Name: Breaded Pork Chops with Herbs and Parmesan
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 160 min
Ingredients: 4 boneless pork chops ((about 8 ounces each)); 2 cups lowfat buttermilk; 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs ((whole wheat or regular)); ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese; 3 tablespoons chopped fresh or dried parsley; ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper

Crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside, these easy breaded pork chops are baked in the oven. The buttermilk marinade makes them so tender!

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: They turn out perfectly crispy, without frying!

How long it takes: 40 minutes plus 2+ hours to marinate
Equipment you’ll need: shallow dish, tongs, baking sheet, baking rack, oven
Servings: 4

Breaded pork chop on a plate with a simple green salad.

Looking for a delicious way to prepare pork chops? Tired of dry, tasteless pork? You’re going to love this recipe!

Have you ever tried marinating pork in buttermilk? You may have heard about marinating chicken in buttermilk but I was inspired by Jessica at How Sweet Eats to try this method with pork chops. If it tenderizes and adds juiciness to chicken, why not pork?

Try buttermilk marinated pork, coated with a tasty mixture of panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley, and baked in the oven for an easy entrée.

Golden brown baked pork chop on a small plate with green salad.

About Breaded Pork Chops

Why use buttermilk for a marinade? Buttermilk is slightly acidic and has enzymes which help tenderize the pork. It’s a gentle marinade and it won’t make the pork mushy if you want to marinate the pork overnight. Plus, a buttermilk marinade is very easy, just pour it on, nothing to mix up. I use a similar marinade for my easy baked chicken parmesan.

After the pork has marinated, remove it from the marinade and let the excess drip off. You don’t have to wipe it off. The buttermilk that remains on the pork chops will help the breading stick.

Overhead view of plated pork chops with salad.

Mix the breading ingredients together: panko, Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, mustard powder, salt and pepper. Use a shallow bowl so you have room to dredge the pork chops in it. Press one chop at a time, both sides, in the breading mixture. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking rack set inside a baking pan (don’t forget to spray it with nonstick cooking spray first!).

Don't Have A Baking Rack?

If you don’t have a baking rack, that’s okay. Baking the pork chops on a baking rack allows air to circulate all around the chops so they get crispier. Will they still be delicious in a pan? Of course!

Bake the chops for about a half hour or until the internal temperature reaches nearly 145°F. Let them rest 10 minutes or so; the internal temperature will continue to rise. They should be just slightly pink inside and juicy, but not bloody.

Pork with a piece cut off to show inside.

What to serve with Breaded Pork Chops

Breaded pork chops are great with roasted vegetables or potatoes because everything can roast in the oven at the same time. Just arrange your oven racks with a little space between the racks. Try roasted sweet potatoes and shallots, with maple mustard sauce. Or this medley of balsamic roasted vegetables. Roasted carrots with thyme and nutmeg are so good, too! Check out 40 of my roasted vegetable recipes.

Make It Your Own

Change the seasoning in the breading. Replace the parsley, dry mustard, salt and pepper with your own seasoning ideas. I often replace it with my all-purpose seasoning or add Cajun seasoning for something a little different.
Use homemade breadcrumbs. They’re easy to make and are a good way to use day old bread.
Leave your oven off and air fry the pork chops. Try breaded air fryer pork chops.
Skip the breading. Try Instant Pot pork chops or slow cooker pork chops. Both recipes have an amazing gravy. We also love seasoned air fryer pork chops. They’re easy, juicy, and delicious.
Not a fan of pork? Try baked chicken cordon bleu.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Refrigerate: Leftover pork chops should be promptly refrigerated in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the fridge for three to four days.

Freeze: Cooked pork chops can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheat: The breading on reheated pork chops tends to lose its crispiness. The best way to reheat them is to put them in your air fryer for a few minutes or in the toaster oven until they are just heated through. Try not to overheat them; they may become tougher and dry.

Free Meal Plan

Interested in weekly meal plans that include this recipe? Take a look at my Meal Plan #14 or Meal Plan #60. You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. Let me do the planning for you this week! We add a new meal plan weekly.

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