Baked Boneless Pork Chops in Tomato Sauce is a high-protein recipe you’ll make often. These pork chops are juicy, tender and full of flavor!
These are truly the best baked boneless pork chops I’ve ever tasted! I may be a little biased because it’s a recipe from my childhood, but if you try them, I think you’ll agree.
My mom was drowning pork chops in this rich tomato, onion and cheese sauce, and they were absolutely divine!
Why you should make this recipe
The best thing about these oven-baked pork chops is that each step of the cooking method yields tender, juicy pork chops that are bursting with flavor.
They also have a great nutritional profile. Each serving contains 352 calories, 15 grams of fat, 13 grams of carbohydrates and a whopping 40 grams of protein.
So next time you’re looking for a healthy dinner that’s super tasty and satisfying, try these pork chops!
Ingredients
This simple pork chop recipe has only 8 ingredients and minimal preparation time.
- Chops: use thick boneless pork chops (preferably 1 inch thick)
- Yellow onion
- Garlic: four cloves of garlic
- Chicken bouillon cube
- Canned tomatoes: 28-ounce can or jar of diced canned tomatoes
- Mozzarella cheese: preferably low-fat mozzarella cheese, chopped
- Pepper
- Dried oregano: you can use fresh for a stronger flavor
- Salt and pepper
You will also need cooking spray to coat the pan. Our favorite cooking spray is the one with olive oil and nothing else.
Step by step instructions
For such a rich and delicious dish, it is surprisingly easy to make. Just fry the pork chops, make the tomato sauce in the same pan, then combine it all in a baking dish and pop it in the oven with a little cheese on top!
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C).
Step 2: Coat the pan with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Trim the fat from the pork chops if necessary. Season the pork chops with black pepper and cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Step 3: In the meantime, cut the onion into rings. Peel the garlic and cut it into thin slices.
Step 4: Remove the pork chops from the pan and transfer them to a deep baking dish. Put aside.
Step 5: In the same pan, add the onion rings and garlic and fry undisturbed over medium heat for about 1 minute on each side.
Step 6: Add the tomatoes, bouillon cube, and spices to the pan and toss gently to combine. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 2 minutes.
Step 7: Pour this onion-tomato mixture over the pork chops. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
Step 8: Bake the pork chops in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the pork chops are thoroughly cooked.
An accurate way to check readiness is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the pork chop, and when the internal temperature reaches 145˚F, the pork chops are ready.
Step 10: Remove the pork chops from the oven and let them rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving.
Expert advice
If you never want to bite into another hard or dry pork chop, this recipe is for you! Check out these simple tips to make sure your boneless pork chops don’t dry out:
- Tomato sauce – By pouring tomato sauce on top, you smother the pork chops with moisture to keep them juicy and tender.
- Oven temperature – Plus, baking them at a lower temperature of 400˚F is another way to keep them from drying out. Since they are lean cuts of meat, overcooking them (cooking them too long or at too high a temperature) is an easy way to get a tough pork chop.
- Give the meat a rest Finally, leaving these guys in the pan for five minutes before serving is another important step in keeping the dish juicy and tender. When you let the cooked cutlets rest, the meat fibers will relax. This may sound a little weird, but trust me, you definitely want relaxed meat fibers.
With each step designed to give us a tasty, juicy and tender dish, perhaps you understand why this is one of my favorite recipes!
Serving suggestions
If you like, you can serve these easy-to-cook boneless pork chops with a small portion of rice, as seen in the photos, or simply steamed, low-carb vegetables. A strong portion of rice cauliflower also goes great with pork chops.
Pork chops baked in the oven are so aromatic that they don’t need any additions. But a healthy addition to a delicious tomato sauce with onion never hurts!
Storage instructions
If you find any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
While reheating, you can cut the pork chop into slices before putting it back in the oven or microwave. If you leave it whole, it will take longer to reheat, which can result in scorching.
And since the whole recipe is about making the pork chops nice and juicy, it would be a shame to dry out the leftovers!
Nutrition
This recipe is naturally gluten-free and a great meal option for those following a keto or low carb diet.
As I mentioned, oven-baked boneless pork chops are an excellent source of lean protein. Containing a whopping 40 grams of protein per serving and only 352 calories and 10 net carbs, these baked chops are a hit!
As with most packaged foods, check the ingredients of your tomato sauce to make sure it’s sugar-free and low in sodium. It’s good practice to always read labels to make sure you’re not accidentally consuming added salt or sugar.
Frequently asked questions
There is no need to cover the pork chops with aluminum foil or a lid in this recipe as they are stewed in a sauce that will make them incredibly juicy
This answer will largely depend on many factors. Thick pork chops (at least an inch thick) take longer to cook. However, if you sear the pork chops first, as in this recipe, it will speed up the cooking process and you will need less time in the oven. These oven-baked pork chops take about 20 minutes to cook.
Using this recipe and 3 simple tips, you will make pork chops not dry and rubbery, but rather juicy and tender. First, we stew the pork chops in a delicious tomato sauce. Second, keep the oven temperature moderately low. And finally, make sure the pork chops have time to rest after cooking to allow the meat’s juices to redistribute.
More recipes for healthy dinners
Are you looking for a few more ideas for dinner that is healthy, easy to make and simply delicious? Here are some of my favorites that I know you’ll enjoy:
For even more inspiration, check out my roundup of my favorite healthy diabetic dinner recipes!
When you try this recipe, don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!
recipe card
Baked Boneless Pork Chops In Tomato Sauce
Baked Boneless Pork Chops in Tomato Sauce is a high-protein recipe you’ll make often. These pork chops are juicy, tender and full of flavor!
Portions:4
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C).
-
Spray the pan with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Trim the fat from the pork chops if necessary. Season the pork chops with black pepper and cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
4 boneless pork chops, cooking spray, salt and pepper to taste
-
In the meantime, cut the onion into rings. Peel garlic and cut into thin slices.
1 small yellow onion, 4 cloves of garlic
-
Remove the pork chops from the pan and transfer to a deep baking dish. Put aside.
-
In the same pan, add the onion rings and garlic and cook undisturbed over medium heat for about 1 minute on each side.
-
Add the diced canned tomatoes, bouillon cube and spices to the pan and mix gently. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 2 minutes.
28 ounces of diced canned tomatoes, 1 cube of Knorr chicken stock, 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano
-
Pour this onion-tomato mixture over the pork chops. Arrange the sliced mozzarella evenly on top.
5 ounces of low-fat mozzarella
-
Bake the pork chops in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the pork chops are thoroughly cooked.
-
Remove the pork chops from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
-
Remove the pork chops from the oven and let them rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes to the recipe
Meat Food Safety: An accurate way to check readiness is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the pork chop, and when the internal temperature reaches 145˚F, the pork chop is ready.
Serving suggestions: This dish can be served alone or with the healthy side to soak up the tomato sauce.
Storage Instructions: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Heating instructions: While heating, it is best to cut the pork chop. This will speed up the process to avoid scorching.
Nutritional information per serving
Nutrition Facts
Baked Boneless Pork Chops In Tomato Sauce
Amount per serving
Calories 352
135 calories from fat
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
saturated fat 7g35%
Trans fats 0.1g
polyunsaturated fats 2g
monounsaturated fats 6g
cholesterol 113 mg38%
Sodium 808 mg34%
Potassium 976 mg28%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
3g fiber12%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 40g80%
Vitamin A 664 IU13%
Vitamin C 21 mg25%
Calcium 371 mg37%
Iron 3 mg17%
Net carbs 10g
* Daily percentages are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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