Description
Hearty French onion smothered pork chops deliver classic comfort with caramelized onions and melted cheese atop perfectly seared meat. Rich flavors and golden-brown edges promise a satisfying meal that brings French countryside charm right to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 large boneless or bone-in pork chops
Cheese:
- 4 slices provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 2 medium yellow onions, halved and sliced thinly
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Cooking Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 1/2 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/4 cups (10 fluid ounces) beef broth
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400°F, preparing for a hearty pork chop transformation.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating a golden cooking surface.
- Gently sauté onions until they become soft and translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce beef broth and continue cooking, stirring regularly until onions develop a rich, caramel-like color, about 15 minutes.
- Season pork chops with a blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme, ensuring even coverage.
- Transfer caramelized onions to a separate plate, preserving the flavorful pan drippings.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium and add a light drizzle of vegetable oil.
- Carefully place seasoned pork chops in the skillet, cooking 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Sprinkle flour over the onions, stirring to create a thickening base for the sauce.
- Allow flour to cook into the onions for 1-2 minutes, developing a nutty aroma.
- Pour in beef broth, stirring to create a smooth, rich gravy that comes to a gentle boil.
- Return pork chops to the skillet, coating them generously with the savory sauce.
- Layer cheese slices and shredded Swiss over each pork chop, creating a decadent topping.
- Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.
- Remove from oven and crown each pork chop with the caramelized onions.
- Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs for a fragrant finishing touch.
- Serve immediately, presenting a comforting and elegant meal.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly to develop deep, rich flavor without burning, which requires patience and consistent stirring.
- Use bone-in pork chops for maximum juiciness and more robust meat texture that absorbs sauce better.
- Select a cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution and creating delicious browned bits that enhance overall sauce complexity.
- Experiment with cheese varieties like Gruyère or provolone to personalize the dish’s flavor profile while maintaining classic French onion essence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 50 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg