"The Night I Fell In Love" Southern Smothered Pork Chops {Recipe & Video}

Smothered pork chops: tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. A classic comfort food favorite that satisfies the soul with every bite.

Related Pork Chop Posts:

• Fried Pork Chops
• Smoked Pork Chops
• Grilled Pork Chops

Might just be the best Southern smothered pork chop recipe you'll taste ever! They have flavor at every level thanks to the tasty brine and creamy, tangy onion gravy making them perfect main dish for comfort weeknight dinner.

Pork chops are a staple of soul food, and there are countless ways to prepare them. One popular method is Southern smothered pork chops.

Smothered one could argue is the soul food technique of choice. Smothered oxtail would be exhibit A.

The pork chops are first brined overnight in a buttermilk marinade, then browned in a skillet, and finally simmered in a gravy made from chicken stock, onions, and seasonings. This dish is typically served over rice, and it can be easily adapted to suit your taste.

Not only do both the brine and gravy add tremendous flavor but they also contribute to the juicy tenderness of these succulent chops.

What's even better, is you can do everything using one pan making cleanup a cinch.

Beats and Eats (music to pair with smothered pork chops)

You'll remember the first bite into these smothered pork chops as that night you fell in love like Luther sang about in his classic jam "The Night I Fell In Love." These chops will give you all the feels and a reason to cherish every bite. Luther's voice is soothing, comforting, but also extra soulful. In short the song is as are these chops, a masterpiece.

Luther Vandross' song "The Night I Fell in Love" pairs perfectly with smothered pork chops due to its smooth and romantic vibe. The soulful melody and heartfelt lyrics create a mood of warmth and comfort, echoing the rich and comforting flavors of the pork dish.

Just like the song, smothered pork chops bring out those feelings of love and nostalgia, making them the perfect choice for a cozy and intimate dinner. Together, the soulful music and savory meal create a dining experience that touches both the heart and the senses.

What Is A Brine?

Brining is a technique that adds flavor and texture to meats. It's similar to a marinade. In a nutshell without getting too sciency, brining helps meat proteins retain water/moisture during cooking. Translation - you get the most tender pork chops!

Obviously, the water retention makes these smothered pork chops juicy. The flavor part comes from actually adding flavoring ingredients to the liquid base. Salt, brown sugar, herbs, citrus, etc. all make great brine ingredients.

Ingredients Needed For Smothered Pork Chops

For The Pork Chops

• Bone-In Pork Chops - I prefer thick cut rib chops over loin sometimes referred to as center-cut rib chops. These are often lean but will typically have a strip of fat (unlike a loin chop) that runs on the side opposite the bone. Brining will keep these tender when cooking
• Allspice is a Caribbean spice. It's got a spicy-sweet flavor more in line with cinnamon and cloves.
• Smoked Paprika adds a bit of smokiness and earthiness
• Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Garlic powder (optional)

For The Brine

• Onions - cut these into thicker slices to hold up to the caramelization post marinating.
• Garlic Cloves
• Lemon Juice - adds a slight tang to the onions and pork chops which will also aid in balancing out the richness in the gravy
• Kosher salt
• Brown sugar
• Black pepper
• Basil - herbal tones add subtle flavor notes to the chops
• Water

For The Gravy

• Chicken Stock or Homemade Chicken Broth
• All-Purpose Flour
• Heavy Cream - go full flavor
• Worcestershire Sauce - the acid needed for the fat in the chops and the cream. It's also full of umami flavor and makes sure the gravy stays on the savory side.
• Butter

How To Make This Smothered Pork Chops Recipe (step by step)

Make The Brine

Combine the brine ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir well until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Add the pork chops and refrigerate overnight.

Prepare the Pork Chops

Remove the chops and the onions from the brine. Set the onions aside.

Mix together the salt and pepper plus the paprika and allspice in a small bowl or ramekin.

Dry the chops with a paper towel. Season the flour with the dry seasoning mix. Dredge the chops in the seasoned flour mix.

Heat a large skillet (cast iron is great) on medium heat. Add butter (substitute olive oil) then saute the marinated onions uncovered 2-3 minutes. Add lid, reduce heat to low, and cook for about 10 minutes.

Remove the lid and add the garlic as well as half the remaining seasoning. Cook for another minute.

