Crazy Easy Cheesy Stuffed Pork Chops – One Pan!!!!
For some reason we don’t cook pork chops that often and, come to think of it, I don’t know why?? 1. Pork Chops have so much flavor! 2. They’re easy to cook! 3. They absolutely go great with pretty much any side dish!
For this recipe the pork chop is seared to perfection, stuffed with ham and cheese then finished in the oven. This is one of my favorite dinners. This cheesy pork chop is seriously juicy and super easy to make.
Cutting the calories
We’re always trying to cut every calorie possible when coming up with new recipes or re-imagined recipes. One of the best ways to cut calories is by cutting oils when they aren’t needed. I mean, it makes us crazy when watching a cooking show and the chef takes a bottle of olive oil and just drizzles a ton of it over the meat or they melt a stick of butter to cook a really nice steak or pork chop. Of course, its going to be good, who doesn’t love a piece of meat that has been pan seared in butter and olive oil!??! We have found the trick though; by adding spices and using the olive oil more sparingly, you get an even more delicious tasting meal that isn’t overloaded with fat and calories.
Every tablespoon of olive oil is 119 calories and Butter is 102 Calories. So, if a recipe calls for 3 Tablespoons of olive oil and you cut it back to 1/2 Tablespoon, it saves almost 300 calories!!!. I know olive oil and butter both have health benefits, and I’m not suggesting totally cutting them out, just cut back and always measure how much is being used.
Hey, one of our favorite sayings is we didn’t gain weight by adding some fresh herbs to a dish. But toss in half a stick of butter (or even olive oil) to dishes and the pounds do start to pile on.
Easy Cheesy Stuffed Pork Chops
This is such an easy way to make a creamy cheesy pork chop. First thing to do is mix the cheese and herbs. Then roll the cheese with thin sliced ham. Wrap it in plastic wrap and then place the rolls in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. This keeps the cheese from melting away while cooking the pork chops.
Make sure to buy this thickest pork chops possible. Two inch pork chop will work great. I think the hardest part of this recipe is to cut the pork chop in half. Cut from the top of the bone to the center down to the bottom of the bone.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the pork chops with sea salt and black pepper. Then place 1/2 Tablespoon of olive oil in a large oven safe sauté pan. Heat the oil over high heat. When the oil is hot, about 30 seconds, place the pork chops in the pan and brown each side. Should take 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Get the ham/cheese mixture out of the freezer. Carefully place the ham rolls in the center of the pork chop. Use a fork to open the side of the pork chop you cut and place the ham in the middle of each pork chop. I often use a tooth pick to hold the pork chops closed and the ham stays in place.
Place the oven safe sauté pan with the pork chops in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked fully through.
Serve with your favorite veggie. We had ours with broccoli and some baked potato slices. Serve these easy cheesy stuffed pork chops and ENJOY!!!!
Tips:
- Rinse the pork chops under cool water and pat dry with a paper towel. I do this because sometimes there is bone residue on the pork chops from when they are cut.
- Use 97% fat free thin sliced ham
- Save calories by using Low Fat Whipped Cream Cheese
- To keep the cheese from melting away, freeze the Ham and Cheese rolls for at least 30 minutes before starting to cook the pork chop
- Serve with Cauliflower Rice instead of regular rice.
Easy Cheesy Stuffed Pork Chop
This Easy Cheesy Stuffed Pork Chop recipe will be your new favorite one pan dinner. Creamy cheese, ham, and herbs fill a perfectly seared pork chop.
Calories: 322kcal
Ingredients
- 2 Large Pork Chops
- 8 Slices Thin sliced 97% fat free smoked ham
- 4 Tablespoons Whipped Cream Cheese Any type of Herb flavored cream cheese can be used. Or use plain cream cheese and mix in 1 Tablespoon chopped herbs (Sage, Thyme and Oregano)
- 2 teaspoons Coarse Sea Salt About 1/2 Teaspoon per side
- 2 teaspoons Ground black pepper About 1/2 Teaspoon per side
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Instructions
- Place One Tablespoon (Herb Flavored) Cream Cheese in two slices of thin sliced ham. Make two for each pork chop.
- Place the ham cream cheese rolls in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. This keeps the cheese from melting away while cooking
- Butterfly the pork chops
- Salt and Pepper the Pork Chops on both sides. Let the Pork Chops set at room temperature for 30 minutes
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Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.Add olive oil to a large oven safe saute pan and heat for about 30 seconds
- Place the pork chops into the oven safe saute pan with the heated olive oil. Sear the pork chops on each side. About 3 to 4 minutes per side. NOTE: Don’t force flipping the pork chops. They will easily flip when they have a nice sear and are crispy on the outside
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Add the ham and cheese rolls to the center of the pork chops. Secure the pork chops with toothpicks if needed. Place the oven safe saute pan with the stuffed pork chops in the 350 degree oven. Bake for 20 minutes until the pork chops are done. Internal temperature of 160 (Medium) to 170 (Well done) degrees
- When pork chops are done remove from oven. Remove the toothpicks and drizzle the drippings over the chops
- Check out the melted cheese and juice
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 2531mg | Potassium: 566mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg