Oven Baked Pork Chops with Canned Pineapple

Oven Baked Pork Chops with Canned Pineapple

The best dinners often stem from the simplest of ideas. You look in the fridge and in the pantry and find a few common ingredients that can be whipped together for something surprisingly delicious. These Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Pork Chops with Canned Pineapple are just the thing.

This recipe shows you don’t need a long list of ingredients to make a satisfying meal. Savory and sweet combine in this perfect balance of juicy pork chops, sweet pineapple and a splash of BBQ sauce. The pineapple releases its natural juices, the sauce thickens up into a tasty glaze and the pork melts into tender deliciousness as they all bake together.

Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or an easy weekend meal, this recipe is a quick and simple solution that delivers a punch of flavor with very little effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Everyone needs a few foolproof recipes that don’t take much preparation. This pork chop dinner does the trick perfectly.
• 3 ingredients only, easy to shop for and takes few minutes to prepare. The oven does the work and you get to do other things while dinner is happening.
• The sweetness of the pineapple works so well with the heavy pork flavor. Meanwhile, the barbecue sauce brings it all together with a smoky tangy finish that makes every bite enjoyable.
• Another advantage is versatility. Serve these pork chops with rice, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or a simple salad.
• They add comfort and flavor to the table, no matter how you serve them.

The Three Ingredients

Part of the reason this recipe is still so popular is because of its incredibly short list of ingredients.

You will need:

• 4 pork chops, bone-in or boneless
• 1 can pineapple chunks or pineapple slices, juice included
• 1 cup BBQ sauce (or more)

That’s all there is to it.

These simple ingredients make a flavorful meal that tastes far more complex than it is to prepare.

This is a great last-minute dinner idea because many people already have barbecue sauce and canned pineapple in their pantry.

How to Bake Pork Chops in the Oven with Pineapple

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Grease a baking dish large enough to hold the pork chops in a single layer.
3. Add the pork chops to the pan.
4. Spoon the barbecue sauce over the pork chops, being sure to evenly coat all of the pork chops.
5. Add the pineapple and its juice around and over the pork chops.
6. The pineapple juice mixes with the barbecue sauce while it bakes to create a rich glaze that keeps the meat moist and flavorful.
7. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and put in the oven.
8. Bake about 30 minutes.
9. Take the foil off and keep baking for 14 to 19 minutes. The sauce thickens and gains more flavour and the pineapple starts to caramelise a little at this last stage.
10. Remove the dish from the oven when the pork reaches a safe internal temperature of 145°F.
11.  Allow pork chops to stand 5 minutes before serving.

Sweet and Savory Perfect Balance

• Fruit is often added to traditional pork recipes for flavor enhancement and pineapple is especially good at it.
• It’s naturally sweet and balances the savory richness of the pork without overwhelming it. The fruit also adds moisture, keeping the pork tender all the way through.
• The barbecue sauce adds a different flavor. Depending on the sauce you choose, you can make a sweeter dish, or a smokier version, or even one with a bit of heat.
• Combined, these three ingredients make for a meal both familiar and exciting.

Perfect for busy families!

• Weeknight dinners usually have to meet a few criteria. They should be delicious, simple to prepare and please everyone at the table.
• This recipe ticks all those boxes.
• It’s less than ten minutes of prep time and the oven does the rest. Parents love the simplicity, kids usually love the sweet pineapple flavor.
• The recipe uses inexpensive ingredients, so it fits nicely into many grocery budgets.

How to Serve

• These pork chops go great with many side dishes.
• Steamed rice is especially good for mopping up the tasty sauce.
• Mashed potatoes are a comforting meal that is sure to satisfy.
• Roasted green beans, carrots or broccoli bring color and balance to the plate.
• Serve with a simple garden salad to add freshness and contrast to the rich flavors of the pork.
• No matter what sides you pick, the pork chops are still the star of the meal.

Tips for Success

• Select pork chops that still have some meat on them. The thicker the chop, the more likely it will stay juicy while baking.
• Let it rest after cooking and do not skip this step. Give it a few minutes to rest and it keeps the juices in the meat.
• If you like extra sauce, add another 1/4 cup barbecue sauce before baking.
• For a slightly caramelized finish, put under the broiler for the last two minutes of cooking.

A Recipe We’d Like to Keep

• Some of the recipes are favorites for saving time. Others are favorites because they taste so good. These Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Pork Chops with Canned Pineapple do the both.
• They require little prep, use everyday pantry ingredients, and make a meal that feels comforting and satisfying. The sweet pineapple, savory pork and rich barbecue glaze
• combine beautifully, making a dinner that tastes like much more effort went into it than actually did.
• Once you make this recipe you will likely keep the ingredients in your pantry so you can whip up an easy dinner everyone loves on nights you need it.