How Many Pork Chops Per Person?

When serving guests, it can be hard to know how much is enough for the number of people in your group. It is important to make sure there is enough food to feed the size of the group you have. So, how many pork chops will each person eat at a party or gathering?

Glazed pork chops on a tray
Glazed pork chops on a tray

One to two pork chops are enough to feed the average person. When serving pork chops, it is important to be somewhat aware of the appetite of the guests being fed. The type of sides being served with the pork chops can change the number of pork chops each person will need to eat to feel full.

There are a few different ways to find out the right amount of pork chops to serve per person. After calling different restaurants that serve pork chops and comparing their recommendations, the average amount of pork chops needed to serve one person is included below.

Amount of Pork Chops Per Person

When preparing pork chops for others, on average, serving one to two pork chops per person will be enough to allow them to be filled after eating. The size of the pork chop will change the number of pork chops that will need to be made available for your guests. The average size of a pork chop is six ounces. At the very least, you will need six ounces of pork chop per guest if pork chops are the main part of the meal. (Source)

Some individuals may need to consume a larger quantity of pork chops than the average individual in order to feel satisfied with the amount of food they have eaten. Others may not be able to eat the amount that the average individual does because they have a smaller appetite.

If the pork chops are only part of the meal, such as a pasta dish, the amount of pork chops per person is less. When the pork chops are not the main thing being used to feed and fill the guests, it is possible to use half of a pork chop to serve a person. When pork chops are served over pasta, one can serve their guests about three to four ounces of pork chops and still provide them with enough food.

Most steakhouses serve their guests around four to six ounces of pork chops. With side dishes, these steakhouses feel that this is enough pork chops to happily feed their guests.

Things to Consider when Serving Pork Chops

There are a few things to consider when serving pork chops to your guests. The first thing is the appetite of your guests. If the guests you are feeding are used to eating larger meals, you may need to prepare more pork chops to provide them with enough food. If you are preparing pork chops for people that do not typically have a big appetite or children, it is important to keep in mind the fact that you could probably get away with serving them fewer pork chops than someone that typically eats more.

A second thing to consider is whether you are serving your guests lunch or dinner. Because most people eat lighter lunches, you might not need to prepare as many pork chops as you would if you were serving your guests dinner.

If the pork chops are served with heartier sides, it is possible to serve your guests fewer pork chops than if you were serving light side dishes.

It is important to keep food safety in mind when preparing food, especially when preparing food for others.

Ways to Safely Handle Pork Chops

It is important to properly handle pork chops, especially while they are raw. The most important thing to keep in mind is cleanliness. It is important to ensure that the area in which you are preparing the pork chops is clean and that your hands are extremely clean. Wash your hands repeatedly while making port chops.

Two raw pork chops on white background
Two raw pork chops on white background

Avoid touching anything after you have touched raw meat. If you need to grab something after touching raw meat, wash your hands before touching it.

After cooking the pork, it is important to place the cooked meat on a different dish than the one that the raw meat was on. It is important that you don’t use the dish that raw meat touched for anything else without washing it first.

When handling meat, it can be easy to cross-contaminate other foods that are being prepared. In order to avoid this, do not use the same cutting board, knife, or any other dish that touched the raw pork chops to prep any other part of the meal without first washing it.

Most Popular Ways to Prepare Pork Chops

There are many different recipes to try when preparing pork chops. Some of these include being served with sauce, a glaze, breaded, or even just cooked using seasonings. It is important to know which type of pork chop would be the biggest crowd-pleaser for your dinner party.

When marinading pork chops, it is important to consider how strong you want the marinade flavor to be. The more flavorful you want the pork chops to be, the longer you should allow them to marinate before cooking. Most marinade recipes recommend that you let the meat sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes.

There are certain seasonings that pair best with pork chops. Some of these flavors include cumin, chili powder, garlic, and paprika. If the desired flavor of the pork chops is something sweeter, the use of brown sugar or cloves in the dry rub seasonings can achieve that touch of sweetness in the pork. (Source)

There are many different recipes for glazes and sauces that pair very well with pork chops. These can be found in various places, such as cookbooks, online, or you can get recipes from your friends.

It is important to choose flavors that the majority of your guests will enjoy. If there are individuals that are not fans of spicy foods or children present, it might be best to avoid choosing a marinade or sauce that is spicy.

Another thing to consider when deciding which way to prepare your pork chops is the type of side you are serving with them. Certain side dishes pair with certain flavors better than others. It is important to make sure that you avoid serving foods that do not pair well when hosting a dinner party.

