Homemade Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Shake and Bake is a classic dinner go-to for a busy night! This homemade Shake and Bake Pork Chops recipe is easy and even more delicious than store bought. It delivers crisp, juicy meat to the table that you can serve with any of your family’s favorite sides to create satisfying, delicious dinners that both kids and adults will love.

this Recipe

I’d venture to guess that most busy parents have reached for that box of Shake ‘n Bake at one time or another. It’s so easy, creates a delicious, crispy exterior, and is SO quick to clean up. This homemade version does ALL of those things with just a bag, some pantry spices, pork chops, and plain bread crumbs (or you can use Italian if you’re rushed)!

When you make homemade shake and bake pork chops you get juicy, breaded meat on the table, happy kids, and easy clean up, but also tons of versatility! All you have to do is add a side dish like a house salad or my white cheddar broccoli mac and cheese to round out the meal!

You can prep a huge batch of mix ahead so it’s ready to go for another night. You can customize the mix with your favorite herbs and spices. And when you’re ready to use it, don’t be afraid to switch up the meat. The mix can be used for fish, veggies, and of course shake and bake chicken.

Why I LOVE this recipe!

• Super EASY – With just a bag you can make the mix and coat the pork chops. Prep and clean up doesn’t get much easier!
• So Versatile! – Use your favorite pork chop cuts or even swap them out for chicken, fish, or veggies.
• 3 Cooking Methods – Whether you like to bake using a sheet pan, pan fry, or use your air fryer, all three methods work great with this recipe.
• More Delicious – It’s so easy to add more or less of your favorite seasonings so that it’s always exactly the way YOUR family likes it.

Recipe Notes

This shake and bake pork chop recipe is as simple as promised! Just 15 minutes for a family friendly meal.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients + Substitutions

• Pork chops – We’re using thin, boneless pork chops. That let’s them cook fast and creates a yummy ratio of breadcrumbs to meat. But, you can use any type of pork chop you like! Thicker cuts will take longer, so make sure you adjust the bake time so they reach the proper 165°F internally.
  
  If you have thicker pork chops but want thinner ones, you can slice them into thin cutlets with just a good knife.
• Breadcrumbs – I recommend panko breadcrumbs. They’re our favorite because they create a great, crunchy texture. But you can use any unseasoned breadcrumbs you like, even homemade. We’ll be adding all the flavors ourselves.
• Oil – I use vegetable oil, but any unflavored oil like canola or grapeseed works great too.
• Seasonings – We use celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to season the breadcrumbs like classic Shake ‘n Bake.
• Dried herbs – Dried parsley, basil, and oregano create Italian flavors in our shake and bake breadcrumb mixture. I recommend all three, but you can leave out any out that don’t have and it’ll still taste great.
• Salt & pepper

Recipe Step by Step

Recipe Tips

1. High heat and thin cuts are essential for crispiness – To achieve the most crisp texture and juicy pork, it’s important to use a hot oven and thinner cuts. If you cook it at lower heat the moisture from the meat can make the breadcrumbs soggy instead.
2. Be generous with the crumb coating – The best flavor comes from lots of breadcrumbs on each pork chop. I like to make sure they’re very well coated and will pat on extra shake and bake before baking if I need to.
3. Place near the bottom rack – Place your baking sheet near the bottom of the oven to help the underside of the pork chops get crisp instead of soggy.
4. Watch the internal temperature – Overcooked pork chops can be tough and chewy, so keep an eye on the internal temperature to make sure yours are cooked just right. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, this is a great time to invest in one. They’re pretty inexpensive and available at most grocery stores, box stores, or online. Then you’ll know just when your pork chops are juicy and perfectly cooked.
5. Use a cooling wire rack for frying – If you choose to pan-fry your pork chops, a cooling rack is a great trick for keeping them crispy. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set the cooling rack on top. When you take the pork chops from the pan, place them on the rack. The excess oil will drip down and absorb in the paper towels, leaving the breading nice and crisp.

Recipe Short Cuts

If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!

• Prep homemade shake and bake ahead– This recipe is SUPER easy to double or triple with hardly any extra effort. Just portion out enough shake and bake mix to coat enough pork chops for one meal. The rest of your breadcrumb mixture can be stored in the fridge for another night. One batch is enough to coat about 2 pounds of pork.
  
  It’s important however that you NEVER store any breadcrumbs that you’ve already tossed with raw meat. Once they’ve been tossed with the pork, leftover breadcrumbs need to be thrown out. I like to make a large batch of breadcrumbs, take out what I need to coat the pork and store the rest for quick and easy dinners another time.
• Use the thinnest cutlets– Thinner cuts cook faster. So, to get dinner on the table faster, slice the pork chops into thin cutlets that will bake or pan-fry quickly.
• Use pre-seasoned breadcrumbs– I love that homemade shake and bake pork chops allow you to customize the seasonings and herbs exactly the way you like. But if you’re in a hurry pre-seasoned Italian breadcrumbs can save you some time. Make sure you check the mixture to see if it includes salt, and add it if it doesn’t. Then go straight into adding the oil for the recipe.

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

• BBQ Shake and Bake Pork Chops– Don’t add the basil, parsley, and oregano, and instead add 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, chili powder, and ginger, plus 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to create a breadcrumb mixture with BBQ flavor. Continue with the recipe as directed and toss with BBQ sauce after cooking if you’d like.
• Cajun Shake and Bake Pork Chops– Instead of the seasonings, herbs, and salt in the recipe, add in 2 tablespoons of a store bought or homemade cajun seasoning blend. Then continue with the recipe as written.
• Shake and Bake Ranch Pork Chops– Add 2 tablespoons of store bought or homemade dried ranch mix to unseasoned breadcrumbs instead of the Italian herbs, seasonings, and salt. Make the rest of the recipe as directed.

Pork Shake and Bake Leftovers

If you have leftovers after making homemade shake and bake pork chops, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.

To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:

• in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
• in the freezer up to a month

Leftover Recipes

Here are a few ways to repurpose those delicious pork chops leftovers and give them a makeover!

• Crispy Pork Chop Sandwiches– Lightly toast buns, shred lettuce, and slice pickles. Reheat pork by lightly crisping it again in a hot pan. Lay onto a bun and top with pickles, thousand island dressing, and shredded lettuce.
• Pork Chop Salad– Toss mixed greens with your favorite toppings like cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and red onion. Add sliced leftover pork chop. Drizzle over homemade buttermilk ranch dressing, jalapeno ranch, or creamy Italian dressing and serve.
• Crispy Pork Chop Tacos– Warm small flour tortillas and fill with warm, sliced leftover pork chops. Top with pineapple jalapeno salsa or mango avocado salsa and serve.

More EASY Pork Chop Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!

You can check out all of my easy dinner recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.

• Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops
• Pan Seared Pork Chops with Corn Salsa
• One Pan Tuscan Pork Chops
• Southwest Bone-in Pork Chops
• Baked Creamy Garlic Pork Chops