Baked Ranch Pork Chops are always juicy, tender, and ready in less than 30 minutes so you can get a wholesome, satisfying meal on the table quickly and can be made in the oven or air fryer. This easy bone-in pork chop recipe (or boneless, if that's what you have on hand) is sure to please!
My family raves about these super flavorful zesty ranch pork chops. They come out perfect every. single. time. And they are basically a zero-effort meal that I can throw together last minute as long as I have pork chops and ranch seasoning on hand.
Using a different protein like juicy, lean pork chops is a great way to change up our regular dinner rotation and keep things from getting boring.
Honestly it feels a little like cheating to be able to pre these in under 5 minutes and stick them in the oven to bake while I make some of our favorite side dishes like creamy mashed potatoes and steamed or roasted veggies or a salad to go with it! But I won't tell if you don't.
Why You'll Love Ranch Pork Chops
- Perfectly juicy chops without babysitting. A high oven temp sears the outside of the pork chops while keeping the insides moist and tender. So much easier than standing over the pork chops to carefully fry them in a pan!
- Minimal ingredients but maximum flavor. Pork chops taste awesome with the tangy, herby flavor of ranch seasoning to compliment them.
- Easy cleanup. Save yourself time by seasoning the pork chops on the baking sheet so you have one less dish to wash.
Recipe Ingredients
It's just a handful of ingredients to make this easy ranch pork chops recipe. See the printable recipe card below for exact amounts and full instructions.
- Pork chops: I used bone-in pork loin rib chops that were each about 1-inch thick. If your pork chops are thicker or thinner, you might need to adjust your baking time up or down slightly. Those extra thick cut pork chops from Costco will take a few minutes longer even though they are boneless.
- Ranch seasoning: You can use a packet of the store bought Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix or 2 tablespoons of my homemade ranch seasoning mix.
- Smoked paprika: This is one of our favorite ingredients for adding a subtle smoky flavor, but regular paprika will work here too.
- Salt & pepper: Be sure to use coarse kosher salt instead of regular table salt here or the meat will likely be too salty.
How to Make Ranch Pork Chops
Be sure to see the recipe card for full ingredients and instructions.
- Preheat oven. Set the oven to 400 degrees F so it can heat up while you gather the other ingredients.
- Season. Sprinkle both sides of the pork chops with the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and ranch seasoning. Arrange the pork chops on a baking sheet.
- Bake. Depending on the thickness of your pork chops, they should take around 20 minutes to cook. That time might be a little more or a little less, depending on the thickness of your chops and whether they are boneless or bone-in.
- Check for doneness. Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork chops. The pork chops are done when they reach 145 degrees F in the thickest part, regardless of whether they are boneless or bone-in.
- Rest. Let the baked pork chops rest for 5 minutes once they are done to allow the juices to redistribute. This will help them be extra juicy and delicious when you slice into them!
Recipe FAQ's
Definitely! I recommend lightly rubbing the pork chops with a drizzle of olive oil first before seasoning if you choose to use the air fryer. Then air fry for about 10 minutes at 375 degrees F, flipping them halfway through until the pork chops are done. Keep in mind that the cook time will depend on the thickness of your pork chops and whether they are bone-in or boneless, so use a digital meat thermometer to make sure they reach 145°F so you can be sure they are perfectly cooked. Be sure you only cook them in one level without stacking so that there is good air circulation. You might need to cook the pork chops in batches.
You might see some confusion from sources about what is the safe temperature to eat pork chops, but the USDA recommends cooking pork to 145 degrees F. You can cook it farther to 160 degrees F, which is what it used to be under the old guidelines, but your meat will be drier and not as juicy. It really is okay for the pork chops to have just a blush of pink to them!
Absolutely. If you want to prepare everything on the same pan, choose veggies that will cook in about the same amount of time as the pork chops (or simply start roasting the veggies earlier and add the pork chops at the right time). Chopped carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and green beans are all excellent candidates and go well with pork chops.
