Why I love these baked stuffed pork chops
These baked stuffed pork chops are inspired by Gilmore Girls – as part of my Friday Night Dinner series where I make recipes inspired by the show. If you’re a fan, you may recall that Sookie wanted to serve her baked stuffed pork chops to unsuspecting vegetarians at the inn. Of course, that idea is a little cruel, but the idea of baked stuffed pork chops is great – especially since pork chops themselves can be kind of blah.
I’ll be using up my Thanksgiving leftovers with these baked stuffed pork chops. Of course, if you don’t have leftover homemade stuffing, you can make this with a quick stovetop stuffing instead. I also think the recipe would be really great with some cornbread stuffing.
The following is a detailed overview of the recipe steps with added tips and tricks for recipe success. For a simplified and printable version, including ingredient amounts and more formal instructions, see the recipe card below.
How to make baked stuffed pork chops
To stuff this stuffed pork chops recipe, you want to start out with a decently thick cut. I recommend at least 1-inch in thickness, but you could make it work with a little more or a little less.
Working on a cutting board, turn the chop so that the fatty side is down. then slice lengthwise into the opposite side, slowly cutting into the center and working your way down.
Cut until you’re almost to the fatty side, but you want to save enough space so that they don’t tear open while they’re baking. You also want to leave the two shorter sides completely intact.
The place as much stuffing in the pocket as you can while the chop is still able to stay closed on its own. I can usually get about 1/2 cup into each.
How long does it take to cook stuffed pork chops in the oven?
Since these pork chops are stuffed, I bake them a tiny bit longer than I would another plain, boneless pork chop. They just need that extra time to make sure they are a food safe temperature (145˚F for pork), but each oven will vary, so take the temperature of your chops when you’ve had them in for the minimum suggested time (20 – 25 minutes).
You really don’t want them to be overcooked.
What should the internal temperature of stuffed pork chops be?
Pork chops should be baked until their internal temperature reaches 145˚F, but I recommend taking them out of the oven at 135˚F. They will continue cooking when they’re removed from the oven and should reach an internal 145˚F as they sit.
Tips for making baked stuffed pork chops
- Use your meat thermometer. Make sure you take the chops out when the reach 145˚F.
- Don’t over stuff your pork chops. If you put too much in they’ll break when baking. See photo above for reference.
- If you’re using leftover stuffing, it’s ok to moisten it with a bit of water or broth before stuffing your chops.
More recipes to try:
If you’re looking for some new ways to cook pork chops, try my pork piccata or apple butter pork chops. My kids also really love my pork chops with gravy and these easy pineapple pork chops.
Making these stuffed pork chops in the oven makes clean up so much easier. That’s why I love to make baked Italian meatballs and baked chicken legs. We also love using our oven to make big batches of things like baked hamburgers and baked chicken fajitas – both are great options for a party or for meal prep.
More 5 ingredient recipes: slow cooker beef tacos / 6 ingredient fish cakes / beer brined chicken drumsticks / pecan crusted salmon
Ingredients
- 6 1- inch thick - boneless pork chops
- 3 cups prepared stuffing mix or leftover stuffing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves - or other fresh herb
- 4 garlic cloves - minced
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Cut a pocket into side of each pork chop (leaving fat side intact).
- Stuff pork chops, dividing stuffing equally between pork chops. Place stuffed chops on a cookie sheet or in a large baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Rub mixture on top of each pork chop.
- Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until pork chops have reached at least 145˚F.
Video
Nutrition
Make sure you check out Miss Patty’s Founder’s Day Punch on Ashleigh’s blog. It’s strong enough for Patty, so it’s strong enough for me.
