Description
Delicious Brown Sugar Chops offer a quick and scrumptious meal balancing sweet and savory flavors with tender pork chops glazed in a rich brown sugar sauce that caramelizes beautifully. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends, this easy recipe uses simple pantry staples for a comforting, gourmet-like dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 pork chops (bone-in or boneless, about 1-inch thick)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 3 garlic cloves, freshly minced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
Instructions
- Prepare Your Chops: Pat pork chops dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Dry chops sear better and develop a beautiful crust.
- Sear the Chops: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of butter. Once melted and sizzling, place the chops in the pan. Sear each side for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown to lock in the juices and create a flavorful base.
- Make the Brown Sugar Glaze: Lower heat to medium, add minced garlic to the skillet, and sauté briefly until fragrant. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the chops, then pour in the soy sauce. Stir gently to combine and allow the glaze to bubble and thicken around the chops for about 3 minutes.
- Glaze and Finish Cooking: Frequently baste the chops with the thickening glaze using a spoon, turning carefully to coat all sides evenly. Continue cooking until the chops reach an internal temperature of 145°F and the sauce is sticky and luscious.
- Rest and Serve: Transfer chops to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices. Spoon some of the rich glaze from the pan over the top before serving to maximize flavor.
Notes
- Let chops sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the pan to allow each chop enough space to brown properly.
- Using a cast iron skillet enhances searing and caramelization.
- Adjust sweetness by tasting the glaze as it cooks and adding more brown sugar if desired.
- Resting meat after cooking locks in juices for tender and moist chops.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Pan-cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pork chop
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg