You’ll love these Creamy Cajun Pork Chops when you need a quick, low-carb dinner! Get the juiciest, thick-cut pork chops with a deliciously flavorful sauce in this easy one-pan recipe.
Pork chops are a favorite in our house — They’re versatile, quick, and can be made healthy or indulgent depending on your mood! With this recipe you get juicy, tender meat and an extremely flavorful sauce that comes together easily. It’s fast enough for a weeknight dinner and so delectable you’ll want to serve it the next time you have company!
Why you’ll love it:
- Quick & Easy – This recipe gives you four large servings of juicy, impressive pork chops within 30 minutes! You don’t need any special equipment or difficult ingredients. It’s easy enough for a weeknight, and it will go with nearly any veggie for easy sides.
- Super Juicy & Flavorful – The simple spice blend and creamy sauce make it easy to churn out delicious pork chops even as a beginner! Finishing the pork chops in the sauce and using a meat thermometer make it easy to get the perfect cook even if you’re not used to cooking pork chops.
- Freezable for Meal Prep – If you like to plan ahead to have easy, cooked meals on hand, this is the perfect recipe for you! This recipe is perfect for stocking the freezer for a growing family, stressed neighbors, or someone in need of a good dinner.
Ingredients for Creamy Cajun Pork Chops
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this recipe. You can find exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Thick-Cut Pork Chops – We love the thick-cut pork chops from Butcher Box (if you’re curious, this link should give us both $50 off). They’re uniform in size, 8 ounces each, and about 2 inches thick. If yours are smaller or thinner, you may need to decrease the cooking time.
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Chili Powder, Paprika, Dried Oregano, Kosher Salt, and Cayenne Pepper (optional) – This blend creates a flavorful seasoning with hints of Cajun flare. If you like spice, go for the cayenne; feel free to leave it out if you want your dish more mild! You can use a store-bought Cajun seasoning, but be careful of the often high levels of salt.
- Olive Oil – You can swap this out for your favorite cooking oil if you prefer.
- Butter – This creates a velvety texture and beautiful flavor in the sauce. I have not used any butter substitutes, but I think a plant based butter could work similarly.
- Heavy Cream – This is the heavy whipping cream, but you’ll pour it in unwhipped. I have not used any substitutes for this, but you could look for a store-bought plant-based cream alternative.
How to Make One Pan Pork Chops
This easy keto dinner is great for beginner cooks! You’ll just need a large skillet with a lid, a stovetop or hot plate, and a meat thermometer. Follow this step-by-step guide for beautifully juicy chops and the perfect cream sauce!
Season & Sear
Combine the spices in a small bowl, then sprinkle each side of the pork chops with the spices. You can pat the seasoning into the pork chops to help the granules stick to the meat a little better. Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. When the butter is melted, add the seasoned pork chops to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Make Sauce
Remove the pork from the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the butter and allow the mixture to come to a simmer, stirring occasionally slowly.
Simmer Pork Chops in Sauce
When the sauce has simmered softly for 3-4 minutes, add the pork chops back to the skillet and cover. Cook the pork over medium-low for 10-15 minutes or until the pork chop reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
How to Serve Creamy Cajun Pork Chops
Sprinkle some fresh herbs for a burst of flavor and color on the plate, maybe even a dash of parmesan cheese if you want to be a little extra! Serve with some Mashed Cauliflower, a Keto Dinner Roll, and a Sugar-Free Gin Fizz for an impressive, full dinner with about 11 net carbs! For an easy, healthy weeknight meal, serve it on a bed of crispy Air Fryer Broccoli.
More keto sides for pork:
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower (5.4 net carbs)
- Roasted Cabbage (3.6 net carbs)
- Fried Cabbage with Bacon (3.9 net carbs)
- Cauliflower Risotto (4.3 net carbs)
- Air Fryer Asparagus (2.1 net carbs)
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Allow the pork chops and sauce to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3-4 days. If you’d like to keep the pork chops longer, place in a freezer-safe container. Pork chops will have the best flavor and texture if eaten within 3 months after freezing.
Pro Tip: Using these reusable bags means you can freeze and reheat the pork chops all in the same container! Great for reducing waste and dishes!
Best way to reheat pork chops without drying them out:
- Stove top – Heat a skillet to medium-low, then add in your pork chops and sauce and cover. Stir occasionally for even heating, flipping the pork chops over after 3-4 minutes to warm up the other side.
- Oven – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pork chops and sauce in a baking dish and cover with foil. Heat in the oven for about 10 minutes, flipping the pork chops and stirring the sauce halfway through the reheating time.
- Microwave – Place pork chops and sauce on a plate, ensuring the pork chop is covered in the sauce for the juiciest meat. Blast on 50% power in 45-60 second increments, flipping the pork chop and swirling the sauce around after each blast.
If your pork chops are frozen, first let them defrost overnight in the fridge. This helps keep the sauce super smooth and the meat nice and tender. Thawing too quickly can cause the cells in the food to break down, causing a broken sauce or tough meat.
If you like this easy keto dinner, you’re going to love these low-carb recipes!
- Instant Pot Pork Chops – Perfect for those nights you don’t want to heat up the kitchen or take up oven space! The gravy is so tasty, you’re going to want a keto roll or two to sop up all the flavor.
- Cast Iron Pork Chops & Mushrooms – This is a super filling meal that is ready quick enough for a busy weeknight. Add some Mashed Cauliflower for a classic, delicious dinner!
- Asian Pork Chops with Sesame Broccoli – Such a great one-pan meal! This one doesn’t need an additional side, though some Cauliflower Fried Rice would be nice.
- Air Fryer Pork Chops – These are so easy and juicy! They’re perfect for a weeknight or lazy weekend because it’s ready in 20 minutes and doesn’t require much work or cleanup at all.
- Pork Chops & Green Bean Sheet Pan – This is an easy, healthy meal that will help you keep your sanity through busy times. Very little prep, effort, or cleanup involved at all!
Creamy Cajun Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 thick cut pork chops about 8 ounces each
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons salted butter divided
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
Instructions
- Combine the spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle each side of the pork chops with the spices.
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. When the butter is melted, add the seasoned pork chops to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Remove the pork from the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the butter and allow the mixture to come to a simmer, stirring occasionally slowly.
- When the sauce has simmered softly for 3-4 minutes, add the pork chops back to the skillet and cover.
- Cook the pork over medium-low for 10-15 minutes or until the pork chop reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.