Bacon Wrapped BBQ Pork Chops

I get excited when pork loins go on sale at the grocery store.  Perhaps unnaturally excited, but hey, who's watching?  ;)  Anyways, I find that the store generally has them in 4-6 lbs increments which, for a family of 4, is too much for us to eat for a single meal.  I usually cut them in half and end up roasting part and turning the other part into pork chops.  I've posted a couple recipes for the whole darn thing on this blog, but I've been lax with chop recipes.  I've got a good one I think you're gonna dig.  Crazy enough, it's only got 4 ingredients.  Go ahead and preheat your oven to 400.

First, we're going to cut our half of the pork loin (roughly 2-3 lbs) into chops about an inch thick. Kinda like this:

Now, for the fun part....would you like some more pork with your pork?  It's bacon so yes, yes you do.  Duh.  We're going to wrap a strip of bacon around the edge of each chop.  Yea, I said it!  Things are getting CRAZY in this kitchen!!  Secure it with a toothpick so it stays on there.

Dang.  Just look at that.  Carnivore dream.  Let's get these suckers sizzling!  Grab yourself an ovenproof skillet with higher sides and set it over medium high heat.  Prop up the chops so the bacon can get a good sear and rotate them every few minutes using tongs.  We want that bacon to be browned up a bit on all sides.  

  

Once the bacon is browned, place the chops on a plate and pour off the excess bacon grease.  Don't wipe out the pan though...we're going to put the chops back in and brown them around 5 minutes on each side in that bit of delicious baconey goodness.  Meanwhile, whisk up 4 tbsp. of your favorite bbq sauce and 1/2 cup of beer.  Spoon the sauce over each chop making sure each is coated and pour the rest into the bottom of the pan.

Place the whole skillet in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.  Be careful removing it from the oven...occasionally, I forget the pan has just come out of the scorching hot oven and try to pick up the skillet by the handle.  That REALLY hurts.  Don't do it.  

Serve your chops hot with plenty of that tasty pan sauce.  This dish is a bit sweet, a bit savory, and a bit smokey...totally nom-nable!

Try it.  You'll like it.

-Sam

Bacon Wrapped BBQ Pork Chops

6 pork chops, 1in thick

6 strips bacon

4 tbsp, BBQ sauce

1/2 cup lager beer

Preheat oven to 400.  Wrap a strip of bacon around each pork chop, securing with a toothpick.  In a tall sided skillet, cook each chop, bacon side down rotating occasionally until bacon is browned.  Remove chops from pan and pour off excess bacon fat.

Place the chops back in the skillet and brown about 5 minutes on each side. In a bowl, whisk together the bbq sauce and the beer.  Spoon the sauce over each chop pouring the remainder into the bottom of the pan.  Place the whole skillet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.  

Remove skillet from the oven and serve chops hot with the pan sauce. 

Serves 4-6