 Key Ingredients
This easy stuffed pork chops recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients and a skillet to bake them in. Here's what you'll need:
Boneless thick pork chops - Ask your butcher for thick-cut boneless and ask to make a slit in the center for stuffing.
Pesto sauce - Look for store-bought pesto sauce to save time.
Italian bread crumbs - Rather than buying plain bread crumbs, go for the Italian herb-flavored variety to add more flavor to the stuffing mixture.
Mozzarella cheese - Rich and creamy mozzarella cheese is the perfect melting cheese for stuffing recipes.
Olive oil - This is used to lightly grease the skillet to sear the pork chops and give them a wonderful color.
Seasoning - Give your stuffed pork chops some extra flavor with a pinch of Kosher salt and pepper, plus Italian seasoning.
Parsley - For garnish and extra flavor!
Substitutions
There are plenty of substitutions available for this recipe to make it your own. For example:
Pesto sauce
If you don't have pesto, you can use jarred tomato sauce or sun-dried tomato paste as a substitute.
Italian bread crumbs
Regular bread crumbs will work fine if you can't find the Italian variety.
Mozzarella cheese
Cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese are great substitutes for mozzarella.
Types of pork chops
There are many types of boneless and bone-in pork chops to choose from at the butchers, so here's a run-down of the best choices to use for your stuffed pork chop dinner.
Pork loin chops - One of the leanest cuts of the pork chop family that come from the hip and loin.
Pork blade chops - This cut contains a lot of fat compared to its counterparts and has a darker color that comes from the shoulder area.
Boneless pork chops - You can get boneless chops cut thick or thin and are mainly cut from the loin or rib.
Pork rib chops - These chops are more tender than the loin chops and have slightly more fat that comes from the lower loin.
🔪 How to make
Stuffed pork chops are surprisingly easy to make and can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. Follow the step-by-step instructions and helpful cooking tips below to get started for a delicious dinner your family and friends will remember.
Preparations
- Dry each pork chop with a paper towel and gently make a cut in the side of the chop using a sharp knife, making sure to not slice all the way through. The goal is to make a pocket big enough to fill with the stuffing.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius).
- Combine the pesto sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and bread crumbs in a bowl.
- Stuff pork chops with the mixture (around ¼ cup per chop) and stick a toothpick through the cut to fasten it and prevent the stuffing from escaping during cooking.
- Season both sides of the stuffed pork chops with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Set a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and sear the pork chops in the skillet for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
Step 2
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven to cook stuffed pork chops for 10 minutes until the internal temperature of the chops reaches between 135-145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 3
Remove the baked stuffed pork chops from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
💭 Cooking tips
Don't overcook the chops in the oven
To make sure your pork chops are juicy and tender and not dry, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the pork chop. When it reads 135F, remove them from the oven, as the temperature will continue to rise, and the juices will distribute while resting.
Searing the chops
The goal is to give the pork chops a lovely golden brown sear on the hot skillet before transferring them to the oven and not thoroughly cooking them.
Use a baking dish
If you don't want to put your skillet in the oven, you can transfer and bake stuffed pork chops in a baking dish with a wire wrack.
Sealing the cut
If you don't have toothpicks at hand, you could use butcher twine to help you secure the cut on the pork chops so that the stuffing doesn't come out while cooking.
📖 Recipe Variations
Once you have mastered this stuffed pork chops recipe, you could try other stuffing variations of this recipe. Here are some flavorful suggestions:
Apple and sage stuffed pork chops
Try a fruitful stuffing mix. Substitute the pesto sauce for apple sauce and swap the Italian seasoning for sage. Apple and pork are a classic combination, especially when paired with sage.
Spinach and cheese stuffed pork chops
For something different, sauté 1 cup of spinach with half a finely chopped onion, and 1 minced garlic clove for 5 minutes until the spinach wilts, then mix it with the seasonings, breadcrumbs, ¼ cup of ricotta cheese, and ½ a cup of parmesan cheese.
Bacon-wrapped stuffed pork chops
Once you have stuffed and sealed the pork chops, wrap them with 2 to 3 slices of bacon and secure them with a toothpick. The bacon and pork combination will give these chops an amazing flavor.
🥗 What to serve with
These stuffed pork chops pair perfectly with a ton of side sides, from pasta or rice to salads, potatoes, and vegetables. Here are a few of our favorites:
Greens
A side of healthy green vegetables is one of the best side dishes to serve with baked stuffed pork chops. Try some of our FAVS, broccoli salad, green bean casserole, or Southern-style fried cabbage.
Risotto
Risotto is a creamy Italian rice dish that is cooked in broth and butter. It's the perfect accompaniment to pork chops, as it adds richness and flavor. Try making an asparagus risotto for something truly amazing.
Potatoes
Roasted, mashed, or boiled potatoes are a great side dish for stuffed pork chops. Try these cheesy stuffed twice-baked potatoes.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Is it better to bake pork chops covered or uncovered?
It is best to cook pork chops uncovered in the oven. This allows them to get crispy and golden brown on the outside. If needed, you can cover the dish with foil halfway through cooking time to prevent them from drying out.
Can I make stuffed pork chops in the air fryer?
Yes, you can make stuffed pork chops in an air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400F, and cook the pork chops after searing for 5 to 6 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145F.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
If you have any leftover stuffed pork chops, you can store and reheat them once cooled.
Fridge - Transfer the leftover flavorful pork chops to an airtight container and store them for up to 3 days.
Freezer - Place each stuffed pork chop in a separate freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Alternatively, you can freeze them on a baking sheet and transfer them to a freezer container. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Reheating - The best way to reheat leftover pork chops is in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or in the microwave for 3 minutes until hot.
🍳 Related pork recipes
If you want more pork recipes, check out the recipes below.
And for a taste of delicious comforting dinner I recommend you to try my easy baked pork chops and rice recipe!
👪 Serving size
This stuffed pork chop recipe yields 4 large pork chops, which can feed a family of 4 to 6. They are also great for preparing more and freezing for a quick and easy dinner.
Stuffed pork chops are an impressive yet easy dish that can be enjoyed as a weeknight dinner or a weekend feast. With a few key ingredients and simple preparation, you can have a delicious and flavorful meal.
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!
📋 Recipe
Stuffed Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 Pork chops - boneless, thick, center cut
- ⅓ cup Pesto sauce - store bought
- ¾ cup Italian bread crumbs
- ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- Kosher Salt - to taste
- Pepper - to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning - dry
- Parsley - garnish
- Serving options: green beans and pasta
Instructions
Preparations
- Dry each pork chop with a paper towel and gently make a cut in the side of the chop using a sharp knife, making sure to not slice all the way through. The goal is to make a pocket big enough to fill with the stuffing.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius).
- Combine the pesto sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and bread crumbs in a bowl.
- Stuff pork chops with the mixture (around ¼ cup per chop) and stick a toothpick through the cut to fasten it and prevent the stuffing from escaping during cooking.
- Season both sides of the stuffed pork chops with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Cooking Instructions
- Set a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and sear the pork chops in the skillet for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven to cook stuffed pork chops for 10 minutes until the internal temperature of the chops reaches between 135-145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the baked stuffed pork chops from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
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