Are you looking for a new weeknight dinner that is bursting with authentic Southern flavor, is incredibly easy to make, and is on the table in under 30 minutes? This amazing, one-pan Smoked Pork Chops with Corn and Okra is that perfect meal. It’s a true celebration of simple, fresh, and soulful ingredients, all brought together in one delicious skillet for the easiest cleanup imaginable.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to your new favorite comfort food. We’ll show you how the brilliant shortcut of using pre-cooked smoked pork chops can create a deeply flavorful, from-scratch-tasting meal in minutes. Paired with a fresh and vibrant succotash of sweet corn, tender okra, and juicy tomatoes, this is a dish that is packed with the classic, comforting taste of the South.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Southern Skillet Dinner
What makes this Smoked Pork Chop recipe so spectacularly delicious is its incredible speed and its wonderful balance of smoky, sweet, and savory flavors. The secret to a fast and flavorful meal is using pre-cooked, bone-in smoked pork chops. They have a wonderful, deep, smoky flavor already built-in and only need a quick sear to heat them through and give them a beautiful, caramelized crust. The pork is served with a simple, fresh “succotash” of classic Southern vegetables, all cooked down in the same skillet to soak up the delicious pan drippings.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 25 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Southern Classic
This recipe uses a handful of fresh, seasonal ingredients and one smart shortcut to create its signature comforting and savory flavor.
- The Smoked Pork Chops: The smoky and savory star of the show.
- What to Buy: Look for thick-cut (about 3/4-inch thick), bone-in, pre-cooked smoked pork chops. These are a fantastic, time-saving ingredient that can be found in the meat section of most grocery stores. Because they are already cooked, they just need to be heated through. A thick-cut ham steak, as the recipe suggests, is also a perfect and delicious substitute.
- The Southern Vegetables (Corn & Okra):
- Fresh Corn: For the absolute best, sweetest flavor and a wonderful, crisp texture, it is highly recommended to use fresh corn kernels, cut directly from the cob.
- Fresh Okra: This classic Southern vegetable is a must-have for an authentic texture and flavor. The secret to cooking okra so that it is tender and not slimy is to slice it thinly and cook it quickly over a medium-high heat, as this recipe directs.
- The Flavor Base:
- Cajun Seasoning: A classic Louisiana spice blend that typically includes a mix of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and oregano. It adds a wonderful, savory, and slightly spicy kick to the entire dish.
Step-by-Step to the Perfect Southern Skillet Dinner
This delicious, one-pan meal comes together in just a few simple stages.
Step 1: Sear the Smoked Pork Chops
Step 1: Pat your 4 bone-in smoked pork chops completely dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle them on all sides with freshly ground black pepper and a generous amount of Cajun seasoning to your taste.
Pro Tip: Patting the meat dry is the number one secret to getting a beautiful, golden-brown crust or sear!
Step 2: In a large skillet, heat the 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it is shimmering.
Step 3: Carefully add the seasoned pork chops to the hot skillet. Cook them for about 3 minutes per side, until they are a deep golden brown and heated all the way through.
Step 4: Transfer the seared pork chops to a clean plate. Do not wipe out the pan!
Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables and Create the Pan Sauce
Step 1: Add the 1 chopped small onion to the same skillet (with all the delicious pork drippings) and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion has softened.
Step 2: Add the kernels from the 3 ears of corn and the 1/4 pound of thinly sliced okra to the skillet. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
Step 3: Add the 1 large, chopped tomato, the 3 tablespoons of water, the 1 tablespoon of honey, and the 1/4 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning to the pan. Let the mixture cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the tomato has softened slightly and a light pan sauce has formed.
Step 3: Simmer and Serve
Step 1: Return the seared pork chops to the skillet, nestling them into the vegetable mixture.
Step 2: Cover the skillet and let everything cook together for 2 to 5 more minutes, until the vegetables are completely tender and the chops are hot all the way through.
Serve the hot pork chops with a generous spoonful of the warm corn and okra succotash.
The Best Easy Skillet Smoked Pork Chops with Corn and Okra
A quick and flavorful one-skillet meal featuring pre-cooked smoked pork chops with a medley of fresh summer vegetables. The pork chops are seasoned with Cajun spices and browned, then set aside. In the same skillet, a savory-sweet vegetable mixture of fresh corn, okra, tomato, and onion is sautéed. The pork chops are returned to the pan to simmer with the vegetables until everything is heated through, creating a complete Southern-style dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in smoked pork chops (3/4 inch thick) or 1 1/4 pounds ham steak, cut into 4 pieces
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, plus more to taste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 ears fresh corn, kernels cut off
- 1/4 pound okra, thinly sliced
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Season the smoked pork chops with pepper and a sprinkle of Cajun seasoning.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and cook for about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer the chops to a plate.
- Add the chopped onion to the same skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened.
- Add the corn and okra to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes, until crisp-tender.
- Stir in the chopped tomato, 3 tablespoons of water, the honey, and 1/4 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the tomato is slightly softened.
- Return the browned pork chops to the skillet, nestling them among the vegetables.
- Cover the skillet and cook for 2 to 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the chops are heated through.
- Serve the pork chops with the vegetable mixture spooned on top.
Notes
- This is a very quick one-pan meal, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner.
- Using pre-cooked smoked pork chops is a key time-saving element of this recipe.
- The vegetables are cooked in the same skillet used for the pork, allowing them to absorb the savory drippings.
What to Serve With Your Smoked Pork Chops
This beautiful skillet dinner is a fantastic, all-in-one meal. However, if you’d like to round it out with a classic Southern pairing, here are a few suggestions:
- Creamy Grits: Serving the pork chops and the saucy vegetable mixture over a bed of creamy, cheesy grits is an absolutely classic and delicious choice.
- Fluffy White Rice: A simple bed of fluffy white rice is a perfect vehicle for soaking up all the delicious pan juices.
- Cornbread: A side of warm, buttery cornbread is a must-have for a true Southern-style meal.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast weeknight meal, you can get a head start by chopping all your vegetables up to 2 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: You can reheat the pork chops and the vegetables gently in a covered skillet on the stovetop over a low heat until they are warmed through.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Use a Different Protein: If you can’t find smoked pork chops, this recipe is also absolutely fantastic with an equal amount of sliced, fully-cooked smoked sausage (like an andouille or a kielbasa). Simply brown the sausage slices and then cook them along with the vegetables.
- Add a Can of Beans: For an even heartier and more classic succotash, you can stir in one 15-ounce can of drained and rinsed black-eyed peas or lima beans along with the tomato.
- Add a Splash of Vinegar: For a brighter, tangier finish, you can add a splash (about 1-2 tablespoons) of apple cider vinegar to the skillet at the very end of the cooking time.
Enjoy The Ultimate Southern Skillet!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, fresh ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. These classic Smoked Pork Chops with Corn and Okra are a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch meal to bring comfort and joy. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and comforting meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What exactly are smoked pork chops, and are they already fully cooked?
Yes! A smoked pork chop is a pork chop that has been cured (like a ham) and then fully cooked with wood smoke. This means that they have an incredible, deep, smoky flavor and are already cooked through, so you only need to heat them up. This is what makes them a fantastic and convenient ingredient for a quick weeknight dinner.
Q2: How do you cook okra so that it isn’t slimy?
The “slimy” texture that some people associate with okra comes from a substance called mucilage, which is released when the okra is cooked slowly or in a lot of liquid (it’s actually a fantastic, natural thickener for gumbos!). The secret to a non-slimy, tender-crisp result is to cook it quickly, over a relatively high heat with less liquid, as this recipe directs. Slicing it and sautéing it in a hot skillet is a perfect method.
Q3: Can I use frozen corn and okra for this recipe to save time?
Yes, you can absolutely use frozen vegetables as a convenient shortcut. If you are using frozen corn and frozen, cut okra, there is no need to thaw them first. You can add them directly to the skillet from frozen; you will just need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time to allow them to heat all the way through.
Q4: What can I use instead of Cajun seasoning?
If you don’t have a pre-made Cajun seasoning blend, you can easily make your own simple version! A good substitute would be a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of paprika (preferably smoked), 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Q5: Can I use fresh, uncooked pork chops for this recipe?
You can, but it will no longer be a 30-minute meal. If you use raw, thick-cut pork chops, you will need to sear them on both sides for about 4-5 minutes per side, and then you will likely need to finish them in a 400°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, until they are cooked through.