One-Pan Mandarin Orange & Red Pepper Pork Chops: A Quick 30-Minute Weeknight Dinner
Life moves fast, and often, dinner needs to keep up. That’s why I absolutely adore meals that come together effortlessly, especially those that transform from raw ingredients to a delicious, satisfying dish in under 30 minutes! This incredible one-pan Mandarin Orange and Red Pepper Pork Chops recipe is precisely one of those culinary gems. It’s designed for busy individuals and families who crave the taste of a home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
While the idea of cooking ahead, freezing meals, and then simply pulling an amazing, from-scratch dinner out of the freezer on a typical weeknight sounds appealing, it’s not always a realistic luxury. In fact, I genuinely enjoy dedicating some of my precious weekend hours to activities that don’t involve cooking at all. Like many, I appreciate a balance, and sometimes that means needing dinner on the table with minimal fuss.
That’s why having a repertoire of quick, flavorful, and easy recipes is crucial. This Mandarin Orange Pork Chop recipe is a prime example of a dish that’s realistic to whip up as soon as I walk through the door, especially when greeted by two apparently starving kids asking, “Mom, when’s dinner ready?!” It’s a lifesaver on those hectic evenings, delivering a meal that feels special despite its simple preparation.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Mandarin Orange Pork Chop Recipe
This dish offers the perfect compromise for those who appreciate fresh, homemade flavors but are often pressed for time. It cleverly combines the convenience of store-bought Mandarin Orange with Sesame salad dressing with the freshness of quality pork, crisp red pepper, aromatic ginger, and savory garlic. If you’re searching for exciting pork chop recipe ideas that are both quick and easy, yet taste like you’ve spent hours simmering a gourmet sauce, then this is definitely the recipe for you!
Speed and Simplicity: Your Weeknight Solution
In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency in the kitchen is key. This recipe truly shines in its ability to deliver a full meal in just 30 minutes, all within a single pan. This means less cooking time, less cleanup, and more time for yourself and your family. Forget the stress of multiple pots and pans; this streamlined approach makes dinner an enjoyable experience, not a chore. From browning the pork to simmering the vibrant sauce, everything happens in one place, sealing in the flavors and making cleanup a breeze.
A Burst of Flavor: Sweet, Tangy, and Savory
The flavor profile of these Mandarin Orange and Red Pepper Pork Chops is truly captivating. The Mandarin Orange with Sesame dressing provides a delightful blend of sweet, tangy, and umami notes, creating a sticky, glossy sauce that coats the tender pork. The fresh red pepper adds a subtle sweetness and a beautiful crunch, while the minced ginger and garlic infuse the dish with an irresistible aromatic depth, elevating it beyond what you’d expect from such a simple recipe. It’s a symphony of tastes that dances on your palate, making every bite a memorable one.
Convenience Meets Freshness: The Best of Both Worlds
Many home cooks prefer to make everything from scratch, and while that’s admirable, sometimes a little help from the store can be a game-changer. This recipe perfectly balances convenience and fresh ingredients. By utilizing a quality store-bought salad dressing, you cut down on prep time significantly, yet you’re still incorporating fresh boneless pork chops, a vibrant red pepper, and aromatic fresh ginger and garlic. This approach allows you to achieve a “completely homemade” taste without the extensive effort, making it ideal for busy weeknights without compromising on quality or flavor.
🥘 Key Ingredients for Delicious Pork Chops
Understanding the role of each ingredient helps in appreciating the simplicity and genius behind this recipe. Each component contributes to the overall flavor, texture, and ease of preparation.
- Boneless Pork Chops: Opt for thin-cut pork chops to ensure they cook quickly and evenly. They are the star of the dish, providing a lean protein base that absorbs the sauce beautifully. (Approximately 1.5 lbs or 6 chops).
- Mandarin Orange with Sesame Salad Dressing: This is the secret weapon! It acts as the base for the sauce, bringing together sweet, savory, and slightly tangy flavors without the need for multiple ingredients or extensive mixing. I’ve found Kraft brand to work wonderfully, but feel free to use your favorite.
- Flour: A small amount of flour helps to create a beautiful crust on the pork chops when browned and also aids in thickening the sauce, giving it a rich, velvety consistency.
- Vegetable Oil: Essential for browning the pork chops to a golden perfection, adding flavor and texture.
- Beef Broth: Adds depth to the sauce and helps to deglaze the pan, incorporating all those delicious browned bits into the sauce.
- Red Pepper: Julienned red pepper adds a pop of color, a subtle sweetness, and a delightful texture to the dish, complementing the pork and sauce.
