Description
This French Onion Pork Chops recipe combines tender, juicy pork chops with rich caramelized onions and melted Gruyère cheese, baked to perfection. The dish is infused with savory beef broth and fresh thyme, creating a comforting dinner that marries classic French onion soup flavors with hearty pork. Perfect for a family meal, this recipe delivers a deliciously cheesy and flavorful main course in just 50 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 4 pork chops (bone-in, about 1-inch thick)
Produce
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Fresh parsley or thyme, for garnish (optional)
Dairy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (or mozzarella)
Pantry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for the final baking step.
- Season Pork Chops: Season both sides of the pork chops generously with salt and black pepper to enhance their flavor.
- Sear Pork Chops: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear pork chops for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown, then remove from skillet and set aside.
- Caramelize Onions: Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Add thinly sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 20–25 minutes until they are golden and caramelized.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to bring out its aroma.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the beef broth while scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Add fresh thyme leaves and simmer for 3–5 minutes to slightly reduce the sauce.
- Assemble in Skillet: Nestle the seared pork chops back into the skillet among the caramelized onions. Top each chop generously with shredded Gruyère cheese.
- Bake: Transfer the oven-safe skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 10–12 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley or thyme if desired, and serve the pork chops hot with extra onion gravy spooned over them.
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet to easily transfer from stovetop to oven.
- Cooking times may vary depending on pork chop thickness; always check for an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Gruyère cheese adds authentic flavor, but mozzarella can be substituted if preferred.
- Caramelizing onions slowly is important for rich flavor; don’t rush this step.
- Leftover gravy can be saved and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
