Very good! I didn't add cheese and used cream of celery.
- Carbohydrate 3.793625 g
- Cholesterol 203.25 mg
- Fat 24.7733875 g
- Fiber 0.683750017881393 g
- Protein 64.3336375 g
- Saturated Fat 10.2980925 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (332g)
- Sodium 237.23375 mg
- Sugar 3.10987498211861 g
- Trans Fat 2.0372 g
- Calories 512 calories
Step-by-step
- HEAT oven to 350?F.
- PREPARE stuffing mix as directed on package.
- MEANWHILE, heat large ovenproof nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chops; cook 4 min. on each side or until browned on both sides. Mix soup, onions and thyme; spoon over chops. Top with prepared stuffing; sprinkle with cheese.
- BAKE 20 to 30 min. or until chops are done (160?F).
Condensed cream of mushroom soup does the heaviest lifting in this casserole. Canned mushroom soup is an emulsion of fats, water, and modified starches. When heated above 350 degrees Fahrenheit, this emulsion coats the exterior proteins of the meat. It prevents moisture from escaping during the twenty to thirty minute oven phase. Without this protective barrier, lean cuts dry out rapidly. Pork loin chops contain very little intramolecular fat. They demand added moisture to remain palatable after cooking to the required internal threshold of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stuffed casseroles frequently fail when cooks pack the bread-based topping too densely. Loose stuffing allows steam from the soup and onions to circulate evenly. Pressing the bread mixture down hard creates a dense, soggy layer instead of a well-textured crust. Sear the meat for four minutes per side over medium-high heat first. Searing initiates the Maillard reaction, developing savory surface compounds that plain baking cannot replicate. An ovenproof skillet eliminates transfer steps. Wrap non-heat-resistant skillet handles tightly in heavy aluminum foil before moving the pan from burner to oven.
Swapping the cheddar for Swiss cheese alters the melting dynamics completely due to differing moisture contents. Cheddar releases more oil as it melts, enriching the mushroom sauce underneath.
