Best 7 Pesto Coated Center Cut Pork Chop Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey with our Pesto-Coated Center-Cut Pork Chop, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. This succulent pork chop is carefully coated in a vibrant, aromatic pesto, creating a delightful crust that seals in its natural juices. The tender, juicy pork pairs perfectly with the bright, herbaceous notes of basil, garlic, and pine nuts, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.

Accompanying this main course are three additional recipes that elevate the dining experience. Begin with a refreshing Arugula Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing, where the peppery arugula leaves are tossed in a tangy lemon-tahini dressing, offering a light and zesty start to your meal. Next, savor the Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes, where tender golden-brown potatoes are complemented by the rich, nutty flavor of Parmesan cheese and aromatic roasted garlic. Finally, end on a sweet note with the classic Banana Bread, a comforting and nostalgic treat that pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea, rounding off your culinary adventure.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

POTATO-CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH PESTO SAUCE



Potato-Crusted Pork Chops with Pesto Sauce image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h35m

Yield 4-6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

5 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped
3 sprigs fresh marjoram, leaves stripped
1 clove garlic
Grated zest of 1 lemon
3 cups potato chips (regular or thick-cut)
2 pounds bone-in, center-cut pork loin roast
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons
store-bought pesto
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
1 teaspoon fresh marjoram, minced
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 plum tomato, diced
Photograph by Stephanie Foley

Steps:

  • Prepare the pork: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Pulse the herbs, garlic, lemon zest and potato chips in a food processor until coarsely ground. Transfer to a shallow dish.
  • Season the pork with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the pork, fat-side down, and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes; remove from the skillet. Brush the pork all over with the mustard, then roll in the chip mixture. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and roast until a thermometer inserted into the center of the roast registers about 150 degrees F, 50 to 60 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before slicing into chops.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce: Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, pesto, herbs and lemon juice in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Top with the tomato. Serve the chops with the sauce.

PESTO PORK CHOPS RECIPE



Pesto Pork Chops Recipe image

This recipe for pork chops is not your standard one - it adds a savory pesto sauce to tender, juicy pork chops.

Provided by Susan Olayinka,Tasting Table Staff

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

¾ cup pesto, divided
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
2 pork chops
10 fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Mix together 1/2 cup of pesto, the extra-virgin olive oil, black pepper, and salt.
  • Place the pork chops into a shallow bowl or plastic bag. Pour the pesto mixture on top of the pork chops.
  • Marinate the pork chops in the pesto mixture for 5 minutes.
  • Get a frying pan, and into it place the pork chops. Cook on each side for 5 minutes.
  • When done cooking, put the pork chops onto a plate, and top with 1/4 cup of pesto, fresh basil leaves, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve, and enjoy!

PAN ROASTED PORK CHOPS WITH PEA SHOOT PESTO



Pan Roasted Pork Chops With Pea Shoot Pesto image

A pesto built on pea shoots, pine nuts and cilantro brightens this pork chop recipe. The chops are seared, then roasted in an oven for 15 minutes, putting dinner on the table in less than an hour. To serve, pair it with a light salad coated with lemon and olive oil, salt and pepper. Try it tonight.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

3/4 cup pine nuts
3 cups pea shoots
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 1 1/4-inch-thick) bone-in pork chops (about 3/4 pound each)
1 clove garlic, halved
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups pea shoots
1 small bunch arugula, cleaned
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Lemon juice, for drizzling
Coarse sea salt, such as fleur de sel, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a small skillet over medium-low heat, toast pine nuts, tossing occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes.
  • To prepare pesto, in a food processor or blender combine pea shoots, 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts, cilantro, Parmesan, garlic and salt. Pulse until roughly chopped. With motor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil; blend until well combined. Scrape pesto into a bowl.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each pork chop horizontally in half to bone, making a pocket for stuffing. Rub pork chops all over with cut side of garlic clove, grinding garlic juices into bone and meat. Season chops all over with salt and pepper, and fill each pocket with 1 tablespoon pesto.
  • In a very large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear pork chops until well browned, about 3 minutes a side. Transfer skillet to oven. Cook pork chops until they register 140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 12 to 15 minutes (or cook pork to taste). Let stand in skillet for 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, prepare salad: In a large bowl, toss together pea shoots, arugula, remaining 1/4 cup pine nuts, cilantro and shallot. Toss with enough olive oil to lightly coat greens; drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
  • Divide salad among 4 serving plates. Place a pork chop on each bed of greens. Top chops with additional pesto. Spoon pan juices over each plate.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 919, UnsaturatedFat 50 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 71 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 62 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 1163 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams

PESTO STUFFED PORK CHOPS



Pesto Stuffed Pork Chops image

Sharkey Family recipe. This goes great served with fresh steamed broccoli and a Caesar salad.

