Breaded pork chops taste incredibly hearty and satisfying in the fall and winter. So book a ticket to comfort-food heaven, and serve them with one of our favorite hearty mashed potato recipes. In summer, learn what temperature to fry pork chops without flour or other coatings for a light, fuss-free entrée and serve with a great side salad for a full dinner. Whichever style you choose, you’ll learn the No. 1 key to pork-chop perfection: How to fry pork chops without drying them out.

How to Make Pan-Fried Pork Chops

Before you roll up your sleeves and learn how to fry pork chops, you’ll first have to decide: breaded or unbreaded? Which choice is the best way to fry pork chops? Honestly, we like both! In general, fried pork chops without flour or other breading will be healthier. That’s because breaded fried pork chops soak up a lot of oil during cooking (the process is what gives them their irresistibly crunchy, golden-brown coating). Because there’s a time and place for every cooking style, we’ll show you how to fry pork chops with and without flour. There’s also a middle ground. We love air-fryer recipes for pork chops. We’ll show you how long to air fry pork chops for healthful, virtually grease-free results.

How to Make Breaded Fried Pork Chops

We love breaded fried pork chops! But there’s a trick to getting them nicely done on the inside without over-browning the breading. The solution? Pound the meat thin before cooking. Here’s how: Test Kitchen Tip: Our Breaded Fried Pork Chops with Apples and Greens recipe calls on homemade bread crumbs for the coating; other great coatings for breaded fried pork chops include cracker crumbs, purchased dried bread crumbs, panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs), and crushed stuffing mix. If desired, you can also simply use flour seasoned with a little salt, pepper, and paprika.

How to Make Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Breading

If you love breaded fried pork chops, but don’t love the pan-frying part, learn how to fry pork chops in the oven with our classic Oven-Fried Pork Chop Recipe. Or follow steps 1 through 4 above and instead of frying in a skillet, bake uncovered at 425°F for 20 to 25 minutes. Test the temperature and let stand as above.

How to Pan-Fry Chops Without Breading

Can you fry pork chops without flour? Of course! In fact, sautéing pork chops in a skillet with little or no oil is generally quicker, easier, and healthier than frying chops with breading. Here’s how to fry pork chops without flour: Test Kitchen Tip: Wondering how to pan-fry pork chops without drying them out? It’s a question of internal temperature. Stop cooking the chops when they reach 145°F on an instant-read thermometer for juicy-on-the-inside results.

How to Air Fry Pork Chops

Another great way to make fried pork chops without flour is to use your air fryer ($120, Bed Bath & Beyond). Here’s how long to fry pork chops in an air fryer: You’ve learned how and how long to fry pork chops. Now, play with flavors. Fried pork chops can take on a world of seasonings. How to pan-fry pork chops when you’re in the mood for Mexican? Try our Fried Pork Chops in Salsa Verde. Go French with Mustard-Glazed Pork Chops (with Dijon mustard, of course). Southeast Asian? We’ve got you covered with Ginger Pork Chops with Curried Walnuts. Indeed, pork chops are as versatile as boneless chicken breasts—they cook in minutes and can take on a world of flavors.