Heat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking sheet lined with foil.
Rub olive oil over the pork chop.
In a small bowl, mix together salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Sprinkle over both sides of pork chops.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Remove from oven, cover and let rest for 10 minutes before eating.
Notes
Expert TipsBe sure to follow these tips so that your pork chops are perfectly tender every time:
Be sure to season the pork before cooking. Pork is lean and it is also bland. Seasoning with salt and other spices is essential for enhancing the texture and taste of the meat.
Do not cook the pork straight from the refrigerator. Remove the pork from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before you are ready to cook it. This will help the pork to cook more evenly.
Do not overcook the pork. This tip is definitely worth repeating. Overcooked pork is tough, dry, and not worth eating. Follow the cook times in this recipe for the best tasting pork chop. The USDA states that pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 °F (62.8 °C).
Let the pork rest. After you remove the pork from the oven, cover it and let it rest for 10 minutes or so. This gives you a juicier and more tender piece of meat.