Creamy Whole30 Smothered Pork Chops {whole30 + gluten free + paleo}

Name: Creamy Whole30 Smothered Pork Chops {whole30 + gluten free + paleo}
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: comfort food
Ingredients: 4 thick cut bone in pork chops – about 2 pounds worth; 1/2 teaspoon salt per half pound meat – about 1/2 teaspoon per pork chop; 1/2 cup raw cashews OR 1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts + 1 tablespoon sunflower seed butter; enough just boiled water to cover the cashews (or macadamia nuts); 2 tablespoons avocado oil; 1 medium sized onion, thinly sliced; 2 cloves garlic, chopped; 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast; 1 tablespoon coconut aminos; 1 teaspoon all purpose seasoning; pinch of cayenne (optional); 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme; 2 cups broth; salt + pepper; 1 tablespoon chopped parsley or thyme to garnish

November 2, 2020 · Nyssa Tanner 44 Comments

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These creamy whole30 smothered pork chops are the perfect healthy comfort food! Made with sweet caramelized onions, flavorful herbs, and a lusciously creamy sauce that is 100% dairy free. An ideal cold weather dinner that will warm you up from the inside out. Gluten free, dairy free, whole30, paleo.

Close up shot of a spoon drizzling super creamy cashew gravy over a golden brown pork chop in a skillet topped with chopped parsley.

Being from Wisconsin and growing up in my Grandma’s kitchen, smothered pork chops (and other comfort foods of the sort) made a regular appearance on the dinner table. I’ve shared a little bit about my special relationship with my Grandma on the blog before, and I can’t help but think of her whenever I make a dish like this. She was only 4’8″ but she had a huge personality, and could make a delicious dinner out of just about any ingredients she had in the kitchen.

While I still have a soft spot in my heart for comfort food recipes like hers, my body is a lot happier when I swap out the more processed ingredients for whole food ingredients. Can you relate?

That’s why I’ve spent many years perfecting this whole30 smothered pork chop recipe. It’s one I reach for anytime I feel like I need a hug on a plate, and never fails to leave me feeling more warm and fuzzy with each creamy bite.

Why you’ll love these creamy whole30 smothered pork chops

These healthy smothered pork chops are:

SO creamy
Comforting
Filling
Savory
Delicious
Dairy free, gluten free, and whole30 compliant!

Overhead shot of a white skillet with 4 golden brown pork chops in plenty of creamy cashew gravy. Topped with chopped fresh green parsley.

Creamy whole30 smothered pork chop ingredients

This recipe relies mainly on 2 things to maximize flavor:

Caramelization of the pork chops + onions in the skillet
Flavor boosting ingredients like all purpose seasoning, nutritional yeast, and coconut aminos

Both of these things bring some serious mouthwatering UMAMI flavor to this dish that you do not want to miss out on. The creamy gravy is pretty straightforward to make, but if you wanted to take it up a notch you could caramelize some mushrooms with the onions for something a little *extra*.

(If you’re already ready to get started, scroll all the way down to the bottom for the full recipe!)

Here’s exactly what you need to make these dairy free smothered pork chops:

4 thick cut bone in pork chops – You could also make this recipe with boneless pork chops, but I prefer bone-in for more flavor and meat that is more tender. If you decide to use boneless pork chops you should be able to cut the cooking time by half. The same can be said if you opt for thin cut bone in pork chops.
Raw cashews – Raw cashews are what makes the sauce super c-r-e-a-m-y without adding a smidge of dairy.
Onion – The caramelization of onion starts as the base for a super flavorful sauce.
Broth – Really any type of good tasting broth will work – chicken, beef, mushroom, or veggie are all good options!
Garlic
Nutritional yeast – If you don’t have access to nutritional yeast you can substitute with equal parts miso, or add an additional tablespoon of coconut aminos.
Coconut aminos – Could substitute with gluten free soy sauce (tamari) but then the recipe will no longer be whole30 / paleo.
All purpose seasoning
Pinch of cayenne (optional)
Fresh or dried thyme
Salt + pepper
Parsley to garnish the dish

Many of the pantry friendly ingredients can be found on Thrive Market – a membership based natural products website that is like a Whole Foods or Costco but entirely based online and with the BEST wholesale prices.

I have been a Thrive Market member for 4 years and over that period of time I have saved a projected $3,892.75! That is some serious savings.

Overhead shot of a plate of pan seared bone in pork chops. Cooked to a perfect golden brown on a light colored background.

Side angle shot of cooked pork chops in a creamy gravy, topped with chopped parsley.

How to make these creamy whole30 smothered pork chops

This paleo pork chop recipe is made on the stove top with a few simple kitchen tools like your favorite cutting board, knife, high speed blender, and a large skillet with a lid.

If you have a few hours or plan a day in advance, dry brining the pork chops results in the juiciest meat. But don’t worry if you don’t have the time for that, the recipe will still be delicious even without an extended dry brine.

Here’s the step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Dry brine the pork chops

For the juiciest pork, you’ll want to season pork chops with about 1/2 teaspoon sea salt per chop. Move to the refrigerator to dry brine for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.

If you don’t have time for this step no worries, just season with salt before you move to step 2.

Step 2: Cook the pork chops

If you have seasoned the pork chops in advance with salt, remove them from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature while you gather and prep the rest of the ingredients for the recipe.

Once ready to cook, heat 2 tablespoons avocado oil over medium high heat in a large skillet until oil is shimmering.

Pat pork chops very dry with paper towels. Cook, in two batches if they’re too big to fit in the pan without crowding, for about 3-4 minutes per side – until golden brown. Remove to a plate and set aside.

Step 3: Make the creamy sauce

Reduce heat to medium and add sliced onions with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and starting to caramelize – about 5 minutes.

While onions are cooking drain and rinse cashews. Add them to a blender along with broth and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

When onions are nicely caramelized, add chopped garlic, nutritional yeast, pinch of cayenne, all purpose seasoning, coconut aminos, and thyme. Cook, stirring, for about a minute or so, until you can smell the spices.

Add broth and cashew mixture to the pan and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan – that’s where the flavor lives! Bring to a simmer and let reduce slightly until sauce coats a spoon – about 3-5 minutes. Taste and season with salt if needed.

Step 4: Finish cooking the pork chops

Add pork chops back to the pan along with any juices that have collected on the plate, and turn to coat. Cover and reduce heat to a bare simmer. Cook until pork chops are fully cooked – turning halfway through – about 15-20 minutes more.

Step 5: Serve!

When pork chops are cooked through, top with a scatter of fresh herbs and serve!

Overhead shot of a platter with smothered pork chops in plenty of creamy cashew gravy, with a spoon dipped into the gravy. Topped with chopped parsley on a light colored background.

Overhead shot of a smothered pork chop on a plate over mashed potatoes topped with plenty of gravy. Garnished with chopped green parsley on a light colored background.

Are these whole30 pork chops healthy?

These pork chops are made without heavy cream, without flour, and without any processed ingredients. Real food ingredients makes them a healthier option for a classic comfort food dish!

What to serve with these creamy whole30 smothered pork chops

These creamy dairy free pork chops are the perfect hearty dish to serve with other comfort food favorites like mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

Here’s some recipe suggestions that would make a great pairing:

Substitutions & swaps

If you prefer boneless pork chops you can easily substitute those for bone in. Keep in mind they will cook a lot faster than bone in pork chops, so you’ll likely be able to reduce the cooking time in the final step.
If you want to add a little more bulk to the sauce try adding a handful of your favorite mushrooms when cooking the onions!

Love this recipe? Here are some other healthy comfort food classics to try!