Orange Ginger Pork Chops

These orange ginger pork chops are easy and full of flavor. A simple stove top recipe for pan seared pork chops in a sweet, sticky, orange and fresh ginger sauce all cooked in the same pan. They make a fantastic dinner, especially served over rice.

Oh pork. I have a serious love hate relationship with pork. On the one hand, bacon, pork belly, and pork butt are among my absolute favorite cuts to work with…on the hand other pork chops and loin are temperamental to cook. I’ve made it a personal challenge to master them, and this recipe, along with my pork tenderloin in mushroom sauce, pork tenderloin salad, and crockpot pineapple pork loin are testaments to what happens if you keep trying!

This simple recipe for orange ginger pork chops was inspired by a recipe given to me by my aunt, and I tinkered and tested until I finally had a delicious, moist pork chop, seared to perfection then simmered in a sticky orange sauce infused with fresh ginger.

A Note on Pork Chops

One of the main reasons I keep coming back to pork chops is that they’re an inexpensive and quick cooking protein. I recommend one of these types of chops:

• Bone in rib chop – Most inexpensive, good fat, and my usual choice.
• Bone in center cut chop – Good fat, more expensive, with a nice small piece of tenderloin.
• Boneless chop – Least fat, hardest to cook, and arguably the least flavorful.

Regardless of your choice, look for a bright pink color with decent marbling.

For all pork chops the KEY to moist tender meat , is cooking to the proper temperature. Pork should be cooked to 145°F. Many years ago, due to fear of food borne illness, cooking pork well-done was standard and recommended. The risk of that has long been eradicated and it is now not only safe, but recommended to cook to a nice medium.

Go over that and that’s when you get dry tough pork. The best way to accomplish that is to cook your chops quickly with high heat. Broiling, grilling, or in this case, pan searing.

The Ingredients

I love a good simple recipe with simple ingredients, but I often find that going with simple ingredients makes choosing them even more important.

• Pork Chops – Any chop of your choice, I went with a bone in rib chop.
• Oil – Just enough to sear off your pork chops.
• Salt & Pepper – This is all you need to season your pork chops for searing
• White Wine – Choose a light, white wine with citrus notes to compliment the orange juice, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc are my recommendations.
• Orange Juice – You can use freshly squeezed orange juice from 2 to 3 large oranges, or no pulp, natural orange juice (not from concentrate) for best flavor.
• Brown Sugar – Essential for the sticky, sweet notes of the sauce that you definitely want!
• Ginger – About 2 inches of fresh ginger, peeled (like your thumb length and width), is perfect.

How to Make Orange Ginger Pork Chops

With those simple ingredients a similarly simple cooking process follows.

1. Heat a pan over medium high heat until very hot. Salt and pepper both sides of the pork while it heats.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan when it’s ready, and when the oil begins to shimmer, add the pork. Sear for 2-3 minutes on both sides, or until both sides are caramelized. If your chops have a thick cap of fat along one side, sear that as well.
3. Remove to a rack set over a baking sheet. (This prevents soggy or steamed sides from forming)
4. Reduce the heat to medium and add in the wine, using a flat edged spoon to scrape the brown bits from the pan.
5. Add the orange juice, sugar, and ginger, then bring the entire mixture to a boil. Stir occasionally, until reduced by 2/3.
6. When the sauce is reduced (darkened in color, and the consistency of a loose syrup), return the pork to the pan and cook another 2 to 3 minutes, turning to coat both sides of the pork.
7. When the chops reach 140°F, remove the pan from the heat.
8. Serve, spooning sauce liberally over each chop.

That’s it! One pan, no problem pork chops with orange and ginger sauce that is lick your spoon clean good!

Tips for the perfect Orange Pork Chops

Just a few final tips to make sure you enjoy these pork chops!

• Sear in a pan that retains heat well and can sear properly. If at all possible, try to use something other than nonstick, like a heavy duty cast iron or enameled cast iron pan.
• Do not cook your pork cold. Remove from fridge 30 mins before cooking. This ensures even cooking within and without.
• Don’t overcrowd your pan when searing, if you pan isn’t large enough to leave room between the chops sear in 2 batches instead. This avoids steaming the meat. When you return to the pan with the sauce later you can add them all at once.
• When in doubt, use a thermometer. A quick instant read thermometer will make it much easier to remove the pork at the correct temp. It takes only a minute to over cook, so if possible use one!
• Don’t have a thermometer? Touch the tip of your thumb to the tip of your ring finger and touch your palm at the base of your thumb. This is how a medium cook feels when touched.
• Remove pan from heat BEFORE the pork reaches 145°F. Residual heat from the pan and sauce will bring the pork up 5° or so.

FAQ’s

I hope you enjoy these pork chops as much as my family does! Here are some recommendations for sides to serve with your orange ginger pork chops, and until next time, Happy Eating!

• Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon
• Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Garlic
• Honey Orange Glazed Carrots
• Easy Coconut Rice
• Tomato Spinach Salad

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Originally published 7/10/19, Updated 1/6/20