Make the Gravy

In the same pan add a bit more butter followed by the flour. Mix well with the onions. Add the chicken stock and Worcestershire sauce then using a wooden spoon deglaze the pan and scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Reduce the gravy to desired thickness then stir in the heavy cream for a more rich onion gravy.

Add the pork chops back to the pan. Top them with the rich gravy. Top with the lid and cook pork chops at a simmer for 30-40 minutes stirring occasionally. The chops and gravy should reach a golden brown color. Garnish with more cracked black pepper and fresh parsley.

What To Serve With Pork Chops

Smothered pork chops pair well with a variety of comforting side dishes. Here are some options to consider:

1. Mashed potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are a classic choice that complements the rich and savory flavors of smothered pork chops.
2. Roasted vegetables: Choose your favorite vegetables such as green beans, carrots, or broccoli to add color and nutrition to the plate.
3. Rice: Serve smothered pork chops with fluffy white rice for a hearty and filling accompaniment.
4. Cornbread: A side of warm cornbread adds a touch of sweetness and texture to the meal, perfect for soaking up the flavorful gravy from the pork chops.
5. Salad: A crisp garden salad with fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and your favorite dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the rich pork chops.
6. Southern-style sides: Consider classic Southern sides like collard greens, black-eyed peas, or macaroni and cheese for a comforting and satisfying meal.
7. Egg noodles: Tender egg noodles provide a soft and creamy base that complements the rich and savory flavors of the smothered pork chops

Tips For Cooking Pork Chops

For the best pork chops choose chops that are medium thickness. ¾ inch thick is about right. Thin pork chops will require more attention and really thick chops will require a longer cook time.

Bone-in pork chops are best. They have more flavor, especially around the bone. I prefer these over pork loin chops.

Don't skip the brining step. These are next-level smothered pork chops partially thanks to a simple but well-seasoned brine. If you don't want your smothered pork chops tough then don't skip this step.

Make sure the chops are at room temperature before cooking. This will help ensure more even cooking.

Worcestershire sauce has a strong distinct flavor. Monitor how much you use. Taste and adjust as you go.

Go with a full-fat cream. Creamy luscious flavor is the goal and plus this ain't a recipe for calorie watchers. This is straight-up comfort food indulgence. If you don't have cream on hand then go with whole milk.

Don't use too much of the cream upfront, as you'll want to control for consistency or thickness. If your gravy gets to thick just dilute it with more cream or water. Taste and increase seasoning if necessary.

Use bacon fat to take this dish way over the top!

Add mushrooms to make this more of a mushroom gravy.

Serve smothered pork chops with other Southern classic sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, and fried cabbage.

Southern Smothered Pork Chops Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Do I Avoid Tough Smothered Pork Chops?

Brining is the key as well as working with a heavy lid while cooking. Going with thicker chops also helos. Lastly, these are for slow cooking so avoid cooking at too high of temperatures.

Should you bake pork chops covered or uncovered?

Definitely cook these covered. Per my note above use the heaviest tight-fitting lid you have.

Will Boneless Pork Chops Work In This Recipe?

You can definitely make these with boneless chops but you'll have to work harder and be a bit more mindful to avoid overcooking them. A boneless chop will not have that bone to slow the heating of the chops when they cook.

What goes well with smothered pork chops?

Serve these smothered pork chops with smothered green beans, mashed potatoes, rice, broccoli, okra, or even roasted carrots.

Is There A Non-Dairy Option?

I've used almond milk in this recipe before and it was pretty good. It's not equal to heavy cream, but it gets the job done.

For Other Pork Chop Recipes Try These:

Blackened Pork Chops

Smoked Pork Chops

Brined and Grilled Pork Chops

Puerto Rican Pork Chops

Fried Pork Chops

Sous Vide Pork Chops

Grilled Pork Steaks

Make Smothered Pork Chops Recipe

Smothered pork chops are a classic Southern soul food dish that is absolutely delicious and perfect for a winter meal. The rich and creamy sauce pairs well with the crispy pork chops, and it’s sure to please even the pickiest of eaters and become one of your favorite pork chop recipes. If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner recipe, be sure to try out this smothered pork chop dish.

If you make this soul food pork chop recipe, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

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