These Stuffed Pork Chops transform boring, bland pork into juicy pork chops overflowing with a wild rice blend that is beautifully displayed on a bed of sautéed mushrooms and onions. The flavors are rustic but exquisite. The perfect weeknight dish is a one-pan meal that is in and out of that pan in about 35 minutes. It will definitely be a keeper for your weeknight dinner ideas.
Mouthwatering moist chops are a delicious and healthy meal to serve your family. And because this recipe uses pork loins which is lean meat that has very little marbling it is good for you. In this post, I give easy tips on how to cook pork chops that are both tender, moist, and full of flavor. You'll also find this dish to be quite quick and easy even with stuffing and tying the chops.
You can stuff pork with a variety of wonderful ingredients like this Pork Roast Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers, Feta and Spinach, or Fruit Stuffed Pork Loin Roast.
Wild Rice Stuffed Pork Chops with Mushrooms
Main Ingredients Needed
Thick Boneless Pork Loin Chops. Choose chops that are about 1 Β½ to 2 inches thick to give a nice meat-to-stuffing ratio. Boneless is easier to stuff and tie but you can use bone-in if you prefer.
Wild Rice Blend. I was able to find a wild blend that was packaged on the grocery shelf but a combination of long-grain brown rice and wild rice cooked together works great.
Fresh Herbs: Rosemary, Thyme, and Oregano. These add a freshness to both the pork chops and the mushrooms.
Baby Bella Mushrooms. For convenience's sake, grab the package of mushrooms that are already sliced. It saves a little bit of prep time. If there is another type of mushroom that you prefer, by all means, use them. The bed of mushrooms adds an earthy and rustic aspect to the dish.
Aromatics: Onions and Garlic. I'm never without onions and garlic in my pantry. They are probably the most often used ingredients in my kitchen. As with these stuffed pork chops, they give depth of flavor to most savory dishes.Dry White Wine. An unoaked chardonnay works well with this recipe. Stay away from sweet or what is labeled "table" wine. You don't have to buy the most expensive white wine, but I wouldn't choose a bottle under seven or eight dollars.
- I am not a white wine drinker, so it would be a waste of money for me to buy a normal size bottle of white wine. I love the reds, those are my go-to wines. Some may disagree with me, but I buy single-bottled packages and have them in my liquor cabinet for these kinds of recipes. I'm never disappointed.
Parmesan Cheese. This cheese finishes the recipe with the mushrooms and brings a nutty salty complement to the dish.
How to Make the Best Baked Stuffed Pork Chops
Cook the Wild Rice Blend
I used a wild rice blend package that I grabbed from the grocery shelf. You can combine wild rice and long-grain brown rice instead. Add two cups of vegetable stock and 1 teaspoon of salt to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Add Β½ cup of wild rice and Β½ cup of long-grain brown rice. Stir, cover, and reduce to a simmer. Let cook for about 60 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Cut a Pocket in the Pork Loin Chops
Thick-cut chops are the easiest to work with and cut. Lay a large piece of parchment paper on a flat surface and place the chop on it. With one hand on top, carefully use a sharp utility knife to cut a slit through one side, leaving the three other sides intact. Continue to use the knife to enlarge the interior of the pocket without slicing through the three sides.
Stuff and Tie the Chops
Cut 12 pieces of kitchen twine each about 12 inches long. Open the pocket wide and spoon in about Β½ cup of the cooked wild rice blend. Tie and knot three pieces of the twine around the width of each pork loin chop, being careful not to lose any of the stuffing. With a pair of scissors cut the excess string.
Season and Add Herbs
The flavor for these pork loin chops begins with a simple seasoning of salt and pepper and an herb blend of fresh thyme, rosemary, and oregano. Once you chop and combine the herbs, brush olive oil on both sides of the pork chops and sprinkle on salt and pepper and the herbs. Press the herbs into the olive oil so they don't fall off the meat.
Cover and set the pork chops aside while the mushrooms are cooking. This helps to take the chill off the pork which in turn produces juicier and more evenly cooked meat.