If you like to sear your pork chops to develop a crust before sticking them in the oven, you can definitely do that here. In this case, I would season with salt and pepper, then sear in a hot pan with a tablespoon or two of olive oil, then dredge or sprinkle with the ranch seasoning and pop them into the oven. The baking time will be reduced slightly so watch to make sure they aren't overdone. I would start checking at 15 minutes.
Top Tips
- Use a digital meat thermometer. It takes out the guesswork of knowing when your pork chops are done so you never again have to deal with dry, overcooked pork chops that nobody wants to eat.
- Use 1-inch thick pork chops. This recipe definitely works with any pork chops, but thin pork chops can be much more difficult to cook without becoming dry and overdone. Thicker pork chops tend to be more forgiving, even if they take a few extra minutes to cook.
- Line your pan with foil for easy cleanup. Who doesn't want one less dish to wash?
What to Serve with Ranch Pork Chops
When you have such an easy protein for your main dish, you can focus on some yummy sides to round out the meal. Here are some of our favorites:
- Creamy mashed potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes
- Crusty French bread
- Roasted or steamed veggies
- Roasted ranch potatoes
- Buttered egg noodles
Recipe Variations
While we usually keep things pretty basic and stick close to the recipe below, there are a couple of changes you can make to switch things up and keep it fresh.
- Add ½ cup grated parmesan cheese to the ranch dressing mix before dredging the pork chops for a nutty boost that cheese-lovers will really rave about.
- Swap out the ranch seasoning packet for dried onion soup or Italian seasoning mix. The method and cook time is the same but you get a whole new flavor profile.
- Use a spicy ranch packet or add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you want a little more heat.
Storage & Reheating
Leftovers will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat in the oven or air fryer, or slice and warm in the microwave before serving.
You can also freeze leftover pork chops for up to 2 months. Just thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven or air fryer the next day to serve.
More Ranch Recipes
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Baked Ranch Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in or boneless pork chops (1-inch thick)
- 2 Tablespoons ranch seasoning (one 1-ounce packet)
- 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a small bowl, stir together the salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Evenly sprinkle the pork chops on both sides with the salt mixture. Dredge the pork chops on both sides in the dry ranch seasoning and arrange on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145°F when tested with a digital meat thermometer. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Storage: Leftovers will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat in the oven or air fryer, or slice and warm in the microwave before serving.
- Freezing: You can also freeze leftover pork chops for up to 2 months. Just thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven or air fryer the next day to serve.
- Pork chops: We like pork loin rib chops that were each about 1-inch thick. If your pork chops are thicker or thinner, you might need to adjust your baking time up or down slightly.
- Checking doneness: You might see some confusion from sources about what is the safe temperature to eat pork chops, but the USDA recommends cooking pork to 145 degrees F. You can cook it farther to 160 degrees F, which is what it used to be under the old guidelines, but your meat will be drier and not as juicy. It really is okay for the pork chops to have just a blush of pink to them!
- Air Fryer: Lightly rub the pork chops with a drizzle of olive oil before seasoning. Air fry for about 10 minutes at 375 degrees F, flipping them halfway through until the pork chops are done. Keep in mind that the cook time will depend on the thickness of your pork chops and whether they are bone-in or boneless, so use a digital meat thermometer to make sure they reach 145°F . Be sure you only cook them in one level without stacking so that there is good air circulation. You might need to cook the pork chops in batches.
Andrea
These pork chops look very juicy and tender. Love the ranch flavor too! Yum!
Tara
I knew that I had to make this for dinner when I saw the pictures and my mouth wouldn't stop watering. These pork chops ended up being so juicy and tender. Exactly what I was dreaming of.
Tara
Oh yum! You had me at ready in less than 30 minutes. The flavors sound amazing with the ranch.
Seema Sriram
Dinner looks perfect with your recipe. Thankyou for adding a note on the leftovers, really handy.
Saif
This pork chop looks delicious. Loved the flavor of this recipe