Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

ByTiffany McCauley

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These delicious balsamic pork chops are quickly and easily made any day of the week. They are a quick dinner for a busy evening, and let’s face it, we could all use a few more of those “quick and easy” recipes, don’t you think?

The rich flavor from the balsamic glaze gives these a simple yet delicious taste that will pair well with just about any side dish.

Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (1)

About The Cut

When I buy my pork chops from the butcher, I ask him to cut the chops into “breakfast cuts or slices”. These are much thinner and cook faster as a result. And as the name insinuates, this cut is good for breakfast in lieu of bacon.

How To Serve Balsamic Pork Chops

These pork chops pair well with any of the following:

  • With a green salad on the side
  • With a baked potato and green beans or roasted asparagus.
  • With various vegetables such as broccoli, potato, sautéd onion, or cauliflower
Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (2)

Recipe Variations

  • You can add a bit of fresh rosemary to the pan. But remove it when it starts to get past being golden brown.
  • You can also try this with fresh thyme
  • Drizzle on a very small amount of honey and add a pat of butter.
  • You can also follow this recipe, but use thin cuts of chicken. Though you may need a small amount of chicken broth if you don’t want to use more oil. Do this over medium heat in a frying pan until the internal temperature is at least 165 F.
Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (3)

About The Ingredients

Pork chops– breakfast cut – about a scant ½ inch thick. Do not use bone-in pork chops for this.

Oil – Any oil will do, but opt for oils that have a higher smoke point, such as avocado oil or coconut oil.

Garlic cloves– Minced.

Balsamic vinegar

Salt and black pepper – Sprinkle on to taste.

How To Make Balsamic Pork Chops

Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (4)

Gather and measure the ingredients Heat the oil over medium-high heat, then sauté the garlic for 1 minute. Then place the pork chops into the skillet with the garlic.

Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (5)

Brown the pork chops on both sides, then add the balsamic vinegar. Continue to cook until the pork chops are done (at least 165 F. on a meat thermometer).

Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (6)

Serve with your favorite side dish.

Storaging Balsamic Pork Chops

Pack leftovers in an airtight container and store this in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezing Balsamic Pork Chops

If wrapped well, this can be frozen for up to 4 months.

Reheating Balsamic Pork Chops

If frozen, that in the fridge for a full 24 hours before reheating.

To reheat, simply warm this in a skillet over low heat, watching it carefully so it doesn’t burn.

You can microwave it, but don’t do it for long or it will turn the meat into rubber.

Recipe Supplies

Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (7)
Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (8)
Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (9)

More Healthy Pork Recipes

  • BBQ Rosemary Pork Chops
  • BBQ Orange Pork with Fennel
  • BBQ Fennel Pork

Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe Card

Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (11)

Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe

Delicious pork chops that are quick and easy to make.

4.84 from 6 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 407kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Skillet

  • 1 Spatula (or tongs)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb pork chops (breakfast cut – about a scant ½ inch thick)
  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 6 medium garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • salt and pepper (to taste)

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Gather and measure the ingredients Heat the oil over medium-high heat, then sauté the garlic for 1 minute. Then place the pork chops into the skillet with the garlic.

    Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (12)
  • Brown the pork chops on both sides, then add the balsamic vinegar. Continue to cook until the pork chops are done (at least 165 F.).

    Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (13)
  • Serve with your favorite side dish.

    Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (14)

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5the recipe | Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 152mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 891mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted on 1/8/13.

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Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak pork chops in vinegar? ›

The citrus and vinegar in the brine tenderize the pork, leaving you with a more succulent bite of the other white meat. Without a brine, the pork chops are more likely to taste bland and have a greater chance of drying out, especially if they are a leaner cut like tenderloin or boneless loin chops.

What is the best way to cook pork chops so they are not tough? ›

The Best Juicy Skillet Pork Chops
  1. Say goodbye to dry and flavorless pork chops. ...
  2. Tip #1: Don't cook chops straight from the refrigerator. ...
  3. Tip #2: Season the chops with salt half an hour before cooking. ...
  4. Tip #3: Rub the chops with spices and some flour. ...
  5. Tip #4: Sear on one side, flip, and then cover with a lid.

What is the healthiest pork to eat? ›

If you're looking for the healthiest pork options, you want lean cuts -- tenderloin, loin chops and sirloin roast. Bacon and other fatty cuts are very high in artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol and not for everyday eating.

What is the best thing to use to tenderize pork chops? ›

Tenderize Pork with a Meat Mallet

An old-fashioned meat mallet is a quick, affordable, and reliable way to soften up any cut of meat. It's great for pork chops because you can use it lightly on thinner chops and put more force into thicker cuts.

Should I rinse marinade off pork chops? ›

No, you do not want to rinse the marinade off of the pork chops. If you're grilling the pork chops, they can go straight from the marinade onto the grill. If you're cooking the pork chops in a skillet, I do recommend patting them dry before adding them to the skillet.

Do you rinse meat after soaking in vinegar? ›

The meat may be presoaked in a solution of water and acid — often white vinegar or lemon juice — then rinsed under running water prior to being seasoned with a dry rub or marinade, after which it's cooked or frozen.

Do chefs wash pork chops before cooking? ›

While washing meat and poultry to remove dirt, slime, fat or blood may have been appropriate decades ago when many slaughtered and prepared their own food, the modern food safety system doesn't require it. Meat and poultry are cleaned during processing, so further washing is not necessary.

Why is apple cider vinegar good on pork? ›

Apple Cider Vinegar – Adds a beautiful and tasty touch of acidity to the glaze that brightens up the apple glazed pork chops. Apple Cider – Gives the pork an intense layer of sweet apple flavor combined with the apple cider vinegar.

What is the unhealthiest meat? ›

Hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and regular ground beef should be avoided or consumed sparingly due to their high fat, calorie, and sodium content, and potential health risks. By using this ranking system, you can make informed choices about the meats you eat and maintain a healthy diet.

Why is pork the unhealthiest meat? ›

Pork is a type of red meat that is rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, but it is also high in fat and cholesterol. In particular, some pork cuts are high in saturated fatty acids, so-called bad fats. Excess saturated fats can increase your risk of developing heart problems, obesity, and other long-term illnesses.

Why do Muslims not eat pork? ›

The pig is considered an unclean animal as food in Judaism and Islam, and parts of Christianity. Although Christianity is also an Abrahamic religion, most of its adherents do not follow these aspects of Mosaic law and do consume its meat.

What does marinating pork in vinegar do? ›

Tenderness: The acidic properties of vinegar help to break down the muscle fibers in the pork, resulting in a more tender and juicy end product. Food Safety: The acidic nature of vinegar can help to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the surface of the pork, contributing to food safety during the marinating process.

What is the purpose of soaking meat in vinegar? ›

1. marinating the meat with vinegar will make the meat much softer and tender after cooking; 2. the vinegar of the marinade will flavor your meat and enhance your recipes.

What effect does vinegar have on pork? ›

Furthermore, fermented vinegar could enhance the sensory evaluation of barbecued pork sausages(tenderness, flavor, juiciness and overall acceptability).

Should you soak pork chops before cooking? ›

By soaking the pork chops in a mixture of water, salt, and additional flavorings (more on that in a moment), you can help the meat to draw in moisture and add tons of savory flavor. Turns out that brining is especially useful for lean meats like pork and poultry, which can sometimes be dry and bland.

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