Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Winner winner pork chop dinner! Ok that’s not really how the saying goes, but these shake n bake pork chops are SO good you’ll want to make up your own phrase. Tender and juicy pork chops with a crispy breadcrumb coating that comes together in just 30 minutes, it’s the ideal weeknight meal!

Love pork chops? Try these smothered pork chops recipe and honey soy garlic pork chops too!

This shake and bake pork chop recipe is one of those nostalgic recipes from my childhood that makes for quick, easy, and delicious dinners! The pork chops are lightly coated in sour cream and tossed in a homemade breading mixture and baked to crispy perfection. When you sink your teeth into the chops and hear that crunch, you’ll do the happy food dance!

Best part, you only need a few simple ingredients and 30 minutes. This is a great recipe for quick weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. With juicy pork chops that are both tender and have a crispy coating – with no frying necessary?!

Why fry when you can get crispy baked pork chops in the oven?! Run to the market, get your ingredients and let’s make this dish tonight!

Shake and Bake Ingredients

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Pork Chops – I used bone-in pork chops, I recommend buying center cut chops or pork loin chops. Boneless chops work here too, however, bone in chops tend to have more flavor. Ideally, you’ll want thin cut pork chops that are about a 1/2 -1 inch thick to keep cook time to about 20-25 minutes. Thick pork chops take a little longer to cook. 

Sour Cream – to keep the pork chops nice and juicy while baking in the oven, brush a thin layer of sour cream over the pork chops prior adding to the shake and bake mix. It adds so much flavor and moisture! If you don’t have sour cream, mayo works here as well.

Plain Bread Crumbs – you can also use the seasoned bread crumbs if you prefer, however, avoid using panko breadcrumbs.

Seasonings – in addition to the basic black pepper and kosher salt, you’ll also need seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, parsley, and a tiny bit of sugar. This seasoning mix will go into the breadcrumb mixture for the pork chops.

Boneless vs Bone-In Pork Chops

• Boneless pork chops tend to be leaner and are a bit easier to find. They also cook a bit faster, making them easy to dry out.

• Bone-in pork chops are typically found at the butcher stand at the grocery store. They’re my favorite because they tend to be a bit fattier and have more flavor than pork cutlets, making them ideal for pork chop recipes. On the downside, bone in chops tend to take a bit longer to cook and can be a little more expensive. However, because of the flavor, it’s worth it to me!

Whatever type of pork chops your decide to get, the thickness matters most because it impacts the cooking time. 

How long to bake pork chops?

There are several factor that impact cooking time for pork chops such as thickness of the pork chops, the temperature of the oven, and whether you’re using bone-in or boneless chops. The lower the temperature, the longer it will take the chops to cook.

To ensure doneness, you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat. When they’re done, the temperature reading should be at 145 degrees F. 

For this recipe, we’re cooking the pork for 25 minutes at a higher temperature (425 degrees F) to ensure that they have a crispy, caramelized exterior and remain juicy and tender. 

​Again, boneless pork chops cook quicker than bone-in pork chops so this is something to keep in mind. As a rule of thumb, simply keep an eye on your pork chops while you’re cooking them.

Tips for Crispy Baked Pork Chops

– Bake pork chops on a wire rack on top of the baking sheet for best results. This allows air to circulate around the entire pork chop, making both sides nice and crispy.

– The thicker the pork chop, the longer it’ll take to cook. Keep that in mind when picking out the kind of chops to use! 

– If you don’t have a plastic bag, you can add the breadcrumbs and seasonings to a shallow bowl and dredge the pork chops in the bowl instead.

​- Allow the chops to rest for at last 5 minutes after cooking! This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making th pork chops nice and tender and juicy!

– Use room temperature meat for a crispy crust! Allow refrigerated meat to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to baking to ensure that the pork chops crisp up nicely in the oven.

Step-by-Step Instructions

You can’t go wrong with this easy recipe. Here’s how to make shake and bake pork chops at home:

– Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Make the shake and bake mixture. Combine bread crumbs and seasonings in a ziploc plastic bag and shake together to combine. 

– Spread a thin layer of sour cream on all sides of the pork chops. Season with salt and pepper. 

– Place one chop at a time in the bread crumb mixture, making sure that all sides of the pork chops are covered in the shake and bake mix. 

– Place the breaded pork chops onto a sheet pan with a wire rack. Repeat with remaining pork chops. 

– Drizzle with a little oil and bake in the oven for 25 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Tip: for extra crispy chops, broil for 2-3 minutes but be sure to watch closely!

Can I use an air fryer?

Yes! You can very easily make air fryer shake and bake pork chops. Follow the recipe for seasonings and breading the pork chops and then place in the air fryer basket and air fry at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. Then flip them over and continue to cook for another 5-8 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.

What goes with Shake and Bake Pork Chops?

There are TONS of dishes that pair well with pork chops! Some of my favorites are red skin mashed potatoes with a house salad and buttermilk cornbread – this combo is such a delicious and hearty meal! Shake and Bake also goes well with homemade biscuits, collard greens, fried cabbage, baked beans, and honey glazed carrots!

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