How to Sauté Mushrooms and Onions for Stuffed Pork Chops
Sauté the Mushrooms
Pull out a heavy-bottom, oven-proof skillet to cook this easy one-pan meal. My cast-iron skillet works great for this recipe. Mushrooms go in first. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat until it is almost smoking. Add olive oil, swirl in the bottom of the pan, add the sliced mushrooms and cook for five minutes.
- If you don't have an oven-proof skillet, you can pan-sear these in a regular skillet and transfer them to a preheated baking dish.
Add the Onions and Garlic to the Skillet
Chopped onions enter the skillet once the mushrooms are semi-tender and have released some of their liquid. Wait until that happens to season these with salt and pepper. Cook another seven minutes or so until the onions are tender and translucent.
Add minced garlic and more fresh herbs. But only cook and stir for about one minute or until the garlic aroma fills the air. Be careful not to cook too long so the garlic does not burn. Otherwise, it can turn bitter.
Add Dry White Wine
At this stage, the mushrooms anticipate a splash of dry white wine which adds to the depth of their flavors. The mushrooms don't need a lot, about ΒΎ of a cup. Simmering for three to four minutes cooks the wine down and concentrates its flavor into the dish which adds both acidity and sweetness.
Adding the wine to the hot pan deglazes it. This simply means loosening all the brown bits in the bottom of the skillet to release "flavor bombs" to the dish. Use a spatula to scrape all the "fond" from the pan. Don't skip this step. It enhances the overall flavor. Add grated parmesan and remove from the skillet into a bowl and set them aside while the stuffed pork chops cook.
Pan-Sear Stuffed Pork Chops
The purpose of pan-searing is to get a nicely browned and crispy outside. It is not to cook it through. In the same cast-iron skillet, heat the pan over medium-high heat just until smoking. Pour in olive oil and add the wild rice stuffed pork chops. Cook for two minutes without moving them, turn and do the same on the other side for another two minutes.
How Long to Cook the Baked Pork Chops
Place the skillet with the pork in a pre-heated 375°F oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature is 140°F in the thickest part of the pork.
- The length of cooking time depends on your oven and the thickness of your chops. The best test is to always use an instant-read thermometer. For this recipe, I pulled out the pork when the internal temperature reached 140°F. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5° once you let it rest. You’re looking for a finished temperature of 145° F.
- There is still a misconception that pork should never be pink inside. That’s not accurate. Pork can turn quickly from a juicy, tender piece of meat to dry and tough. Therefore you never want to overcook it. Check out this link "Is Pink Pork Safe to Eat?" from Taste of Home.
Remove the skillet from the oven, spoon the mushroom mixture around the pork chops, and let them sit for about five minutes for the meat to rest. This gives time so the juices don't run out when you cut into the meat.
Baked Stuffed Pork Chops Recipe Variations
Bone-In Thick Pork Chop. I used boneless but the bone can actually add more moisture and flavor when cooking. Simply cut the pocket the same as above only cut through until you hit the bone. You may need to cook the chop a little longer with bone-in chops.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a great alternative to this dish. Chicken needs to come out of the oven at an internal temperature of 160°F. Let it sit and rest for five minutes before serving. This gives time for the juices to redistribute back into the meat. The finished temp should be 165°F.
Can You Make Bake Stuffed Pork Chops with Mushrooms Ahead of Time?
Yes, absolutely. Although you should freeze the uncooked stuffed pork chops separately from the sautéed mushrooms.
How to freeze or refrigerate the stuffed pork chops. Stuff and tie the uncooked chops as directed, and wrap them in freezer paper. They are good for up to a month or up to three days in the fridge.
When ready to serve, remove them from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator overnight. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Pan-sear and then finished in the oven as directed in the recipe.
How to freeze or refrigerate the sauté mushrooms. Cook them as directed in the recipe, if freezing, drain any additional liquid, and cool. Place the mushrooms in a freezer bag, note that they will store in the freezer much longer than the stuffed pork chops, up to ten months. They will last in the refrigerator for up to three days.
