These easy oven pork chops are just the thing for when you’re wondering what to do with those pork chops!
I have a zillion recipes for cooking chicken. Pork chops, not so much. They are always a challenge for me, yet I always have a package or five in my freezer. I suspect I’m not alone, so I thought I’d share one of my “go to”, easy oven pork chop recipes. It’s not the prettiest dish, for sure, but it’s definitely tasty!
These St. Louis Style BBQ Pork Chops are both easy and delicious. And saucy. And crowd-pleasing. And made with basic pantry items. And mostly just cooks off in the oven, so the hands-on time is minimal. All good things!
Pork chops cooked up with a generous amount of tomato based bbq sauce, are both easy and family-pleasing. Also great for feeding a crowd!
Cook’s Notes for St. Louis Style BBQ Pork Chops
You can adjust the amount of chilli powder you add to taste and/or who you’re serving.
This recipe calls for bone-in, thick pork chops with some fat marbling. This will ensure that your pork chops are nice and moist.
While you don’t need a super-thick pork chop, it’s best not to start with the super-thin ones, as they are a little skimpy for this dish and more likely to overcook.
The cooking time will vary depending on how thick your pork chops are and whether they are bone-in or not.
If your sauce is still a little thin after broiling, simply flip your pork chops over, stir the sauce around a bit and broil again.
Serve this saucy pork chop dish with mashed potatoes and a green veg, for an easy and delicious meal!
St. Louis Style BBQ Pork Chops
Pork chops baked with a generous amount of tomato BBQ sauce. Use thicker, bone-in chops with some fat marbling for this one. Lean/boneless pork doesn't work as well. Serve with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable, for an easy and delicious dinner!
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon diced
- 1-2 tsp chili powder
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1/2 small onion chopped
- 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes or if you only have whole canned tomatoes, you can puree and measure out instead
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. kosher salt plus more to taste (less if using fine salt)
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 6 thick bone-in pork chops about 3 lb., 3/4-1 inch thick with some fat cap and marbling of fat
- 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
Instructions
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Heat oven to 350 F.
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In a large saucepan, heat bacon over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until just starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder, garlic and onions and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, as needed, then remove from heat and set aside.
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Season pork with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add meat and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
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Transfer pork to a 9 × 13-inch baking dish and pour sauce on top of pork, to cover pork chops. Bake, uncovered, about 30-40 minutes, or until pork is cooked through (140F when tested with thermometer). *NOTE: Baking time will be totally dependent on the thickness of the chops you start with. Thicker pork will take longer. Thinner will take less.
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Remove from oven and heat the broiler in your oven, with a rack at about 6-8 inches away from the heat source. Return baking dish to oven under the broiler for a 3-5 minutes to caramelize the sauce on the chops slightly.
Recipe Notes
Be sure to read the "Cook's Notes" in the original post, for more tips, options, substitutions and variations for this recipe!
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Thanks so much, Irene :)
So glad you posted this receipe. The pork chops are more economical than spare ribs – and heartier.
You are so correct with cooking times. Thought our chops were thick enough but someone neglected to check!
Another winning receipe!!
I made this last night and it was delicious! The sauce thickens up nicely and it has such a great depth of flavor. I used thicker chops, so they took longer than 40 minutes to cook, but the end result was a really superb meal! This was my first time trying a recipe on this website and I will definitely be back to try more recipes!
So glad you enjoyed this, Nicole! We love it hear for a hearty, easy and tasty meal :) Thanks!
Happy New Year! This looks so delicious and the perfect way to start off the new year. Cheers to 2018!
Thanks so much, Cindy! Happy New Year to you, as well :)
These look delicious Jennifer! My twin sister is from St. Louis, so I’ve had something similar quite a few times. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thanks Mary Ann and I didn’t know you had a twin sister! I’ve always wanted to visit St. Louis to try their BBQ first hand. On my bucket list :)
You might not think they look pretty but I think these pork chops look AMAZING! And I bet they’re super tender after baking in that wonderful sauce!
Thank Chris and yes, the chops are fork tender after cooking in the sauce. Perfect :)
That really is a brilliant idea! Never thought to bbq pork chops! Usually it’s larger cuts of meat!
Thanks Mimi and yes, it’s a great way to do chops, too :)
Oh that sauce – and those big, juicy pork chops – you really know how to entice your hungry readers Jennifer! I was going to the store today, but not now. It’s blustery, snowing and bitter cold – probably much like your weather. Wish I had chops in my freezer!
Thanks Tricia and yes, I hear that south of the border is getting some north of the border weather today. Stay warm!
Happy New Year!! That’s a whole lotta deliciousness going on!! Looking forward to seeing more in the months ahead, my friend :)
Thanks Dawn :)
The BBQ sauce sounds awesome! I love pork much more than beef and pork chops are often present on our menu, would love to try your recipe!
Thanks Milena and yes, we don’t eat a ton of beef, but pork is in regular rotation. And my husband has a thing for pork chops, especially, so I’m always looking for tasty ways to cook them up :)
I would happily sit down to a plate of these pork chops any time of the day or night! Fabulous!! Happy New Year, my friend!
Thanks Annie!
Happy New Year, girlfriend!! I hope 2018 is treating you well!! As much as I love pork chops, I seem to cook more chicken too! Which is totally a shame, because pork chops are so dang tasty! And these look just AMAZING, Jennifer! Plus I love how easy they are to make! Hello, week night dinner winning! Pinning! Cheers!
Thanks Cheyanne and yes, perfect for a weeknight dinner, for sure :)
You’ve just made me very hungry, that sauce is epic!
Thanks Sue and yes, it is a delicious (and easy!) sauce :)