Pork Chops In Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Pork chops seared to perfection with a nice brown sear on both sides. Now, pour some velvety and creamy sauce over the chops with the added depth of flavor from mushrooms. That’s so comforting and indulgent at the same time.

Pork chops with this delicious mushroom sauce are excellent comfort food in many countries. It is also a pretty popular restaurant fare. It is easy to make and is regularly dished out at homes for comforting dinners.

Also, this popular cut can be had with gravy, like this Skillet Pork Chops With Sour Cream, which comes packed with savory flavors but with a tang. I have another comforting pork recipe – Spicy Pork Ramen– spicy pork with ramen noodles in a flavorful broth.

Another tender cut of the animal that you bake and serve a delicious dinner in 30 minutes is Baked BBQ Pork Tenderloin.

This pork chop recipe is a keeper for homely dinners and would also always be appreciated by guests at a party because –

• Pork chops are cooked to perfection. Follow my timelines to sear the chops till the correct temperature and you get the nice crust on the outside and pink doneness in the center.
• The mushroom sauce compliments the pork chops very well as it has a creamy texture with complex flavors.
• It is a versatile sauce that you should have in your arsenal, and you can pair it with other grilled meats or roasted veggies.

Which part is pork chop?

Pork chops, or pork loin chops, are cut from the loin area of the pig. The loin runs, in the back, from the shoulder to the hip. These cuts have a segment from the spine. You also get pork chops from the shoulder area, which are relatively tougher and suitable for slow cooking.

A pork chop from the loin is usually treated with high heat as a standard. They are leaner and tender cuts of meat, and you can cook them in a few minutes of medium-high heat on both sides.

Lamb chops are similar cuts from lambs, and I have used Mediterranean flavors in the marinade in this Pan-Seared Lamb Chop recipe to get them tender and flavorful.

Another great tender cut from the animal is the pork tenderloin, a very lean cut with little to no fat. Season it with a great dry rub and brush a flavorful BBQ glaze to make a fast and delicious Baked BBQ Pork Tenderloin.

How to get the best pork chop cuts?

Keep the following tips in mind to get the best pork chop cuts.

• Bone-in chops – Always prefer bone-in over boneless. The bone that runs on the side of the chops helps distribute heat for even cooking and has more flavor too.
• Check for marbling – Marbling refers to thin, fat lines running through the meat. The more marbled a cut is, the more tender it will be. They also will have more flavor.
• Color – Check for the pinkish-red color of the meat. Avoid cuts that have a brown or grey color, which happens when the meat is past its prime.
• Thickness – We recommend getting cuts about 1 – 1 and 1/2 inches thick.

Creamy mushroom sauce

Creamy mushroom sauce is a rich and versatile sauce that you can pair with many dishes ranging from roasted greens to meaty dishes like pork chops, lamb chops, roasted chicken, pasta, or steak.

This sauce is a condiment that elevates any dish served. It is rich and velvety in texture and has earthy, savory, creamy, and cheesy flavors.

Mushroom sauce is typically made by first sauteing mushrooms in butter. A roux is then prepared by stirring common flour in garlic and butter to prepare the base for the sauce. Wine and then stock (chicken or vegetable) are added to it to make the flavor base. It is often garnished with fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary.

Mushroom has an earthy and umami taste that I find quite flavorful. I have used it in various recipes – Spicy Mushroom Chicken Pasta, Quick Garlic Butter Mushrooms, and Mushroom Gravy.

Some of my other hit sauce recipes are Baked Meatballs In Garlic Butter Sauce, Salmon Pasta in Creamy Lemon Sauce, Instant Pot Chicken In Creamy Tomato Sauce, and Baked Tilapia In Lemon Garlic Sauce.

How to cook pork chops and mushroom sauce

Prep

Keep the chops dry by patting them. Season the chops on both sides with the seasoning mix.

Sear chops

On a heated heavy bottom skillet, sear the chops on each side with butter. Keep them aside. You may use a timer to sear them for exactly

Cook the mushroom sauce

In the same skillet, cook and brown sliced mushrooms. In the end, season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove from the pan and keep aside. Keep the juice of the mushrooms if any.

The next step is to make the roux. With more butter added to the skillet, saute aromatics like garlic first and then with flour.

Add wine and let it simmer until it reduces to half. As the wine reduces, there won’t be any residual smell of the wine in the sauce. Next, add the rest of the ingredients to make the sauce. Let everything simmer for a couple of minutes.

Add the cooked mushrooms along with their juice to the skillet now. Toss it around a few times.

Sauce over chops

Add back the cooked pork chops to the skillet. Spoon some sauce and pour over the pork chops. Switch off the flame.

Recipe tips for juicy and tender pork chops

• Get the best cuts for pork chops. You can refer to the previous section on identifying thickness, color, and which kinds of cuts to select to get the best results.
• Season your chops – a good seasoning makes a lot of difference. Pork chops by themselves would taste blend. Seasoning, especially with salt, brings out the flavors in the chops.
• Thaw – allow time for frozen chops to thaw to room temperature. Cold chops will not cook evenly.
• Brine – If you can plan ahead, a very useful step to increase the flavor and tenderness of your pork chops would be to brine lean meats like chops. Brine is a process of submerging cuts of meat in a saltwater solution. If you are short on time, even 30 minutes will help, and you can brine for a recommended 12 hours. It helps by softening the protein strands, which won’t coil up when cooked, thus retaining more moisture and staying tender.
• Right, skillet to sear – Get a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottom skillet since the heavy bottom ensures uniform heat distribution and even cooking of the chops. Thin bottoms appear to cook the surface much faster, but the center remains relatively raw.
• Do not overcook – watch when you have left chops to sear on the skillet. Chops would need no more than 3 minutes on each side. Cooking delicate meat like chops for longer guarantees makes them dry due to moisture loss and will have a rubbery texture. Use a kitchen thermometer and cook until the center reaches 145°F (63°C).
• Resting time – Do not serve immediately after taking the chops off the skillet. Allow the chops to rest covered for 10 minutes until the juices get re-absorbed and help the chops remain juicy and tender.

Serve with

Pork chops served with a creamy sauce have good protein and fat. To make a balanced meal out of it, you may consider these good options to serve pork chops with:

• Potato – Grilled and seared meats like chops go well with mashed potato or potato wedges, or roasted potatoes.
• Rice – With a delicious sauce like this mushroom sauce, you can drizzle it over a bed of white or brown rice. Even quinoa is a good option.
• Salad – A dry salad will up the fiber content like these White bean salad with lemon vinaigrette, Fall Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, or Lemon Dill Potato Salad( No Mayo).
• Grilled veggies – Grilled or roasted veggies like Oven-roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Lemon Pepper Zucchini, or Pecan Honey Roasted Carrot.
• Bread – A crusty bread like sourdough or Cheesy Garlic Bread is good for soaking the creamy sauce, and you can spoon the sauce with it.