Description
Southern comfort meets gourmet elegance in these irresistible Smothered Pork Chops, where crispy bacon, earthy mushrooms, and a silky thyme cream sauce elevate a classic dish. Home cooks will savor each rich, hearty bite of this soul-warming meal that promises pure culinary satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) pork loin chops (boneless)
- 6 strips bacon (uncooked)
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) mushrooms (sliced)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme (leaves)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) flour (gluten-free flour for gluten-free version)
- 2/3 cup (158 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Dice bacon into bite-sized pieces and render fat in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer bacon to a separate plate, reserving the rendered fat.
- Season pork chops generously with salt and pepper. Sear in the same skillet over high-medium heat for 4 minutes per side, creating a golden-brown crust. Reduce heat midway and cook until just before fully done. Remove pork chops from the pan.
- In the same skillet, sauté sliced mushrooms and minced garlic, adding olive oil if needed. Sprinkle with salt and fresh thyme leaves. Cook for 5 minutes until mushrooms release moisture and soften. Dust evenly with flour, stirring to coat completely.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet, increasing heat to create a bubbling sauce. Whisk continuously to prevent lumps. Stream in heavy cream, stirring until the sauce becomes smooth and velvety. Lower heat to a gentle simmer.
- Return pork chops and crispy bacon to the skillet. Cover and cook on low heat for 3-4 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and ensuring pork is fully cooked through.
- Plate the pork chops, generously spooning the creamy mushroom and bacon sauce over the top. Garnish with additional fresh thyme leaves for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Chop bacon into smaller pieces to ensure even cooking and crispy texture throughout the dish.
- Retain bacon fat in the pan for cooking pork chops, adding extra flavor and helping create a perfect golden-brown sear.
- Pat pork chops dry before seasoning to help achieve a better crust and more intense flavor absorption.
- Start with high heat for searing, then reduce to medium to prevent burning while ensuring thorough cooking.
- Allow mushrooms to release their natural juices and cook until they start to caramelize for deeper flavor profile.
- Sprinkle flour evenly and stir continuously to prevent lumps and create a smooth, silky cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 or 4
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 26 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg