Pork Chops With Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Are you ready to elevate your home cooking with a classic comfort dish? Pork chops with scalloped potatoes isn't just a meal—it's a journey of flavor and texture that'll transform your dinner table. You'll learn how to create layers of creamy potatoes and perfectly seasoned pork that meld together in a mouthwatering symphony. The secret? Technique, timing, and a few culinary tricks that'll have your family asking for seconds. Curious about how to nail this timeless recipe?
Recipe Highlights
- Preheat oven to 375°F and layer thinly sliced potatoes, onions, and cream in a greased baking dish, creating a foundation for the dish.
- Season bone-in pork chops generously with salt and pepper, patting them dry to enhance flavor and ensure proper searing and browning.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for one hour, then uncover and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes to achieve golden edges.
- Select firm potatoes and slice them uniformly to 1/8-inch thickness, ensuring even cooking and a consistent creamy texture throughout the dish.
- Allow the completed dish to rest after baking, which helps the cream sauce thicken and makes serving easier while maintaining optimal flavor and moisture.
History
Although scalloped potatoes have roots tracing back to European culinary traditions, the specific origin of pork chops paired with creamy potato layers is a quintessential American comfort food development.
You'll find this dish emerged from rural farmhouse kitchens, where resourceful cooks transformed simple ingredients into hearty meals.
The technique of thinly slicing potatoes and layering them with cream likely originated in French cuisine, specifically in dishes like gratin dauphinois.
American settlers adapted these European techniques, incorporating locally available meats like pork chops. By the early 20th century, this combination became a staple in Midwestern and Southern cooking.
Cookbook records from the 1930s and 1940s show the recipe's widespread popularity, reflecting a time when home cooking emphasized economical, filling meals that could feed large families efficiently.
Recipe
Pork chops with scalloped potatoes represent a timeless comfort food that combines tender meat with creamy, layered potatoes. This classic dish transforms simple ingredients into a satisfying meal that warms both body and soul, creating a delightful dining experience that feels both nostalgic and indulgent.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, allowing the natural flavors of pork and potatoes to shine through while creating a rich, creamy texture that makes every bite memorable. By layering ingredients carefully and allowing them to cook slowly, home cooks can achieve a restaurant-quality result with minimal effort.
Ingredients:
- 4 bone-in pork chops
- 6 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish. Begin by layering half the sliced potatoes across the bottom of the dish, followed by half the thinly sliced onions. Season this first layer generously with salt and pepper, then pour half the heavy cream evenly over the potatoes and onions.
Repeat the layering process with the remaining potatoes, onions, and cream, creating a rich, multilayered base. Place the seasoned pork chops on top of the potato layers, ensuring they're evenly distributed.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 1 hour. After the initial hour, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes, allowing the pork chops to turn golden and the potatoes to become tender.
When preparing this dish, slice potatoes to a consistent 1/8-inch thickness to ensure even cooking, and let the casserole rest for 10-15 minutes after removing from the oven. This resting period allows the cream sauce to thicken and makes serving easier.
If the top begins to brown too quickly during baking, simply tent the dish with foil while allowing the potatoes to continue cooking.
Cooking Steps
You'll want to start by gathering your ingredients and prepping them with care, ensuring each potato is sliced to an even 1/8-inch thickness and your pork chops are generously seasoned with salt and black pepper.
Layer those potato slices methodically in your greased baking dish, alternating with thin onion rings and cream to create a rich, creamy foundation for your pork chops.
When you're ready to bake, cover the dish with foil, then place it in a preheated 375°F oven, watching for that perfect golden-brown finish that signals a perfectly cooked comfort food classic.
Step 1. Gather and Prep Ingredients
First, gather all five essential ingredients for this classic comfort dish: 4 bone-in pork chops, 6 medium potatoes, 2 cups heavy cream, 1 medium onion, and salt and black pepper.
Select firm, unblemished potatoes with smooth skin and choose bone-in pork chops with a nice layer of fat for added flavor.
