Baked Ranch Pork Chops - easydinnerrecipes.com (2024)

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

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

• Baked Ranch Chicken
• Roasted Ranch Potatoes
• Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix