Basic Paprika Pork Chops

By
Molly Watson
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
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Updated on 12/25/21
Mango and Paprika Pork Chops
Annabelle Breakey / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 4 servings

A simple dusting of paprika and a bit of salt give pork chops a nice little kick of flavor with minimal effort. Dedicated locavores should also know that paprika pairs particularly well with the more intense flavor of pastured pork.

Different types of paprika will give the chops different flavor, so feel free to experiment with hot, mild, bittersweet, and even smoked paprika to mix things up. A nice addition to this recipe is the use of smoked paprika (pimenton ahumado), a favorite Spanish spice made from mild chiles dried by smoking for an intense and delicious smoked flavor; it adds a subtle smoky note without a smoker.

Note that these chops are particularly good with a lightly sweet accompaniment, such as mango salsa or ​chutney.

Ingredients

  • 4 pork chops

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

Steps to Make It

  1. Pat the pork chops thoroughly dry with paper towels.

  2. In a small bowl combine the paprika, salt, and pepper.

  3. Sprinkle both sides of all the pork chops evenly with the spice mixture. Set aside the chops while you prepare the pan.

  4. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the surface of the pan is hot, add the oil and heat until the oil shimmers. Add the pork chops—they should make a bright sizzling sound immediately upon touching the pan; if they don't, take them out and let the pan and oil get a bit hotter. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the chops, undisturbed, until they're well browned and they release from the pan of their own accord, about 4 minutes. Turn and repeat on the other side.

  5. Remove the chops from pan and let sit, covered loosely with foil, for about 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Tip

Do not underestimate the importance of heating the pan and then heating the oil before adding the pork chops. That immediate heat will help the pork chops start to brown right away; it will also help avoid hot spots on the pan. That said, you don't want to have the pan too hot and burn the chops, which is why you don't want to heat the pan over high heat—a slower heating up of the pan will create the even heat needed to cook the chops perfectly. Still not convinced? Know that preheating the pan and heating up the oil will make cleanup as easy as can be.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
145 Calories
11g Fat
0g Carbs
10g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 145
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 551mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 10g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 152mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)