Pork Chops · Smothered in Onion Gravy
Smothered Pork Chops in Onion Gravy
Bone-in chops browned in a skillet, then simmered in a rich, peppery onion gravy until tender. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes to catch every drop.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Medium
Ingredients
- Chops
- 4 bone-in pork chops, about 3/4 inch thick
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Swaps for garlic powder
Instead of garlic
- Fresh garlic: 1 clove for each ⅛ tsp powder, minced fine. Sharper and stronger.
- Granulated garlic: About twice as much as the powder. The same flavor in coarser grains, which blend better into rubs.
- 1 tsp paprika
Swaps for paprika
Instead of paprika
- Smoked paprika: The same amount. Adds a smoky flavor; lovely in most savory dishes.
- Chili powder: The same amount. Adds cumin, garlic and a little heat.
- ½ cup all-purpose flour ≈ 63 g
Swaps for all-purpose flour
Instead of all-purpose flour
- Gluten-free 1:1 baking flour: The same amount, a blend that includes xanthan gum. A little grittier and more crumbly, browns faster and dries out sooner.
- Bread flour: The same amount. More gluten: chewier cookies and bread, tougher cakes.
- Whole wheat flour: Up to half of the flour. Nuttier, darker and denser.
All 4 swaps for all-purpose flour
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Swaps for vegetable oil
Instead of vegetable oil
- Another neutral oil: The same amount. No difference.
- Melted butter: The same amount. Richer, buttery flavor; cakes are a little less moist and firmer once cool.
- Light olive oil: The same amount. "Light" olive oil tastes mild.
- Onion gravy
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Swaps for unsalted butter
Instead of butter
- Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
- Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
- Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 2 onions, thinly sliced
Swaps for onions
Instead of onion
- Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
- Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
- Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Swaps for garlic
Instead of garlic
- Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
- Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.
- 2 cups chicken broth
Swaps for chicken broth
Instead of broth
- Vegetable broth: The same amount. Lighter and slightly sweeter.
- Bouillon cube, powder or paste + water: Follow the label for the amount of liquid. Close in flavor; a little saltier.
- Water + extra seasoning: The same amount, with ½ tsp salt per cup and extra garlic, onion or herbs. Flatter and lighter, but fine where other ingredients bring plenty of flavor.
- ½ cup whole milk
Swaps for whole milk
Instead of milk
- Unsweetened soy milk: The same amount. The closest plant milk for baking: its protein helps things brown and set.
- Unsweetened oat milk: The same amount. Creamy and mild with a hint of sweetness.
- Unsweetened almond milk: The same amount. Thinner and less rich, so cakes are a little paler and drier.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
Swaps for worcestershire sauce
Instead of Worcestershire sauce
- Soy sauce + vinegar: 1 tbsp soy sauce + ¼ tsp vinegar + a pinch of sugar for each 1 tbsp. Savory and tangy, less complex.
- Vegan Worcestershire: The same amount. Very close, with no anchovies.
- ½ tsp dried thyme
Swaps for dried thyme
Instead of thyme
- Fresh thyme: 1 tbsp chopped fresh for each 1 tsp dried (three times as much). Brighter and more lemony.
- Italian seasoning or dried marjoram: The same amount. Close; Italian seasoning adds oregano and basil.
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Swaps for cayenne pepper
Instead of cayenne pepper
- Red pepper flakes: The same amount, crushed fine. Slightly milder, with visible flakes.
- Hot sauce: A few dashes for each pinch. Adds vinegar and a little liquid.
- Chipotle powder or hot paprika: The same amount. Chipotle is smoky; hot paprika is milder and fruitier.
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Swaps for fresh parsley
Instead of parsley
- Dried parsley: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Very mild; it adds color more than flavor.
- Cilantro: The same amount. Stronger and citrusy; suits Mexican and Asian dishes.
- Celery leaves or chervil: The same amount. Celery leaves are peppery and grassy; chervil is mild with a hint of anise.
Weights from USDA FoodData Central cup weights. Counted things (eggs, cloves, cans) stay as counts, and salt stays in spoons: kosher and flaky salts weigh very differently by brand.
Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.
Cook to 145°F inside (check with a thermometer).
Steps
- Pat the chops dry. Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika andboth sides of the chops.
season (how to season to taste)
Season to taste Add salt (and pepper or acid) bit by bit, tasting as you go, until the food tastes fully of itself. 1. Season meat and vegetables before cooking, holding the salt high so it falls evenly.2. Taste the dish near the end with a clean spoon.3. If it tastes flat, add a pinch of salt, stir and taste again.4. If it tastes heavy or dull, a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar brightens it.5. Stop when another pinch wouldn't make it better. Done when: The flavors are clear and bright, not flat and not salty. Safety: Don't taste dishes that hold raw meat, poultry or eggs; season them by the recipe's amounts and adjust after cooking.How to season to taste: mistakes to avoid - Put the flour in a shallow dish. Press each chop into the flour, shake off the extra and set it on a plate. Save 2 tablespoons of the leftover flour.
- Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
- ⏱ Brown chops: 6 minthe chops on both sides. They won't be cooked through yet. Move them to a plate.
