Southern Fried Pork Chops And Gravy

Need a quick and easy meal, then look no further than this golden, crispy yet juicy Southern Fried Pork Chops with a Buttermilk Gravy. Served with classics like green beans, this is the ultimate comfort food!!

We are allowed to make dinner one of the easiest things we do all day.  Especially on busy weeknights when we are just counting down to the weekend. #igotyourback

So enter these super quick and easy Southern Fried Pork Chops and Gravy.

Southern grandmothers have been serving up this easy peasy well-loved comfort food treat for decades along with family favorite side dishes like corn pudding casserole and green beans. And now, us easy recipe lovers are going to be doing the same. We can do this in a skillet or Air Fryer, you choose.

Love pork chops? Then try these easy Smothered Pork Chops.

This classic southern food is perfect for Sunday dinner but easy enough to serve as a weeknight favorite. Once you sink your teeth into your first crispy Fried Pork Chop smothered with gravy, you will understand what all the fuss is about. 

Why You’ll ♡ It

• Well-seasoned, crispy fried meat.
• Creamy, luscious gravy.
• Inexpensive, quick-cooking and soul-satisfying.
• Kid-friendly and eaaaaaaaaasy.

What Kind Of Pork Should I Use?

The pork chop section at the grocery store is pretty extensive. There are pork loin chops, center-cut chops, bone-in chops, boneless, thin-cut, thick-cut, butterfly chops, and more. So which chops should you use?

I like to use thick-cut boneless chops for this recipe. The meat still cooks pretty quickly, and a single chop can feed one person, so I spend less time at the stove than I would be frying multiple thin-cut chops. 

But another great thing about this Southern Fried Pork Chop recipe is that it’s meant to be versatile, so use what’s available and inexpensive and simply adjust the cooking time of the meat to fit. 

Tools Needed

• Your favorite skillet.
• Air Fryer if you prefer
• A slotted turner.
• Quick read digital thermometer.
• Some awesome olive oil.
• The best ever sea salt flakes.

How To Make Southern Fried Pork Chops Easily

1. Lightly season the pork chops and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.
2. Heat vegetable oil and butter in a pan over medium-high heat.
3. Mix the buttermilk and eggs in one bowl.
4. Combine the flour and spices in another bowl.
5. Dredge the pork chop in the buttermilk and the seasoned flour being sure also to coat the sides.
6. Fry the pork chops in the oil and butter until crispy and golden—about 5-6 minutes per side. 
7. Transfer cooked pork chops to a serving platter and leave the drippings in the pan.

How To Make Pan Gravy For Fried Pork Chops

1. Add chicken broth, onion and garlic powder, and creole seasoning or cajun seasoning to the drippings.
2. Simmer the sauce until the desired consistency is reached.
3. Finish the sauce with salt and pepper, if needed, and two tablespoons of butter.  

How To Make Air Fryer Southern Pork Chops

1. Preheat the air fryer to 180C / 350F.
2. Mix the buttermilk and eggs in one bowl.
3. Combine the flour and spices in another bowl.
4. Dredge the pork chop in the buttermilk and the seasoned flour being sure also to coat the sides.
5. Place in the air fryer basket. Make sure the pork chops are not touching.
6. Cooking can be anytime between 8 minutes to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of pork chops flipping the pork chops halfway through. My air fried pork chops took 9 minutes. When cooking these the first time, I recommend aiming for 10 minutes and then checking.
7. Remove the air fried pork chops from the basket and serve.

Breaded Fried Pork Chops Tips

• For best results, use a cast iron skillet as it will distribute heat evenly and hold higher temperatures.
• If using an Air Fryer add air fry your meat as soon as you have seasoned them
• Reduce the cooking time if you use thinner pork chops.

• Dry the pork chops with paper towels before seasoning and dredging. This will prevent the coating from falling off during cooking. 
• Make sure the oil and butter are hot enough before adding the pork chops. You can check it by sprinkling a pinch of flour into the pan. If it sizzles, the pan is hot enough.

Meal Prep and Prep Ahead

Prep Ahead – This recipe is so easy that not much prep is needed. You can easily mix up the flour seasoned with the spices ahead of time and store it in a plastic bag. 

