When you’re in the mood for comfort food, pork chops and scalloped potatoes are a dinner combination that everyone will love. But when they’re baked together, with layers of tender sliced potatoes and onions bubbling in an simple gravy, they turn into a pork chop and potato casserole that really is one of the easiest pork dinner recipes ever.
You briefly sear the pork chops for extra flavor, then add them to the covered casserole, where they stay moist and tender as they cook. It’s one of those crowd-pleasing meals that you can make for all kinds of occasions—dinner with the kids, a special weekend supper when your family comes over, or even to share with friends at a dinner party.
Ingredients for Pork Chops with Scalloped Potatoes
- Pork rib chops: The casserole gets a long bake in the oven, so the type of pork chop you choose is essential. Pork rib chops have more fat than loin chops, which helps them stay juicy once cooked. Buy chops that are sliced about 3/4-inch thick.
- Potatoes: Thinly sliced potatoes make a savory bed for the pork chops. Yukon Golds or russets are the best type of potatoes here; you’ll need about four to six medium potatoes to get 6 cups of sliced potatoes. A mandoline (an essential kitchen tool) makes thin, perfectly even slices.
- Onion: Use yellow, white or even sweet onions for this recipe. Slice the onion into thin rings to cook with the scalloped potatoes.
- Oil: You need just a little vegetable oil in the skillet to sear the pork chops. Browning meat in fat adds color and extra flavor.
- Chicken broth: Use a good quality store-bought or homemade chicken broth. It’s the base of a simple gravy that simmers the potatoes and onions.
- Butter: Use melted salted or unsalted butter to make the roux that thickens the gravy.
- Flour: Whisk all-purpose flour into the melted butter to make the roux.
- Seasonings: Season the pork chops simply with salt and pepper. Paprika and fresh parsley are optional seasonings you can use as a garnish for color and flavor.
