Easy Stuffed Pork Chops

This delicious Stuffed Pork Chop Recipe is made in under 30 minutes and is the perfect easy dinner your whole family will love. It’s stuffed with cheesy goodness, seared, and baked, leaving you with super juicy and tender stuffed pork chops.

When you think of stuffed pork chops do you automatically think the stuffing is a traditional bread stuffing? I do too but our Stuffed Pork Chop recipe is not only gluten-free but it’s super low carb and totally keto-friendly. 

Don’t worry you aren’t missing out on anything, seriously these stuffed pork chops are the bomb and I’m not just saying because it’s my recipe. 

Now, if stuffed pork chops just aren’t your thing…it’s ok I won’t hold it against you. But we do have a few other great pork recipes for you to try like: Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy, Pork Loin Roast, Baked Pork Tenderloin, and Crispy Pork Belly. 

Not to mention that I’m working on an air fryer pork chop recipe as we speak. So we have lots of options when it comes to pork!

What are Stuffed Pork Chops?

Stuffed pork chops are literally exactly how it sounds…they are pork chops stuffed with some type of stuffing. 

You can use boneless or bone-in pork chops, but you want them to be about 1 ½” – 2” thick. You need to cut a pocket inside them and stuff them.

As far as stuffings go, you can stuff them with whatever you want. Then they are seared and baked to perfection!

What Ingredients are in Stuffed Pork Chops?

• Pork Chops – I chose to use thick boneless pork chops, but you can use bone-in chops as well. But make sure they are thick enough to stuff. 
• Cream Cheese – This is the base for our stuffed pork chops. Use full-fat cream cheese. Philadelphia is my favorite brand. 
• Parmesan Cheese – Grated or shredded parmesan cheese. Romano will work if you don’t have parmesan. 
• Spinach – Fresh spinach works the best, don’t use frozen. 
• Garlic – The more garlic the better! 
• Spices – Salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder.

Different Variations 

Every recipe can have variations and tweaks made to them, it’s just a matter of what you like and what you don’t like. Stuffed pork chops are pretty awesome because you can stuff them with cheeses, veggies, bacon, or a traditional bread stuffing.

Filling Options

We went with a nice traditional creamy spinach filling in these stuffed pork chops. But if you are looking for some other options for your filling, I mean in reality you can stuff whatever you want. But here are a few ideas.

• Bacon
• Sun Dried Tomatoes
• Kale
• Onions
• Celery
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Provolone Cheese
• Traditional Breadcrumb Stuffing Mix (not a low carb option)
• Sausage and Apple Stuffing

Seasoning Options

Seasonings are all about personal preference, some people like more seasonings than others. In our recipe we use salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika.

Other spices you could throw in the stuffing mixture are red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, parsley, poultry seasoning, and even a dash of chili powder for some extra flavor.

Bone-In vs. Boneless Pork Chops?

There are 2 types you can use to make the best stuffed pork chops: boneless and bone-in. I prefer boneless pork chops, but some of you may prefer bone-in chops. You decide which one works best for you. 

In the meantime, let me show you a few things to look for as you decide on which cut to use for making stuffed pork chops. 

Boneless Pork Chops:

• Pork loin chops, a leaner choice than the chops with bones, with hardly any fat on them.
• More expensive than bone-in chops because the butcher has to take more time to trim the fat off.
• Can be thick or thin, but you want thick chops when making a stuffed pork chop recipe. 
• You can buy a large boneless pork loin at Costco, and cut your chops the thickness that you want. This comes in handy because you can get up to 12 chops depending on the size of the loin. Freeze whatever you don’t use.  

Bone-In Pork Chops:

• Center Cut – It has a t-shape bone which is the best cut of chops with a bone. It is a combo of a rib chop and a piece of pork fillet.
• Rib Chops –  These have an L-shape bone, with a little less meat than the center cut, and are a little cheaper too.
• Sirloin Chops – They are a cheaper cut of pork which is sometimes a little tougher, but can be tenderized in the instant pot.
• Can be thick or thin
• Costs less because they do not take as much work to trim them up.

How Thick Should Pork Chops be for Stuffing?

When cooking stuffed pork chops, you don’t want the chops to be too thin or too thick. I know it’s a “Goldilocks” situation we have here. 

In my personal opinion, you want to get pork chops that are about 1 ½” – 2” thick. They need to be thick enough to cut a pocket and to stuff.

How Long to Bake Stuffed Pork Chops?

The exact timing will depend on how thick the pork chops are, and how much you browned them in the skillet first.

I found that cooking them at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes is perfect. It results in a cooked, yet juicy stuffed pork chop.

Internal Temperature

Pork needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Using a thermometer is the best and easiest way to make sure it’s cooked enough. 

Insert the thermometer into the thickened part of the pork chop. After it has reached 145 degrees, take it out of the oven and let rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting.

How to Cook Stuffed Pork Chops in the Oven 

I’ll walk you through how to easily cook stuffed pork chops, I’m telling you it’s easy!

Prepping the Pork Chops 

STEP 1: For starters let’s preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 

STEP 2: Season all sides of each pork chop with salt, pepper, and paprika.

STEP 3: Using a sharp paring knife, cut a pocket lengthwise in each pork chop. Be careful not to cut all the way through, you don’t want the stuffing to spill out the bottom or on the sides.