Store – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. 

Freeze – Follow the handy tips below on how to freeze this.

• Let cool down then transfer into these convenient Ziploc freezer bags.
• Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
• Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
• Store in the freezer for three months.

FAQ’s

Do I Have To Use Buttermilk?

Part of what makes these pan fried pork chops so flavorful is the seasoning mix and the  buttermilk. You will still get a great pork chop if you don’t use buttermilk, but the buttermilk pushes them to over the top delicious.

If you have time, then soak the meat in buttermilk for about 1 hour before cooking This will make them juicy and tender

Make Your Own Buttermilk

Head over to my how to make buttermilk post so you can make you own for this recipe.

How To Check When Pork Chops Are Done

They need to be golden crispy on both sides. But most importantly please do use a meat thermometer. Always check the internal temp of the pork to ensure the center of the meat reaches 145F.

Serving Suggestions

• Corn Pudding Casserole.
• Mashed Potatoes.
• Southern Butter Beans.

Other Southern Favorites You Might Like

• Smothered Pork Chops.
• Smothered Chicken.
• Buttermilk Gravy.
• Blackened Salmon.
• Salmon Croquettes.
• Shrimp Creole.
• Blackening seasoning
• Creole Hasselback Potatoes.
• Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich.

Thank you for reading my Southern Fried Pork Chops and Gravy recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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4.80 from 5 votes

Southern Fried Pork Chops and Gravy

Pork chops and gravy are the ultimate comfort food, and this Southern style recipe is easy to make and soooo satisfying!

Prep Time12 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, southern

Servings: 4

Calories: 675kcal

Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

For The Fried Pork Chops:

• ▢ 4 large pork chops I used thicker, bone-in chops
• ▢ 3 tablespoon buttermilk
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ ½ cup flour
• ▢ 2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ ½ teaspoon coarse ground pepper
• ▢ 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• ▢ ½ cup vegetable oil
• ▢ 5 tablespoon butter divided

For The Gravy:

• ▢ ¼ cup chicken broth
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning or Cajun seasoning
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

To Make Fried Pork Chops:

• Lightly season the pork chops and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Heat vegetable oil and butter in a pan over medium-high heat.
• Mix the buttermilk and eggs in one bowl, and combine the flour and spices in another bowl.
• Dredge the pork chop in the buttermilk and then in the seasoned flour, being sure also to coat the sides.
• Fry the pork chops in the oil and butter until crispy and golden, about 5-6 minutes on each side.
• Transfer cooked pork chops to a serving platter and leave the drippings in the pan so you can make the gravy.

To Make The Gravy:

• Add chicken broth, onion and garlic powder, and Creole seasoning or cajun seasoning to the drippings.
• Simmer the sauce until the desired consistency is reached.
• Finish the sauce with salt and pepper, if needed, and two tablespoons of butter.

Make in the Air Fryer:

• Preheat the air fryer to 350F/180C.
• Mix the buttermilk and eggs in one bowl, and combine the flour and spices in another bowl.
• Dredge the pork chop in the buttermilk and then the seasoned flour, being sure also to coat the sides.
• Place in the air fryer basket. Make sure the pork chops are not touching.
• Cooking can be anytime between 8-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of pork chops flipping the pork chops halfway through. My air-fried pork chops took 9 minutes. When cooking these the first time, I recommend aiming for 10 minutes and then checking.
• Remove the air fried pork chops from the basket and serve.

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Recommended Products

Skillet

Air Fryer

Thermometer

Knife

Notes

• For best results, use a cast iron skillet as it will distribute heat evenly and hold higher temperatures.
• Reduce the cooking time if you use thinner pork chops.
• Dry the pork chops with paper towels before seasoning and dredging. This will prevent the coating from falling off during cooking. 
• Make sure the oil and butter are hot enough before adding the pork chops. You can check it by sprinkling a pinch of flour into the pan. If it sizzles, the pan is hot enough.

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 35g | Cholesterol: 210mg | Sodium: 1463mg | Potassium: 613mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1336IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg