Cracker Barrel Nation Fried Pork Chops

January 19, 2025

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Rising up within the South, Saturday dinners at Cracker Barrel have been a household custom. When completely breaded pork chop hit the desk, with its golden-brown crust crackling below my fork, I knew I needed to recreate this consolation meals traditional at dwelling. After years of testing, I’ve lastly mastered the key to reaching that signature Cracker Barrel crunch whereas conserving the meat extremely juicy.

Copycat Cracker Barrel country fried pork chops with gravy, green beans, and mac and cheese.

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What makes Cracker Barrel Fried Pork Chops so irresistible?

For genuine down-home cooking, it’s robust to beat breaded pork chops. And in relation to eating places that provide homestyle cooking, Cracker Barrel is on the prime of the listing.

This Nation Fried Pork Chops Cracker Barrel type recipe presents a flavorful crispy crust and tender, juicy meat so good, you’ll assume you’re in Mama’s kitchen. Serve these breaded Fried Pork Chops along with your alternative of the brown pan gravy under, or go along with Cracker Barrel’s well-known sawmill gravy.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Finances-friendly consolation meals that feeds the entire household
The double-breading method creates an extra-crispy crust
From fridge to plate in lower than half-hour, these pork chops make an excellent weekday meal!
Excellent make-ahead meal for busy households
Restaurant-quality outcomes at a fraction of the fee

Do you have to use bone-in or boneless pork chops?

Bone-in pork chops are preferable on this recipe since they provide extra taste and value much less. In addition they take longer to cook dinner and are extra forgiving when overcooking. Nevertheless, you could want to speak to the butcher instantly since most supermarkets not prepackage bone-in chops.

Breaded Fried Pork Chop Components

To bread the pork chops, you’ll want:

All-purpose flour – Creates the crispy exterior and helps seasonings adhere
Salt – Enhances general taste and helps tenderize the meat
Freshly floor black pepper – Provides delicate warmth and depth
Buttermilk – Tenderizes the pork and helps create a thick, flavorful crust
Water – Thins the buttermilk for excellent coating consistency
Pork chops – The bone helps retain moisture and provides taste

You should use bone-in or boneless pork chops, however bone-in chops are a greater choice. Try under to study why.

To fry the pork chop, you’ll want:

Impartial oil
Breaded and rested pork chops

Copycat Cracker Barrel country fried pork chops ingredients on a tray.

Easy methods to make Fried Pork Chops

To organize the breading station and bread the pork chops:

Whisk the flour, salt, and freshly floor black pepper in a large, shallow container.
Whisk collectively the buttermilk and water in a separate, broad, shallow container.
Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel, after which season the pork chops properly with salt and pepper on each side.

Two pork chops seasoned with salt and pepper on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Dredge a seasoned pork chop within the flour combination and shake off any extra.
Dip the floured pork chop into the buttermilk and water and drop it again into the flour combine. Dredge in flour once more and shake off any extra.
Place the double-floured pork chop on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or wire rack over a lbaking sheet and repeat with the remaining pork chops.

Two seasoned and breaded pork chops on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

To fry the pork chops:

Pour three to 4 inches of oil right into a deep pan or a deep fryer. If you’re utilizing a pan, connect a clip-on deep-fry thermometer to the facet.
Warmth the oil over medium-high till it reaches 350°F.
Add about two pork chops at a time to the recent oil. Fry for 7 to eight minutes, utilizing tongs to show the pork chops over as soon as halfway by means of the cooking time.
Take away the pork chops from the oil and drain them.
Repeat with the remaining breaded pork chops.

Two country fried pork chops on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Easy methods to make brown gravy with the pan drippings

Brown gravy is a standard sauce for plenty of fried meals since it’s economical and simple to make:

3 tablespoons reserved frying oil – Base for the roux
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour – Thickens the gravy
2 cups liquid (inventory, milk, or water) – Creates gravy consistency
Salt and pepper to style – Seasons the gravy

Drain the fats from the pan, reserving about three tablespoons.
Heat the fats over medium warmth.
Sprinkle two tablespoons of all-purpose flour into the recent fats and stir continuously to keep away from lumps.
Slowly add about two cups of liquid to the pan whereas stirring. You should use water, milk, or inventory (or a mix of all).
Repeatedly stir till the gravy thickens sufficient to coat a spoon’s again.
Style the gravy and alter the seasoning with salt and freshly floor pepper.

Copycat Cracker Barrel country fried pork chops with gravy, mac and cheese, and green beans.

Professional Suggestions & Troubleshooting

Meat Choice: Bone-in chops present higher taste and are extra forgiving when cooking
Temperature Management: Keep oil at 350°F for optimum crispiness
Don’t Overcrowd: Fry in batches to take care of oil temperature
Resting Time: Let breaded chops relaxation earlier than frying for higher crust adhesion
Oil Restoration: Permit oil to return to temperature between batches

Dietary Modifications

Gluten-Free: Substitute all-purpose flour with rice flour or gluten-free mix
Dairy-Free: Exchange buttermilk with dairy-free milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar
Decrease-Fats: Bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes on a wire rack

What to serve with Southern Fried Pork Chops

Attempt pairing your breaded Fried Pork Chops with one among these:

Easy methods to retailer leftover Nation Fried Pork Chops

Earlier than individually wrapping any further pork chops in plastic wrap, allow them to cool to room temperature. Put the wrapped pork chops in an hermetic container and hold them within the fridge for as much as three days.

What’s one of the simplest ways to preheat fried pork chops?

To reheat the pork chops within the oven, take away them from the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature. Place on a wire rack on a baking tray and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10 to fifteen minutes or till warmed by means of.

Two copycat Cracker Barrel country fried pork chops with gravy.

Extra Cracker Barrel copycat recipes

Favourite pork chop recipes

Try extra of my simple recipes for pork and the very best copycat Cracker Barrel recipes on CopyKat!