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Day 2 Dinner: Pan-Fried Pork Chops + Garlic Butter Lemony Spinach

Prep Time:

5 minutes

Cook Time:

12-15 minutes

Serves:

1

Level:

Beginner

About the Recipe

Juicy pork chops pan-fried to golden perfection, served with garlic butter and accompanied by quick-sautéed spinach brightened with fresh lemon. Simple, nourishing, and ready in minutes.

Ingredients

Pan-Fried Pork Chops:

  • 1 pork chop (bone-in or boneless, approx. 6-8 oz)

  • 1 tablespoon butter (grass-fed preferred)

  • 1 small garlic clove, minced (or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)

  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Sautéed Spinach:

  • 2 cups fresh spinach

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or butter

  • Fresh lemon wedge

  • Sea salt, to taste

Preparation

Pan-Fried Pork Chops:

  1. Season & Cook: Season pork chop generously with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork chop and cook 5-6 minutes per side, until browned and cooked to 145°F internal temp.

    Quick-Cooking Tip: Pound pork chops slightly thinner before cooking to reduce cook time.


  2. Garlic Butter Finish: During final minute, add minced garlic or garlic powder directly into pan butter, spooning it generously over pork chop.


Sautéed Spinach:

  1. Quick Sauté: In a separate skillet, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add spinach, sautéing quickly (1-2 minutes) until wilted. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.

  2. Lemon Finish: Remove from heat and squeeze fresh lemon juice lightly over spinach.


Tips to Make it Even Easier:

  • Pre-season Pork Chops: Season pork chops in bulk ahead of time, freeze individually, then simply thaw and pan-cook when ready.

  • Use Baby Spinach: Baby spinach cooks in seconds and requires zero chopping—perfect for saving time and effort.


Quick & Simple Flavor Boost Options (Optional):

  • Mustard & Tarragon Sauce: Whisk Dijon mustard, melted butter, and fresh tarragon together for a creamy, aromatic sauce.

  • Browned Butter Sage Drizzle: Melt butter gently with fresh sage leaves until browned and fragrant, drizzle generously over pork chops and spinach.

  • Pork Rind Dusting: Crush pork rinds finely and dust pork chops before cooking for crispy, savory crust.

  • Smoky Chipotle Butter: Combine softened butter with chipotle powder, garlic powder, and sea salt, then melt on finished pork chops for smoky richness.


Recipes Created by BloodSugarChef.com

Meal Plan by American Diabetes Society

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