Making the Stuffing

STEP 4: In a medium-sized bowl, add the cream cheese, garlic, parmesan cheese, onion powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and spinach.

STEP 5: Mix the stuffing ingredients together.

Filling the Pork Chops

STEP 6: Fill the pork chops with the stuffing. I like them really stuffed. But you can actually get 6 pork chops filled if you use less stuffing, so it’s up to you.

Searing the Pork Chops 

STEP 7: Heat skillet with a little bit of avocado oil. 

STEP 8: Once the oil is starting to sizzle, gently place a pork chop into the pan standing upright. Sear the bottom, then flip and sear on both sides. They only need a minute or so on each side.

STEP 9: Transfer to a plate, and repeat with remaining pork chops. You don’t want to cook more than 2 pork chops at a time so as to not overcrowd them.

Baking in the Oven

STEP 10: Transfer all the pork chops back into the skillet. 

STEP 11: Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes. You want the internal temperature to be at least 145 degrees. 

STEP 12: Remove the stuffed pork chops from the oven and let rest 3-5 minutes.

How to Tell When They are Done?

Like I said earlier, the exact time will depend on how thick your pork chops are. I found mine cooked perfectly for 15-20 minutes.

However, to ensure they are cooked on the inside, insert a meat thermometer and wait for it to read 145 degrees F.

FAQs & Best Tips

• I highly recommend searing the stuffed pork chops before placing them in the oven.
• You can sear the pork chops before or after stuffing them. Do what’s easier for you. 
• Don’t overcook the pork chops in the frying pan, you only want to sear them on both sides.

Do I Need to Sear the Pork Chops First?

Yes, I really recommend searing the pork chops before baking them. It allows them to cook more evenly in the oven without overcooking and being dry and it locks in the juices. 

Plus it gives the outside of the pork chop some added flavor and that nice seared taste and texture.

Should I Brine the Pork Chops?

No, you do not have to brine the pork chops ahead of time. The reason you could do it is that it can help the pork chops to be extra juicy and flavorful. 

To be honest, though, I have never used a brine and my pork chops always come out nice and juicy.

Do You Bake Pork Chops Covered or Uncovered?

Bake the stuffed pork chops uncovered in the oven. I like the cheese stuffing to get a tiny bit brown and even crispy on top, so it needs to get cooked uncovered.

Should I Soak Pork Chops in Milk?

Again you don’t have to do this step in order to get juicy pork chops. However, I have soaked pork chops in milk for other pork chop recipes and it did make them very tender. 

So it’s not a necessary step, but if you have struggled with getting tender pork chops in the past, then please go ahead and try this. All you need to do is: 

1. Place the pork chops in a bowl or Ziploc bag, and cover it with milk.
2. Let soak for about 30 minutes. 
3. Pat dry before seasoning the pork chops.

What to Serve with Stuffed Pork Chops?

Oh boy, so many side dishes go great with stuffed pork chops!!! A few ideas are: 

• Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes or if you are not eating low carb you can make Mashed Potatoes.
• Roasted Broccoli 
• Roasted Green Beans with Bacon 
• Roasted Cauliflower 
• Cauliflower Mac and Cheese 
• Roasted Asparagus 
• Green Leafy Salad….this goes perfectly. 

OH….and don’t forget after dinner you need dessert! Try our delicious Keto Chocolate Cake, you can’t even tell that it’s low carb.

How to Store Stuffed Pork Chops?

Store the leftover baked stuffed pork chops in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. Your leftovers will last about 4 days.

How to Reheat

To Reheat in the Microwave: Place on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 60-90 seconds or until fully heated through. 

To Reheat in the Oven: Place the baked stuffed pork on a tray and heat at 300 degrees for about 5-10 minutes or until fully heated through.

Can You Freeze Stuffed Pork Chops?

You can try freezing these stuffed pork chops, but sometimes recipes with cream cheese don’t always thaw very well. I personally haven’t tried it yet, cause my whole family hasn’t had any leftovers. 

However, if you want to go ahead and freeze them, wrap them in plastic wrap then again in foil or freezer paper. Store in the freezer for up to about a month.

Tools to Use

• Measuring Cup and Spoons 
• Cutting Board 
• Sharp Paring Knife – You need a good sharp knife to cut the pocket into pork chop. 
• Cast Iron Skillet or Dutch Oven – I use this because it’s perfect for searing and baking the pork chops.

Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Keto & Low Carb: These baked stuffed pork chops are a great low carb dinner option. Instead of a traditional breadcrumb stuffing, we use fresh spinach and cheeses making it perfect for keto. 
• Gluten-Free: A lot of stuffed pork chop recipes will not be gluten-free, but we don’t use any bread or breadcrumbs at all making it 100% gluten-free. 
• Dairy-Free: Ok so we use cheese in our stuffing, but if you need a dairy-free stuffed pork chop we can fix that. Replace the cream cheese with a vegan cream cheese, and the parmesan with a vegan cheese like vegan mozzarella. 
• Egg-Free 
• Nut-Free

Other Easy Pork Recipes

We have a few other pork recipes on our website that you are going to love:

• Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy 
• Crispy Pork Belly
• Instant Pot Pulled Pork 
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork 
• Pork Loin Roast 
• Baked Pork Tenderloin 
• Pan-Fried Pork Chops with Garlic Butter

All of them are easy-to-make dinners and will have your friends raving!

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