Popular Ways to Cook Pork Chops

Like many other types of meat, there are different ways that an individual can cook pork chops. Depending on the type of event you are hosting, there might be certain ways that are more appropriate than others.

It is very important to ensure the pork chops are cooked through. This can be done by making sure the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grilling pork chops is a popular method of cooking, as it is with many other types of meat. The easiest way to grill pork chops is by grilling them on direct heat for two to three minutes per side. After that, the pork chop needs to be moved to less direct heat and cooked for eight to ten more minutes, flipping halfway through. The timing of this might vary depending on the thickness of the pork chop. (Source)

Grilled and glazed pork chops on a white plate
Grilled and glazed pork chops on a white plate

Another method for cooking pork chops is in the oven. The temperature your oven is heated to determines the cook time. The higher the oven is heated to, the less time it will take to fully cook the pork through. However, it is not recommended to cook pork chops at a temperature higher than 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of time may vary depending on how thick or thin the pork chops are. (Source)

A third popular method for cooking pork chops is pan-searing. This is done by cooking them in a pan with either butter or oil at high heat. Pan-frying or searing is one of the easiest ways to prepare pork chops for individuals who are worried about drying out their pork chops. It is important to make sure your pork chops are at room temperature before placing them in the pan. It is suggested that with this method, you rely more on a meat thermometer rather than just trusting the cooking time. (Source)

Pork chops can be cooked in an air fryer. To use this method, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and let it heat for at least five minutes. Then, place the pork chops in the basket. Cook them for five minutes, flip them, and cook them for about seven more minutes. (Source)

A final method for cooking pork chops is in an instant pot. The thickness of the pork chops determines how long it can take in the instant pot to thoroughly cook them. For the average-sized boneless pork chop, it takes about eight to ten minutes in the instant pot to be entirely cooked. (Source)

Common Events to Serve Pork Chops

Pork chops can be served at various gatherings and circumstances. A common gathering where pork chops are served is a barbeque or cookout. This pork is typically grilled before being served to the guests at this type of social function.

Larger family gatherings can be a great place to serve pork chops. The various methods to cook and prepare pork chops allow there to be options for even the pickiest of eaters.

Baked pork chops are a common dish served at more formal events such as weddings or galas, or even at events like high school reunions or proms.

Despite pork chops being served at some specific social events, they can also be served as a weekday dinner in any household. Depending on the method of cooking, the pork chops could be an easy and quick option for a busy weeknight.

Using a fancier recipe for cooking the pork chops could be used for an at-home date night or a fancier setting, like a family dinner.

Popular Sides Paired with Pork Chops

Fried pork chops, potatoes, and vegetable salad
Fried pork chops, potatoes, and vegetable salad

The way the pork chops are prepared can determine the type of side dishes that are served. A common side dish is potatoes. These pair well with most flavors of marinades, glazes, and sauces that pork chops can be prepared with. There are many different ways to prepare potatoes, and many of the various forms of potatoes go well with pork chops, regardless of the way in which they are prepared.

Another option for a side dish to pair with pork chops is mac and cheese. When pork chops are seasoned simply, it can be best to serve them with a dish that is flavorful.

A popular dish served with pork chops is roasted veggies. These veggies are tossed in olive oil and seasoned with kosher salt and pepper before being placed in the oven. Using this side dish allows you to select the type of vegetable that is being served. Selecting the veggies that are being cooked allows someone to prepare for a picky eater by including at least one vegetable that this individual likes.

A side dish that is fancier and goes well with pork chops is baked cinnamon apples or balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts. These can be paired with many of the various prepared pork chops. These can elevate dinner from being a weekday dinner to being something fancier. (Source)

The Risks of Undercooked Pork Chops

It is very important to ensure that the pork chops being served are cooked through. Like many other types of meat, eating undercooked pork chops can result in getting sick. Many types of meat have bacteria or parasites on them that need to be cooked off. When this meat does not reach the required temperature to ensure it is thoroughly cooked, the bacteria or parasites can cause anyone who consumes the undercooked meat to become sick.

Symptoms of eating undercooked pork chops include vomiting and diarrhea. A fever, chills, and a headache can follow as well. In more serious cases, there can be intense abdominal pains. (Source)

Overall, you will only need to serve each of your guests one to two pork chops. However, you may want to make extra, as it is better to have leftovers than have your guests leave hungry.

Anna Silver

Anna Silver is the principal creator of CookForFolks.com, a website dedicated to new go-to original recipes. Inspired by her grandmother’s love of cooking, Anna has a passion for treating the people in her life to delicious homemade food and loves to share her family recipes with the rest of the world.

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