Pan-Roasted Pork Chops with Garlic and Thyme Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-07 · Updated 2026-05-07

Juicy pork chops pan-roasted with fresh garlic and thyme, finished with a rich herb butter sauce. This Mediterranean-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs bone-in pork chops, unsalted butter, fresh thyme sprigs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 pieces (about 1 inch thick, 8 oz each) bone-in pork chops
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs
• 4 crushed garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 bone-in pork chops and season both sides evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add pork chops and sear for 4 minutes without moving to develop a golden crust.
3. Step 3: Flip pork chops and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 4 crushed garlic cloves, and 3 fresh thyme sprigs to the skillet. Tilt the pan slightly and spoon melted butter over the chops continuously for 4-5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
4. Step 4: Remove pork chops from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes. Discard garlic and thyme or serve alongside. Spoon the butter sauce from the pan over the pork chops before serving.