Delicious Brown Sugar Chops

1. Prepare the Pork Chops: Pat the pork chops dry thoroughly with paper towels. This step is crucial for achieving a good sear. Season both sides of each pork chop generously with salt and black pepper.
2. Sear the Chops: Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet (cast iron or stainless steel works best) over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the hot pan. Once the oil shimmers, carefully place the seasoned pork chops into the skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. If necessary, cook them in two batches.
3. Cook to Golden Brown: Sear the pork chops for 3-5 minutes per side, depending on their thickness, until they develop a beautiful golden-brown crust. For 1-inch thick chops, aim for a total cooking time that gets them close to your desired doneness, as they will finish cooking in the glaze.
4. Reduce Heat and Add Glaze Ingredients: Once seared, reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter, packed brown sugar, and soy sauce directly into the pan around the pork chops.
5. Create the Glaze: As the butter melts and the brown sugar dissolves, gently stir the mixture to combine. The sauce will begin to bubble and thicken.
6. Coat the Chops: Spoon the developing glaze over the pork chops repeatedly. Continue to cook for another 2-4 minutes, turning the chops once or twice, ensuring they are evenly coated in the sticky, caramelized glaze. The internal temperature of the pork chops should reach 145°F (63°C) when measured with an instant-read thermometer.
7. Rest the Chops: Once cooked through and thoroughly glazed, remove the brown sugar chops from the pan and transfer them to a cutting board or serving platter. Loosely tent them with aluminum foil and let them rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in incredibly tender and moist pork.
8. Serve: Serve the Delicious Brown Sugar Chops immediately, drizzling any remaining glaze from the pan over the chops before serving.

Cooking Tips and Variations

See more on the next page to continue reading →