- Garlic (minced): A foundational aromatic that provides a pungent, savory kick, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
- Fresh Ginger (minced): Adds a warm, slightly spicy, and incredibly fresh aroma and taste, which is characteristic of many Asian-inspired dishes.
- Plum Sauce: This adds another layer of sweetness and a rich, fruity tang, deepening the complexity of the sauce.
- Canned Mandarin Oranges: Used primarily for garnish and to reinforce the bright, citrusy flavor, these soft orange segments add a lovely touch to the finished dish. (One 284 ml can).
One particular ingredient, fresh ginger, often poses a storage dilemma. But I have a fantastic food hack that will save you hassle and money!
Terri’s Top Tip: The Freezer Ginger Hack
To keep your ginger fresh for a long time, simply store it in your freezer! When you need some, just pull out the frozen knob, peel it easily with a vegetable peeler (the skin comes off much smoother when frozen), grate the desired amount directly into your dish, and then pop the unused portion back into the freezer. It will last for several months, ready whenever you need it. This little trick ensures you always have fresh ginger on hand without waste.
The Inspiration Behind This Unique Recipe
This easy pork dinner recipe actually originated from a Kraft salad dressing contest. Before that competition, the thought of creating a sauce for pork chops using salad dressing had never crossed my mind. But being challenged to invent something unique with salad dressing pushed me to think outside my usual cooking boundaries. That’s precisely what I love about cooking contests – they inspire creativity and encourage me to explore unexpected ingredient combinations, leading to delicious discoveries like this Mandarin Orange Pork and Red Pepper dish.
Serving Suggestions for Your One-Pan Dinner
Pork recipes with a rich, flavorful sauce are absolutely perfect for serving over a neutral base that can soak up all that deliciousness. For an incredibly fast meal, I often serve this with quick-cooking Minute Rice, which is ready in just 5 minutes. However, the versatility of this dish means it pairs beautifully with many other sides.
- Rice: Besides Minute Rice, consider jasmine rice, brown rice, or even quinoa for a healthier option. The savory, sweet sauce is fantastic over any grain.
- Noodles: Egg noodles, ramen noodles (without the seasoning packet), or even thin spaghetti can be a great alternative to rice, offering a different texture.
- Steamed Vegetables: For added nutrition and color, serve alongside steamed broccoli, snap peas, green beans, or asparagus. They provide a fresh counterpoint to the rich sauce.
- Simple Salad: A light green salad with a vinaigrette dressing can cut through the richness of the pork and sauce, adding a refreshing element to your meal.
- Cauliflower Rice: For a low-carb option, cauliflower rice works wonderfully to absorb the delectable sauce.
So, if you are looking for easy pork recipes for dinner that are both quick to prepare and incredibly satisfying, this Mandarin Orange and Red Pepper Pork Chops recipe is definitely for you!
Variations to Make This Recipe Your Own
While this recipe is fantastic as written, don’t hesitate to personalize it based on your preferences or what you have on hand:
- Protein Swap: If pork isn’t your preference, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs can be easily substituted. Adjust cooking time accordingly until cooked through.
- Vegetable Additions: Feel free to toss in other quick-cooking vegetables like snow peas, thinly sliced carrots, bell peppers of different colors, or even some thinly sliced onions during the simmering stage.
- Spice It Up: For those who enjoy a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the garlic and ginger.
- Sauce Thickness: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can create a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) and stir it into the simmering sauce during the last few minutes of cooking until it reaches your desired consistency. For a thinner sauce, simply add a splash more beef broth.
- Garnish Options: Beyond mandarin oranges, a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds or chopped fresh cilantro can add an extra layer of flavor and visual appeal.
Enjoy this delightful and incredibly simple meal!
Mandarin Orange & Red Pepper Pork Recipe
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Ingredients
- 6 boneless pork chops (1.5 lbs)
- 1 cup Mandarin orange with sesame salad dressing (I use Kraft)
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 – 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 red pepper , julienned
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger , minced (See TERRI’S TIP below)
- ⅓ cup plum sauce
- 1 can mandarin oranges 284 ml
Instructions
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Heat frying pan on stove top with oil on medium high. Coat pork in flour on both sides and brown for 2-4 minutes on each side.
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Add dressing, beef broth, plum sauce, red pepper, ginger and garlic then reduce to simmer. Continue to cook over medium for 15 – 20 minutes until meat is cooked through and red pepper is tender.
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Serve hot over rice or noodles
Notes
Nutrition