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What is the easiest dinner I've cooked lately? These delicious Pan Fried Pork Chops with Honey Lime Glaze! The ingredient list is short, the cooking technique is basic. And, the result is literally the best pork chop recipe I've ever made! These pan cooked pork chops use no flour - just fry them in the skillet and then coat with the glaze.
By the way, I've made a recipe for honey lime chicken thighs a while back, and I always get such great feedback on it that I decided to do a similar concept but with the boneless pork chops this time. These pan fried pork chops take only 30 minutes from start to finish, and the result is beautiful!
They are amazing thanks to the easy-to-make syrupy glaze. The glaze is made by boiling down and reducing the mixture of honey, freshly squeezed lime juice, and balsamic vinegar in the same pan where you pan-fried the pork chops. Also, don't forget to add fresh thyme - it really adds a nice herbal flavor to the whole dish!
There are 2 secrets to the success of these pan-fried pork chops:
- You have to sear the pork chops to perfection on the stove top. To achieve best results, use stainless steel pan or cast iron skillet. Heat the pan really well before adding olive oil and the boneless pork chops. Pan sear them on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes per each side. Make sure they are cooked through. Fry them a little bit longer if needed.
- Make sure the glaze is thick and syrupy. First, combine glaze ingredients (honey, lime juice, balsamic vinegar) in the same pan (without pan-seared pork chops) and boil them for a couple of minutes until reduced by one third or half. Next, allow the glaze to cool off a bit in the pan, off heat. It will get thicker as it cools off. You don't need to wait until it's cold, obviously, just wait until all the bubbling settles down and the glaze is not super hot any more, but still warm-hot and thicker. You will notice significant change in the thickness of the glaze as it cools off.
- Use no flour. These pan cooked pork chops are refreshing, bursting with lime flavor. You don't need the flour to pan fry these. Pan fry these pork chops in olive oil on high heat until golden brown, and then coat them with the syrupy glaze.
Do you want to make the best pork chop recipe ever? Then, follow along with me!
Ingredients you need for pan-fried pork chops
Yes, all you need are 3 basic ingredients:
- 2 lb boneless pork loin chops (3 or 4 pork chops)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper
Ingredients you need for honey lime glaze
To make the honey lime glaze, squeeze the juice of 1 lime, add ¼ cup of honey and 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Only 3 ingredients!
How to pan fry pork chops
I suggest you use stainless steel or cast iron skillet. Season boneless pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat olive oil in a pan until hot and fry pork chops in the pan for about 4 minutes per side. Make sure they are completely cooked through.
Remove the pan cooked pork chops from the skillet, and combine honey, freshly squeezed lime juice, and balsamic vinegar in the same pan. Boil until reduced by about one third or half. Add pack the pan-seared pork chops. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and sliced lime.
Other delicious pan-fried pork chops recipes
- Honey Balsamic Pork Chops - juicy and tender boneless pork chops that are seared in honey balsamic sauce. The sauce is perfectly smooth thanks to Dijon mustard and is packed with flavor from fresh rosemary and fresh thyme.
- Pork Chops in Garlic, Brown Sugar and Herb Wine Sauce - a 20 minute recipe that is perfect for a low carb diet!
- Bacon and Mushroom Smothered Pork Chops - creamy version of pan-cooked pork chops.
Pan Fried Pork Chops with Honey Lime Glaze
Ingredients
Pan-fried pork chops
- 2 lb pork loin chops boneless (3 or 4 pork chops)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Optional spices for pork chops
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon mild chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Honey-lime glaze
- 1 lime , freshly squeezed
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Garnish
- 4 thyme sprigs , leaves only
- 1 lime sliced
Instructions
How to pan sear pork chops
- Season pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Note: if you like more seasoning with the pork chops, season them with additional optional spices: Italian seasoning, mild chili powder, and red pepper flakes.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add pork chops and cook over medium-high heat until nicely seared to golden brown color, 4 minutes on each side. Make sure they are cooked through. Cook them longer if they are not cooked through. Remove to a plate.
How to make honey-lime syrupy glaze
- To the same skillet add the freshly squeezed juice of 1 lime, honey, and balsamic vinegar. Bring everything to boil, stirring.
- Cook for a couple of minutes until a thick glaze forms and until reduced by one third or half.
- Remove the skillet from heat. Add the cooked pork chops back in.
- Let the glaze cool off in the pan, with the pork chops in it, off heat. As the glaze cools off, it will get thicker, at which point pour it over the pork chops.
- Garnish pork chops fresh thyme and sliced lime.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Hello, I'm going to cook Pan-fried Porkchop with Honey-lime Glaze this coming Sunday
Enjoy! I hope you love this recipe!
Can bone in chops be used ?
Yes, you can use those. Cooking times might change as bone-in chops usually require longer cooking times.
We did lemon instead of lime, and it was absolutely amazing. The syrup was sweet, slightly bitter, and savory. My kids, 11 and 15, thought it was incredible too. I couldn't believe that something so easy would taste so good but it did. We will definitely make this again.
Annalise, thank you so much for such a positive comment - I really appreciate that you took the time to share it. Glad that your young kinds enjoyed this dish, too!
Really good will definitely make this again
Did anyone try apple cider vinegar?
Tried this tonight and it was delicious!! Husband loved it too. Thank you!
I am totally going to make this. The reviews have me thinking even I can make something really good. I don’t cook very much. Will post my results.
My sons love when I make this dish -- usually with brown rice and black beans!
Hi Julia, can I use Apple Cider Vinegar if i don't have balsamic vinegar at home? Thank you!
Did you try apple cider vinegar in place of balsamic? I have the same problem tonight.
Going to try this! Any suggestions of what to serve as side dish?
Serve this with plain rice, flavored rice, or cauliflower rice. You can also serve this with roasted broccoli or roasted asparagus.
Love using your recipes, have such fussy eaters in my house. They absolutely loved the dish.
I am so happy to hear that!
Delicious!! Husband, 3yo and 5yo loved it! I used pork chops with bone in. Came out so yummy
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for such a wonderful comment!
Every single person in my family loved this, and that never happens. It was super easy and quick for a busy night without seeming like fast food. I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes.
So happy to hear that! 🙂 I am glad everyone liked it!
Perfect for our week dinner ! Thank you so much !
Thank you!
I really love the glaze of the dish! Honey and lime just go so perfect with the pork, I must say.
Definitely, a perfect dish for weekend brunches as it takes such a short amount of time! Thanks, Julia!
Thank you! I love honey-lime glaze, too!