Baked Cranberry Pork Chops – An Easy Pork Chop Recipe

Looking for an easy and delicious baked pork chop recipe? This baked cranberry pork chop recipe will wow your family.

The sauce for these Baked Cranberry Pork Chops includes just three ingredients but packs a flavorful punch. For best results, mix together the sauce and marinate the pork chops overnight.

We pulled this version of Baked Cranberry Pork Chops straight from our Grandma’s trusty wooden recipe box. The pork chops are cooked low and slow in the oven for a juicy, tender texture. The sauce is almost like a sweet barbecue sauce from just three ingredients.

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Cranberry Glazed Pork Chops Ingredients

Bone-in Pork Chops

Canned Cranberry Sauce (whole or jellied)

Dry Onion Soup Mix

French Onion Dressing

Baked Cranberry Pork Chops

When we found this recipe, the list of ingredients for the sauce intrigued us – dry onion soup mix packet, French dressing, jellied cranberry sauce – so we had to try it! Grandma did not fix this recipe for us when we were growing up but we knew it had to be good if she kept it in her collection of hand-written recipes.

It didn’t disappoint! Both adults and kids love this recipe, and the amazing aroma that drifts through the house while the pork chops are baking is downright amazing.

Cranberry sauce is a great pantry staple to use in baked pork recipes of any kind. As you can see in the pictures, sometimes I make it with whole berry cranberry sauce, and other times, I make it with jellied cranberry sauce. Canned cranberry sauce is also delish in our Instant Pot Cranberry Ham Recipe.

Barbara’s family only eats two pork chops at a time, so she put the extra pork chops and sauce in freezer bags (uncooked), and threw them in the freezer for a second or third meal.  You could even change up the protein for a delicious chicken dish. You never know when you need a fast weeknight dinner.

Easy Pork Chop Recipe

I love recipes that only have a few ingredients, and I also love recipes that taste phenomenal. This recipe meets both of this criteria.

Start to finish, this easy pork chop recipe only has 4 ingredients including the pork chops. Use pork loin chops, bone-in pork chops, boneless pork chops, pork steak, pretty much any of these cuts of meat.

Just be sure to adjust the cooking time to get a tender pork chop. Obviously, if you are using a super thin pork chop, the cooking time will be less.

 

What internal temperature do I cook pork chops to?

The FDA recommends cooking pork chops to an internal temperature range of 145 to 160 degrees F. The easiest way to reach this temperature without over cooking is to use a digital meat thermometer. Set the targeted temperature, and it will beep when the pork hits that temperature.

What do I serve with pork chops?

Pork chops pair perfectly with vintage vegetables. Some great options include Crispy Fried Potatoes, Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Dutch Green Beans, Cucumbers and Onions, Old Fashioned Pea Salad and Ranch Cauliflower Salad.

Serve these Baked Cranberry Pork Chops over rice, noodles or all by themselves.

What are some more ways to prepare pork chops?

Baked pork chops are our go-to preparation method. Consider trying Sour Cream Pork Chops, Fancy Baked Pork Chops and Pork Chop Potato Bake.  Slow cooking pork chops in the Crock Pot is another great method of cooking.  Try Mexican-Style Pork Chops and Pork Chops and Apples.

What is the best way to tenderize a pork chop?

There are multiple ways to tenderize a pork chop to make it more tender and less dry.

1. Use a marinade, typically in some type of wet form to tenderize the pork chop. Wet marinades are a great way to use an acidic ingredient such as lemon juice or vinegar to help break down tough meat fibers while also adding flavor.
2. Tenderize the pork chop by pounding it with a meat mallet. This works by physically breaking down the meat fibers during the pounding process.
3. Make a brine. Brining adds flavor and keeps pork moist.
4. Use a meat tenderizer from the grocery store. There’s several products available that contain papain, an ingredient derived from papayas. Often, this ingredient is mixed with salt. I personally like Johnny’s brand.

How to Make Baked Pork Chops

Step By Step Instructions

1. Combine cranberry sauce, French dressing and onion soup mix.
2. Add pork chops to the mixture. Cook immediately or refrigerate overnight.
3. In a greased baking dish, bake pork chops uncovered at 325 degrees F for 75 to 80 minutes. Be sure to completely cover the pork chops with the sauce and then baste occasionally if desired.
4. Taste, and season with salt and black pepper, if needed.
5. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Full recipe for oven baked pork chops is at the end of this post.

​​Do pork chops get more tender the longer you cook them?

Pork chops are a lean cut of pork which means there’s a fine line between a moist, juicy pork chop and a dry, tough pork chop. The pork chops will become tougher the longer you cook them.

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Pork Chop Recipe FAQs

• This is a 4 ingredient recipe—pork chops, cranberry jelly, onion soup mix, and French dressing.
• Use jellied cranberry sauce or whole cranberry sauce.
• To get a more flavorful baked pork chop, marinate overnight.
• We recommend basting occasionally. To baste means to cover the pork chops with the cooking liquids. This will keep the pork chops moist.
• Use a digital meat thermometer to prevent over-cooking the pork chops. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees F.
• Looking for more pork chop recipes? Try Mom’s Pork Chop and Potatoes and Crock Pot French Onion Pork Chops.

Recipe Variations

• Use jellied cranberry sauce or whole berry cranberry sauce.
• Any cut or thickness of pork chops can be used (1-inch thick, 1/2-inch thick, etc.)
• Try different cuts such as pork steak.
• Add a squirt of yellow mustard or Dijon mustard for a little tang.
• Garlic powder or onion powder gives extra flavor.
• For added flavor, coat the meat in flour, and sear both sides in a skillet of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until golden brown. Pat dry the excess oil on paper towels.

Recipes with Cranberries

Crock Pot Cranberry Turkey Breast

Hot Cranberry Punch

Instant Pot Cranberry Ham

Jalapeno Cape Codder

Cranberry Moscow Mule

Is it better to fry pork chops or bake them?

There isn’t one way to cook pork chops better than the other, as long as you are following the right methods. To bake properly, bake them in a sauce and baste often. Also, bake the pork to a temperature of 145 degrees F. You can remove them from the oven at 140 degrees F, and let them continue to cook to 145 degrees F. This is called carryover cooking.

To fry pork chops perfectly, first season with a tenderizer. This will break down the tough meat fibers to make them so much more palatable. Also, be sure your vegetable oil is hot before adding the meat to the skillet.