Provided by SDaisy2

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons chilled basil pesto
1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts
4 bone-in pork loin chops, 1 1/4-inch thick
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon ground thyme
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Mix feta cheese, basil pesto, and pine nuts in a bowl. Use the tip of a sharp boning or paring knife to cut a 3-inch slit in the side of each pork chop, 2 inches deep and 1/4-inch away from the bone, to make a pocket for stuffing. Stuff pork chops with pesto filling and secure with toothpicks.
  • Mix black pepper, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme in a small bowl; rub both sides of each chop with the spice mix. Place chops into a shallow baking dish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until chops are browned and stuffing is hot, about 40 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the stuffing should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Brush chops with balsamic vinegar and bake until vinegar forms a glaze, another 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 334.8 calories, Carbohydrate 3.3 g, Cholesterol 93.7 mg, Fat 22.2 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 29.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.1 g, Sodium 208.3 mg, Sugar 1.5 g

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO-STUFFED PORK



Sun-dried Tomato Pesto-Stuffed Pork image

Provided by Robin Miller : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 55m

Yield 4 servings (with leftovers for Wonton Soup; Pork Fried Rice)

Number Of Ingredients 8

Cooking spray
2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin
1 cup prepared sun-dried tomato pesto
Salt and ground black pepper
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons prepared honey mustard
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 cups quick-cooking rice, prepared according to package directions

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a shallow roasting pan with cooking spray.
  • Using a sharp knife, cut pork lengthwise 3/4 of the way through. Place in a prepared pan and spread sun-dried tomato pesto in the incision. Fold pork back in half and use a metal or wooden skewer to close the seam. Season with salt and black pepper.
  • In a small bowl, combine vinegar, honey mustard and thyme. Spoon mixture over pork.
  • Roast 45 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer reads 155 degrees F (pork may still be pink in the center and that's O.K.).
  • Let pork rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing crosswise into 1-inch thick slices. Serve about 1/2 of the pork with 2 cups rice. Reserve remaining rice and pork for additional meals.

PESTO RICE-STUFFED PORK CHOPS



Pesto Rice-Stuffed Pork Chops image

My family loves pork chops so I experimented stuffing them. I used some of our favorite flavors like pesto and used it to stuff them. It was a huge hit!-Carolyn Popwell, Lacey, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh parsley sprigs
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2/3 cup cooked wild rice
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon chili sauce
4 bone-in pork loin chops (8 ounces each)
1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
1 tablespoon butter

Steps:

  • In a food processor, combine the basil, parsley, pecans and garlic; cover and process until blended. Transfer to a small bowl; add the rice, cheeses, oil and chili sauce. , Cut a pocket in each pork chop by slicing almost to the bone. Sprinkle chops with lemon-pepper. , In a large skillet, brown chops in butter; cool for 5 minutes. Fill with rice mixture; secure with toothpicks if necessary. Place in a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 28-32 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Discard toothpicks.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 463 calories, Fat 30g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 116mg cholesterol, Sodium 234mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 39g protein.

PESTO PORK CHOPS



Pesto Pork Chops image

I love finding new and easy recipes that are also inexpensive and quick. This pork chop recipe is all that and more! This serves two people but is very easy to double. From my local paper.

Provided by Bekah

Categories     Pork

Time 11m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

3/4 lb boneless pork chop
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons pesto sauce (I use store bought but if you make your own, more power to ya!)
olive oil flavored cooking spray
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Put flour, salt and pepper on a plate and combine.
  • Dredge both sides of pork chops in flour, and shake off any excess.
  • Spray a skillet with the cooking spray and preheat on medium-high.
  • Add the chops and brown on each side for two minutes.
  • After they are browned, spread the pesto sauce over the chops and put lid on the skillet.
  • Continue cooking for an additional two minutes or until they reach 160 degrees.
  • The chops will be juicy and not dried out.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.1, Fat 11.9, SaturatedFat 4.2, Cholesterol 114, Sodium 81.8, Carbohydrate 6, Fiber 0.2, Protein 37.5

Tips:

  • To achieve the best flavor, use fresh basil leaves for the pesto. If fresh basil is unavailable, you can substitute a high-quality store-bought pesto.
  • For a more intense pesto flavor, add a handful of toasted pine nuts or walnuts.
  • If you don't have a food processor, you can make the pesto by hand. Simply chop the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese together until finely minced.
  • To prevent the pork chops from drying out, cook them over medium heat and do not overcook.
  • Serve the pork chops immediately with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad.

Conclusion:

Pesto-coated center-cut pork chops are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for any occasion. The pesto adds a flavorful crust to the pork chops, while the center cut ensures that they are juicy and tender. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.

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