When ready to serve with the pork chops, remove them from the freezer and place them in the fridge overnight. Add the mushrooms to the chops when they go into the oven. This way they will reheat in time to serve the meal.
If you're looking for more pork recipes, look no farther:
Pork Roast Stuffed with Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach and Feta
Fruit Stuffed Pork Loin Roast
Sautéed Mushrooms in Butter Marsala Sauce
Creamy Garlic Mushrooms with Mascarpone
Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce with Mushrooms
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PrintBaked Stuffed Pork Chops with Wild Rice
This recipe transforms boring, bland pork into juicy pork chops stuffed with a wild rice blend and is beautifully displayed on a bed of sautéed mushrooms and onions. The flavors are rustic but exquisite. The perfect weeknight dish is a one-pan meal that is in and out of that pan in about 35 minutes. It will definitely be a keeper for your weeknight dinner ideas.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pork
- Method: Pan Seared & Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 large Thick Boneless Pork Loin Chops
- 2 cups Cooked Wild Rice Blend (Β½ wild rice and Β½ brown long grain rice)
- Salt and Pepper to Taste, divided
- 1 tablespoon each of Fresh Rosemary, Thyme, and Oregano, divided
- 2 Β½ tablespoon Olive Oil, divided
- 16 ounces Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms
- 1 large Sweet Onion, chopped
- 6 large Garlic Cloves, minced
- ΒΎ Dry White Wine (I prefer Chardonnay)
- ΒΌ cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- Chopped Parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Place 4 thick boneless pork loin chops on a flat surface. Using a sharp utility knife, cut a slit or a pouch horizontally in each chop. Be careful not to cut through the other threes sides. Open the pouch and stuffed each with Β½ cup of the cooked wild rice blend.
- Tie each stuffed pork chop crosswise with 3 long strands of kitchen twine.
- Brush each side of the pork chop loins with Β½ tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine 1 tablespoon each of fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano. Sprinkle 1 Β½ tablespoons of the fresh herbs on each side of the stuffed pork chops and set them aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Swirl until it coats the bottom of the skillet and heat until shimmering.
- Add 1 pound of sliced mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add 1 large chopped sweet onion and reduce the heat to medium.
- Season the mushrooms and onion with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 7-8 minutes until the onion is tender and translucent. Stirring frequently.
- Add 6 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30-60 seconds being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 Β½ tablespoons of fresh herbs and stir.
- Pour ΒΎ cup of dry white wine over the mushrooms. Scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen all the brown bits. Bring to a medium boil then reduce the heat to low and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the liquid has almost evaporated.
- Add ΒΌ cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Stir until combined. Remove the mushrooms from the skillet to a bowl and set aside.
- Turn the heat to medium-high again and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Swirl to coat the bottom of the skillet and heat until hot.
- Carefully add the wild rice stuffed pork chops to the skillet. Sear for 2 minutes without moving the chops. The bottoms of the chops should be nicely brown and crisp. Carefully turn with tongs and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Place the skillet in the preheated oven and cook for 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the pork chops is 140°F. Use a digital instant-read thermometer to register the thickest part of the pork chop. Remove the skillet from the oven.
- Spoon the mushrooms into the skillet around the mushrooms. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve pork chops with the mushrooms.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- Choose chops that are about 1 Β½ to two inches thick to give a nice meat-to-stuffing ratio. Boneless is easier to stuff and tie but you can use bone-in if you prefer.
- An unoaked chardonnay works well with this recipe. Stay away from sweet or what is labeled "table" wine. You don't have to buy the most expensive white wine, but I wouldn't choose a bottle under seven or eight dollars.
- You can combine Β½ cup wild rice and Β½ cup long-grain brown rice instead. Add two cups vegetable stock and 1 teaspoon of salt to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
Add the rice, stir, cover, and reduce to a simmer. Let cook for about 60 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. - Cut 12 pieces of kitchen twine each about 12 inches long. Open the pocket wide and spoon in about Β½ cup of the cooked wild rice blend. Tie and knot three pieces of the twine around the width of each pork loin chop.
