Delicious and Crispy, Thin Panko-Crusted Pork Chops

While growing-up my mother would always make us a certain dish for special occasions, like if we did something that made her proud. Well that dish was her delicious home-cooked pork chops slathered in warm, gooey gravy and served with creamy, garlic mashed potatoes with peas or corn on the side. I remember these amazing pork chops vividly! Every delightful detail! Even though my mom hasn’t made them in such a long time I still get the feeling of comforting warmth that these flavorful pieces of pork have engraved in my memory! Recently, after reminiscing about my childhood food experiences, I decided it might be fun to recreate my mom's special dish or to come up with my own version of it...so this is what I ended up doing:

Crispy, Thin Panko-Crusted Pork Chops 

• 1 lb of thin cut, boneless, pork chops
• 1 Large egg
• A splash of milk (approximately 2 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup- 1 cup of Panko Breadcrumbs (depending on how many pork chops you have)
• 1/2 cup- 1 cup of Whole Wheat Breadcrumbs  (again, depending on how many pork chops you have)
• Seasoning: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Parsely, Italian Seasoning, Salt and Pepper.
• Flour
• Olive Oil

If your pork chops are thin, flour and breadcrumb all of them before starting to fry them since thin chops only take a second to fry and you may not have enough time to flour and bread the others before you need to be back at the frying pan to take em off!
Also, unless you’re using plastic bags or tongs to coat your chop with breadcrumbs "shake –n- bake" method then be prepared to get messy because this mixture tends to be sticky!

Instructions -

1. Start by rinsing your pork chops with cold water just to clean them up a little bit.  


 2. Dry your pork chops off lightly with a paper towel and lay them flat.


3. While the chops are resting on the paper towel, sprinkle them lightly with Salt and Pepper.


4. Mix together your egg and splash of milk in small bowl big enough to fit 1 or 2 of your chops.


5. Season the egg & milk mixture with garlic salt, parsley or whatever seasoning you desire!


 6. Dump your panko and breadcrumbs onto a plate or into a ziplock bag and mix together (if using the ziplock bag method then shake until coated).



7. On a different plate, dump enough flour to cover a few of the pork chops (approximately 1/2 cup or more)


8. On the stove, heat up your olive oil over medium to high heat


 9. While the olive oil is heating up place your first chop in the flour until it is coated


10. After coating with flour take your chop and dip it in the egg and milk mixture

11. Once coated with egg and milk lay the chop in the panko and breadcrumb mixture until covered


12. Repeat this until all the chops are coated with all 3 of the mixtures.


13. By this time the olive oil should be sufficiently heated and ready for you to place your chops in it.


14. One by one, gently lay each chop in the hot oil and fry it until golden brown  (approximately 4-5 minutes on each side depending on thickness of chop).


15. Once both sides are done, remove from frying pan and repeat with other chops until all are golden brown.


16. Serve over garlic and apple mashed potatoes and with a side of corn on the cob and you have a perfect home-cooked comfort meal in less then 30 minutes!


This recipe has always been a part of my life and was a big hit during my childhood, but I'm curious to know what recipe has been a part of yours since childhood. I'd love to hear all about the meals you loved while growing up or even the ingredients and recipes on how to make them in the comments below!