Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: These honey garlic pork chops are the perfect weeknight dinner. They cook quickly on the stovetop, they’re juicy and flavorful, and everyone in the family will love them!

How long it takes: about 20 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: skillet
Servings: 4

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Sweet and savory is always a good combination but I think it’s especially fantastic for meat. Maybe it’s because the sweetness is unexpected, or maybe it’s because the sweetness is a nice balance to the succulent, rich meat.

Case in point? These honey garlic pork chops. This dish has the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and umami flavors, with juicy pork chops coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce.

Now, I realize cooking pork chops sometimes can be a little tricky but when cooked properly and paired with a fabulous sauce or seasonings, you get chops that are flavorful, tender, and juicy. Not dry! Not bland! Like my smothered pork chops and pork chops with balsamic caramelized onions, this recipe for honey garlic pork chops will convince your family that pork chop night is the best night of the week!

Juicy Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Pork chop perfection. The sauce is on-point, the meat is tender and juicy. If you’ve struggled with making pork chops in the past, this recipe is a game-changer. I’ll give you a few helpful tips to make sure your pork chops turn out (and the sauce will cover up any shortcomings!).

Easy to prepare. Honey garlic pork chops rely on staple ingredients like garlic powder, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar, and the process for making them is a cinch. They’re cooked in a skillet on the stovetop from start to finish! They’re ready to eat in just over 20 minutes.

Versatile. The flavors in this recipe can pair with Asian-inspired dishes like stir-fried veggies, or you can serve them with typical pork chop sides like baked potatoes or stovetop scalloped potatoes.

Honey garlic pork chop, cut to show inside.

Ingredient Notes

Pork chops: Look for boneless pork chops that are about a half-inch thick. Bone-in pork chops are okay, too, but they’ll take a few minutes longer to cook. Thicker chops aren’t ideal for cooking on the stovetop. (Try my slow cooker pork chops or Instant Pot pork chops if you have thick-cut chops.)
Seasonings: Garlic powder, kosher salt, and coarse ground black pepper are rubbed into the meat to make it extra flavorful.
Olive oil: Any mild-flavored oil with a higher smoke point will work to brown the chops.
Honey: For the sauce, I love to use honey because it doesn’t just add sweetness like sugar would, but it also adds flavor.
Low-sodium soy sauce: Soy sauce balances the sweetness of the honey, adding umami and saltiness. If you prefer, tamari can be substituted for a gluten-free option.
Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar brings a bit of tartness to the sauce, a counterpoint to the honey and soy sauce.
Cornstarch: Usually found in the baking aisle, cornstarch is often used to thicken sauces.
Garlic: Garlic powder on the meat plus fresh garlic in the sauce means this recipe is extra garlicky!
Fresh parsley: Optional, for garnish.

Overhead view of ingredients needed for recipe.

How to Make Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Season the chops. If the pork chops feel wet, pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder) onto both sides of the pork and lightly rub them in. Set them aside

Make the sauce. Whisk all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup until the cornstarch dissolves.

Cook. Heat the olive oil in a skillet set over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add the pork chops in a single layer. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes on the first side, or until browned, flip the pork chops over, and cook another 2 to 4 minutes, or until nicely browned. Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should be 145ºF or pretty close to it. Because the pork chops are thin, they won’t take long to cook.

Recipe Tip

Make sure the skillet is hot before you add the pork chops. You should hear a good sizzle when you put the chops into the pan. If you add the pork chops to a skillet that’s not fully preheated, they’ll take longer to cook and they’ll be more likely to end up tough and dry.

Add the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Give the sauce a quick stir to make sure the cornstarch hasn’t settled to the bottom. Add the sauce to the skillet with the pork chops, and simmer for a minute or two. Flip the pork chops halfway through so the sauce coats both sides. Cook just until the sauce is thickened; you don’t want to overcook the pork!

Serve. Let the pork chops rest for a few minutes, then plate them, topping with the sauce. Arrange sides around the pork. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Tips for Making This Recipe

Prep the sides before you start the pork. Because the pork doesn’t take very long to cook, you’ll need to have the sides started before you begin cooking the pork. Once the pork is cooking, you won’t have much time to prepare any side dishes.
Pat the pork chops dry before seasoning. This helps the seasoning stick better and makes for a nice sear when you’re cooking pork chops in a skillet.
Don’t overcook the pork chops. Pork chops are easy to overcook which is why they have a reputation for being tough and dry. To avoid this, use a meat thermometer so you know precisely when it reaches the right temperature.
Let the pork rest. Allowing the cooked pork chops to rest for a few minutes after cooking helps the juices redistribute, resulting in juicier meat.
Increase the cooking time for bone-in pork chops. Want to swap boneless for bone-in? You can! Just keep in mind that bone-in cuts will take about 2 to 3 minutes longer to cook.

Serving Suggestions

Vegetable sides. Keep it simple with roasted broccoli or air fryer green beans. Sautéed spinach or sautéed cabbage go well, too.
Potatoes. Crispy roasted potatoes are delicious with any protein, including this honey garlic pork chop recipe!
Grains. Instant Pot basmati rice or Instant Pot quinoa do a great job soaking up the sauce.
Salad. Add fresh greens to your plate for a lighter meal. This mandarin orange salad or classic house salad would be perfect!

Leftover Love

Cut leftover pork chops into small pieces and add them to a skillet of stir-fried veggies near the end of the cooking time to repurpose them into another easy weeknight dinner.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate: Store leftover honey garlic pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Don’t forget to save the sauce too! Just spoon it right on top of the meat.

Freeze: You can also freeze cooked pork chops with the sauce sauce in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

To reheat: Warm up leftover pork chops with the sauce in a skillet set over medium heat until warmed through. Cutting the meat into slices or chunks can help it reheat faster and more evenly. You may want to add a bit of water or broth to the sauce if it has thickened too much during storage. Alternatively, you can microwave leftover honey garlic pork chops until warmed through, but the skillet is my first choice for gentle reheating.

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Honey Garlic Pork Chops