Wash potatoes thoroughly and peel if desired, then use a sharp mandoline or chef's knife to slice them uniformly, aiming for 1/8-inch thickness to ensure even cooking.
Thinly slice the onion, maintaining consistent width to promote uniform caramelization.
Pat pork chops dry with paper towels, which helps achieve better seasoning adhesion and promotes a beautiful golden sear.
Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, creating a flavorful foundation for your dish.
Step 2. Layer Potato Slices Evenly
Precisely 1/2 of your potato slices will form the initial foundational layer in this comforting dish, creating a creamy base for your pork chop masterpiece. Spread the thin potato rounds evenly across the greased 9×13 baking dish, ensuring minimal overlap and consistent coverage.
Use your fingers or a mandoline to achieve uniform 1/8-inch thickness, which guarantees even cooking and a professional-looking presentation.
Key layering tips:
- Slightly overlap potato edges for secure placement
- Keep slices flat and compact
- Create a single, smooth layer without gaps
- Press gently to establish a stable foundation
Follow this precise approach to set the stage for your delectable scalloped potato layers. Your attention to detail will transform simple ingredients into a culinary work of art that promises rich, creamy texture in every bite.
Step 3. Season Pork Chops Thoroughly
Seasoning your pork chops is a critical step that transforms ordinary meat into a mouthwatering centerpiece for this classic dish. Choose a generous blend of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring each chop receives an even coating on both sides.
Press the seasonings firmly into the meat's surface, creating a flavorful crust that'll develop during baking.
Key seasoning tips:
- Use about 1 teaspoon salt per pork chop
- Grind black pepper freshly for maximum flavor
- Consider adding dried herbs like thyme or rosemary
- Pat chops dry before seasoning to help spices adhere
For uniform flavor, season the pork chops 15-20 minutes before placing them in the baking dish, allowing the salt to penetrate the meat and enhance its natural richness.
Step 4. Cover With Foil
After seasoning your pork chops with a robust blend of salt and pepper, you'll want to protect the delicate meat and potato layers during the initial baking phase. Carefully cover the entire 9×13 baking dish with aluminum foil, ensuring a tight seal that traps moisture and prevents excessive browning.
This protective layer helps steam the potatoes to tender perfection while keeping the pork chops moist and succulent.
- Crimp foil edges tightly around the dish
- Create a slight dome to prevent direct contact with food
- Use heavy-duty foil for best heat distribution
- Leave just enough space for steam circulation
The foil acts as a crucial barrier, maintaining even cooking temperatures and preserving the dish's delicate flavor profile during the first hour of baking.
Step 5. Bake Until Golden Brown
When golden-brown perfection calls, you'll remove the foil and let your pork chops and potatoes transform into a mouthwatering masterpiece.
After one hour of covered baking, carefully pull back the foil to expose the layers beneath. Watch for color development: the pork chops should gradually turn a rich, caramel-brown, while the potato edges crisp and caramelize.
Key visual cues to monitor:
- Pork chops reaching a deep golden hue
- Potato edges turning crispy and light brown
- Cream sauce bubbling around the edges
- Surface developing a slightly crusty texture
Continue baking for 30 minutes, checking periodically to prevent over-browning. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.
The goal is an even, appetizing golden color that signals your dish is perfectly cooked and ready to impress.
Final Thoughts
Any home cook can transform this humble pork chops and scalloped potatoes recipe into a weeknight dinner masterpiece with just a few simple techniques. You'll want to pay attention to potato thickness, ensuring even slicing at about 1/8 inch for consistent cooking. Let the dish rest after baking, giving the cream sauce time to thicken and settle, which improves both texture and serving ease.
Keep an eye on browning during the final baking stage, using foil to prevent over-crisping. Your success depends on careful layering, seasoning, and temperature management. Remember that patience yields the most delectable results – a golden-topped, creamy potato base with perfectly cooked, tender pork chops that'll have your family asking for seconds.
