Now here’s a dinner with some pop to it! Soda Pop Chops with Mashed Potatoes uses the sweetness and caramel notes of classic root beer to create a thick, deeply savory sauce with hints of garlic and chili spice. This sauce coats the juicy, tender pork chops, which fully absorb the fantastic flavors. And of course, you can’t have pork chops without a fluffy, buttery bed of mashed potatoes to lay their head down on. Soda Pop Chops with Mashed Potatoes have some pep in their burst of flavors to get things popping in your dining room!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds of small red potatoes, halved
- 1 cup root beer
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 4 (7-ounce) pork loin chops, bone-in
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Step 1 –In a large saucepan, add the potatoes and fully cover them with water.
Step 2 –Bring the pot to a boil over high heat.
Step 3 –Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are tender, for about 15-20 minutes.
Step 4 –While the potatoes are cooking, in a small bowl, combine the root beer, ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder. Set aside.
Step 5 –In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Step 6 –Add the pork chops, one at a time, to the flour mixture, sealing the bag and shaking it to coat.
Step 7 –In a large cast-iron skillet, over medium heat, cook the coated pork chops in the oil until they are lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
Step 8 –Drain the grease from the cast-iron skillet.
Step 9 –Add the root beer mixture to the pork chops and bring to a boil.
Step 10 –Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to a simmer.
Step 11 –Simmer until a thermometer inserted in the pork chops reads 145 degrees F, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 12 –Transfer the pork chops out of the skillet and keep warm. Let them stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Step 13 –Bring the sauce to a boil. Cook until it is reduced by half, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 14 –Drain the potatoes and mash with the butter, remaining garlic powder, remaining salt, and remaining pepper.
Step 15 –Plate the pork chops with the sauce and mashed potatoes.
Step 16 –Serve.