- Cover and set the pork chops aside while the mushrooms are cooking. This helps to take the chill off the pork which in turn produces juicier and more evenly cooked meat.
- If you don't have an oven-proof skillet, you can pan-sear these in a regular skillet and transfer them to a preheated baking dish.
- Deglazing simply means loosening all the brown bits in the bottom of the skillet to release "flavor bombs" to the dish. Use a spatula to scrape all the "fond" from the pan. Don't skip this step. It enhances the overall flavor.
- I used boneless but the bone can actually add more moisture and flavor when cooking. Simply cut the pocket the same as above only cut through until you hit the bone. You may need to cook the chop a little longer with the bone.
- The length of cooking time depends on your oven and the thickness of your chops. The best test is to always use an instant-read thermometer. For this recipe, I pulled it out when the internal temperature reached 140°F. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5°. You’re looking for a finished temperature of 145° F.
- There is still a misconception that pork should never be pink inside. That’s not accurate. Pork can turn quickly from a juicy, tender piece of meat to dry and tough. Therefore you never want to overcook it. Check out this link "Is Pink Pork Safe to Eat?" from Taste of Home.
- A boneless, skinless chicken breast is a great alternative to this dish. Chicken needs to come out of the oven at an internal temperature of 160°F. Let is sit and rest for five minutes before serving.
- How to freeze or refrigerate the stuffed pork chops. Stuff and tie the uncooked chops as directed, wrap them in freezer paper. They are good up to a month or up to three days in the fridge.
- When ready to serve, remove them from the freezer and place in the refrigerator overnight. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and pan-sear and oven-bake as directed in the recipe. When ready to serve, remove them from the freezer and place in the refrigerator overnight. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and pan-sear and oven-bake as directed in the recipe.
- How to freeze or refrigerate the sauté mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms as directed in the recipe, if freezing, drain any additional liquid, and cool. Place the mushrooms in a freezer bag, note that the mushrooms will freeze much longer than the stuffed pork chops, up to ten months. They will last in the refrigerator for up to three days. When ready to serve with the pork chops, remove from the freezer and place in the fridge overnight. Add the mushrooms to the chops when they go into the oven. This way they will reheat in time to serve with the meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pork chop and Β½ cup mushrooms mushrooms
- Calories: 711
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 798 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 118 mg
Keywords: rice stuffed pork chops, pork chops with mushrooms, boneless pork chops, oven-baked pork chops, pork chops in the oven
Carrie Tyler says
Kristy, this is delicious! I have never stuffed meat with rice, so I love this variation and wild rice has so much more flavor than white! And mushrooms...well, anything with mushrooms is yummy. I've been looking for more pork recipes to add into our rotation, so this one is definitely getting added in!
★★★★★
Chef Mimi says
Many years ago, 39 to be exact, we lived near a fabulous butcher shop in Houston. And thatβs where I first discovered stuffed p chops. They stuffed them, but I quickly figured out I could do it myself. It seems like since then, I havenβt seen thick pork chops, so Iβll have to see if I can request them! Thanks!
Kristy Murray says
It's such a luxury to have a butcher shop close by. You tend to develop a personal relationship with them and they are so very helpful. And that's what I did with these thick pork chops, I requested the thickness and they cut them right then and there. Thanks so much for stopping by Mimi.
Eric says
The flavors and the textures in this recipe sound fantastic. Looking forward to trying it especially since this is basically a one pan meal.
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Thanks Eric. Hope you enjoy this flavorful pork chop recipe. I think you will find it very tasty.
Donna Nordman says
This dinner was a true winner! I didn't have the string but used toothpicks to secure the chops and that works fine. I also added a couple handfuls of defrosted spinach (squeezed out all the water) for extra color and wow factor π. The chops were pretty thick so a little pounding produced a more rounded cut with more room to stuff. It's no wonder this recipe is a 5-star!
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Thank you so very much Donna for taking the time to share. I'm so happy you enjoyed the stuffed pork chops.