Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Spicy Mexican Adobo Sauce

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

Juicy pork chops pan-seared to perfection, served with a smoky and spicy adobo sauce inspired by Mexican street flavors. This mexican-inspired street food ready in about 35 minutes pairs bone-in pork chops, olive oil, dried ancho chili powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, 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

• 4 pieces (6 oz each) bone-in pork chops
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp dried ancho chili powder
• 1 tbsp dried guajillo chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 1 tbsp dried ancho chili powder, 1 tbsp dried guajillo chili powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 cup water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Whisk until smooth to create the adobo sauce.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Pat dry 4 bone-in pork chops (6 oz each) with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
3. Step 3: Sear the pork chops in the hot skillet for 4 minutes on each side until a golden crust forms and the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Remove chops and set aside covered to rest.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and pour in the prepared adobo sauce. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
5. Step 5: Return the pork chops to the skillet, spoon the adobo sauce over them, and cook for an additional 2 minutes to meld flavors.
6. Step 6: Transfer pork chops to serving plates and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately alongside rice or tortillas.