Nothing says comfort food like a plate of southern smothered pork chops. Tender, bone-in, perfectly-seasoned pork chops are lightly floured and fried in a pan, then topped with a creamy, mushroom gravy.
This easy, stovetop recipe makes a quick, delicious family dinner.
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Why You'll Love This
Fried pork chops with gravy, served over a pile of mashed potatoes or rice, is a classic Southern comfort food. You can find pork chops in gravy in just about any Southern country restaurant.
These chops are slow-simmered on the stove and covered in a rich, thick gravy with fresh mushrooms.
This recipe for smothered pork chops will take about an hour from start to finish. Cooking pork chops slowly for a longer period of time will yield a much more tender, juicy pork chop that will melt in your mouth!
There is very minimal work involved in this recipe. It's an easy weeknight dinner, and it's perfect to add to your Sunday dinner rotation.
Why This Recipe Works
Let's talk about these fried pork chops and gravy! As the pork chops simmer with the cream of mushroom soup and mushrooms, the flavorful gravy comes together effortlessly.
Smothering anything in gravy is a Southern tradition. It adds flavor and moisture to the meat and any side dish that you serve with it.
The South is known for its lively, flavorful foods - we'll smother beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, crawfish, cabbage, green beans, and a whole lot of other foods with gravy!
Ingredients
Bone-in pork chops - or use pork steaks
Fresh sliced mushrooms (add sliced onions and bell peppers if desired)
Cream of mushroom soup - this is the star ingredient for the creamy gravy
Lemon pepper seasoning - lemon and pork complement each other very well
All-purpose flour - for dredging the pork chops in before frying them
Olive oil - we use a small amount of olive oil to quickly fry the floured pork chops to seal in the flavor and juices
How to Make This
Step 1: Season the pork chops with lemon pepper and lightly dredge them in flour.
Step 2: Add oil to a skillet or pan and sear (brown) the chops in a hot skillet. I like this skillet from Cuisinart because the base heats evenly and the handle stays cool!
Step 3: Remove pork chops from the skillet and add fresh sliced mushrooms. Cook till tender; about 5 minutes. Those browned bits at the bottom of the skillet pack a lot of flavor!
Step 4: Return pork chops to the skillet and spoon cream of mushroom soup on top. Put the lid on the skillet and slowly simmer on low heat for about 40 minutes.
Step 5: Plate the cooked pork chop and top with gravy!
Frequently Asked Questions
This southern smothered pork chops recipe calls for bone-in pork chops because they tend to be more flavorful and less dry than boneless. Pork steaks are great to use as well.
Nothing is more disappointing than overcooking a pork chop. Overcooked pork chops are dry and tough and nobody wants that! Cooking braised pork chops with gravy ensures moist, tender pork chops by searing them first, then slow cooking them.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store in airtight containers. I like to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids. Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco. These containers are great for meal prep, too! Available now on Amazon.
Because of the rich creamy gravy, serve the pork chops over cooked rice, mashed potatoes, or cooked egg noodles.
Or try my Easy Parmesan Herbed Potatoes. They take about the same amount of time to cook as the pork chops. Very convenient!
If you want to add a green vegetable to the menu, try roasted brussels sprouts or roasted broccoli. Last but not least, green beans are always a winner!
Expert Tips
Make sure your southern pork chops are thoroughly cooked. Undercooked pork carries the risk of you developing a foodborne illness. Pork should be cooked to 145 degrees Fahrenheit with a 3-minute rest time. Use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of pork. Since this recipe is slow cooked for 40 minutes, the pork chops will be perfectly cooked.
Can you make southern style smothered pork chops gluten-free? Yes, just skip the flour and use a gluten-free cream of mushroom soup such as Pacific Natural Foods Organic Cream of Mushroom Condensed Soup. You can also make your own, like this homemade, gluten-free cream of mushroom soup from The Spruce Eats.
More Pork Recipes
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Recipe
Southern Smothered Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 Pork chops, bone in
- 1-½ teaspoon Lemon pepper
- ¼ cup Flour
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 8 ounces Sliced fresh mushrooms (add more mushrooms if desired)
- 1 Can cream of mushroom soup
Instructions
- Season pork chops with lemon pepper then dredge in flour. Shake off excess flour.
- Add oil to large pan or skillet and brown the pork chops for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pork chops and drain on a paper towel.
- Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet and saute for 5 minutes. Return the chops to the skillet and spoon the cream of mushroom soup on top of the pork.
- Cover and reduce the heat to a low, slow simmer. Cook for about 40-45 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2019 and was updated in 2022.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
Julia
Thank you for sharing your delicious pork chop recipe with us at Meal Plan Monday!
MyKitchenSerenity
Thanks, Julia! I look forward to every Meal Plan Monday. I enjoy looking through all the delicious recipes every week 🙂
Thomas
I replaced the only the sauteed mushrooms with onions. Served with rice. This is an excellent recipe. Yummy!
MyKitchenSerenity
Thanks for the nice comment, Thomas! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!