Brown (how to brown)
Brown Cook food in a hot pan until its surface turns brown, which adds rich, roasted flavor. 1. Pat the food dry; for ground meat, let the pan get hot first.2. Add a little oil and spread the food in one layer.3. Leave it alone for a few minutes so the bottom browns, then turn or break it up.4. Work in batches if it won't fit in one layer.5. Pour off extra fat if the recipe says to. Done when: Most surfaces are brown, not gray, and the bottom of the pan has browned bits (they are flavor, not burn). Safety: Hot oil spatters: dry the food first, lay it in the pan moving away from you, and keep a lid nearby. Never put water on an oil fire; slide the lid over it and turn off the heat. Browned outside doesn't mean cooked inside: ground beef needs 160°F, poultry 165°F.How to brown meat and vegetables: mistakes to avoid - Lower the heat to medium and melt the butter in the pan.
- Add the onions and cook, stirring now and then, until soft and golden.⏱ Onions: 10 min
- Stir in the garlic and the 2 tablespoons of saved flour and cook, stirring, until no dry flour remains.⏱ Cook flour: 1 min
- Slowly stir in the broth,, then stir in the milk, Worcestershire, thyme and cayenne (if using).
scraping up the browned bits (how to deglaze)
Deglaze Pour liquid into a hot pan and scrape up the browned bits stuck to the bottom, which hold a lot of flavor. 1. After browning, pour off all but a spoonful of fat.2. With the pan still hot, pour in wine, broth or water; it will sizzle and steam.3. Scrape the bottom with a wooden spoon or flat spatula until the brown layer dissolves.4. Let it bubble down, as the recipe says, into the base of a sauce. Done when: The bottom of the pan is clean and the liquid has turned brown and tasty. Safety: Take the pan off the flame before pouring in wine or spirits, and turn your face away from the steam.How to deglaze a pan: mistakes to avoid - Bring the gravy to aand nestle the chops back in, spooning onions and gravy over the top.
simmer (how to simmer)
Simmer Cook liquid just below a boil, with small bubbles breaking the surface now and then. 1. Bring the liquid up over medium-high heat.2. As soon as bubbles rise steadily, turn the heat down.3. Adjust until only a few small bubbles break the surface every second or two.4. Stir now and then and check that it hasn't crept back to a boil. Done when: You see lazy, small bubbles, not a rolling boil. A "bare" simmer has just a bubble here and there. Safety: Steam burns fast: lift lids and foil away from your face, tipping the far edge up first.How to simmer: mistakes to avoid - Cover and simmer gently, turning the chops once, until they reach at least 145°F (63°C) in the center and the gravy is thick.145°F⏱ Simmer: 12 min
- Taste the gravy and add salt if needed. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Tap an underlined word for how to do it, or see all techniques.
Tips
- The USDA safe temperature for whole cuts of pork is 145°F (63°C) followed by a 3-minute rest. A little blush of pink inside is fine.
- Gentle simmering keeps the chops tender; a hard boil tightens the meat.
- Use a separate cutting board for raw meat, and wash hands, boards and knives in hot soapy water after handling it.
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container within 2 hours, up to 3 days. Reheat in the gravy over low heat with a splash of broth.
How long leftovers keep, and freezing and reheating: leftovers and storage.
Quick answers
Answered from this recipe's own storage, make-ahead and swap notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 2,340 kJ
- Protein
- 46 g
- Carbohydrates
- 21 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
- Sugars
- 5 g
- Fat
- 32 g
- Saturated fat
- 11 g
- Sodium
- 1,040 mg
Whole recipe, 4 servings: about 2,250 calories.
Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 14 of 14 ingredients.
How we estimate
We add up USDA FoodData Central values for each measured ingredient as written and divide by the recipe's 4 servings, so changing the servings or units here doesn't change a serving. Brands, swaps, trimming and cooking all change the real numbers.
Not counted: cayenne pepper, fresh parsley (optional).
Estimated cost
About $3.00 a serving
About $12.00 for the recipe as written (4 servings).
Estimate; prices vary by store and region. U.S. average prices for September 2026 from BLS Average Price Data and USDA ERS Purchase to Plate prices updated with the BLS Consumer Price Index. Priced: 9 of 14 ingredients, 99% by weight.
How we estimate
Each measured ingredient is weighed as in the nutrition estimate and priced at the U.S. average: BLS's average price where BLS publishes one, else USDA ERS's Purchase to Plate price for 2017-18 raised to September 2026 with the CPI for that food group. Whole packages, store brands, sales and regions all change the real cost: treat it as a ballpark.
- bone-in pork chops $9.60 BLS
- chicken broth $1.00 ERS
- onions $0.70 ERS
- unsalted butter $0.25 BLS
- vegetable oil $0.15 ERS
- whole milk $0.15 BLS
- all-purpose flour $0.10 BLS
- garlic $0.05 ERS
- worcestershire sauce $0.05 ERS
Not priced (no official average price we can match, so not in the total): kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme.
Not counted: cayenne pepper, fresh parsley (optional, or to taste).
More dishes for less: cheap eats.
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Gear for this recipe
-
See price on Amazon: 12-inch stainless skillet (opens Amazon)
12-inch stainless skillet
Wide enough for four chops; it builds browned bits for the gravy. A skillet with a lid is ideal.
Suggested: Tramontina
- See price on Amazon: Instant-read thermometer (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Locking tongs (opens Amazon)
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- See price on Amazon: 8-inch chef's knife (opens Amazon)
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- See price on Amazon: Liquid measuring cup (opens Amazon)
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Cleanup score 4/5 (easy cleanup): 2 things to wash, stainless skillet, mixing bowl.
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