My grandmother made this every spring when money was tight. The way the pineapple caramelizes over the pork is something special.

If you’d like a bit more caramelization on the pineapple, you can move the casserole dish to the top rack and broil on high for 2–3 minutes, watching closely so it doesn’t burn. The edges of the pineapple rings should turn a deeper golden brown.

Remove the dish from the oven and let the pork chops rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This helps the juices settle so the meat stays tender. To serve, spoon some of the sweet pineapple sauce over each chop and add a pineapple ring on top of each portion.

Variations & Tips

For picky eaters who aren’t sure about fruit on their meat, you can bake a couple of chops plain in a corner of the dish and just spoon a little of the sweet sauce around them at the end, leaving off the pineapple rings.

If your family prefers boneless pork chops, you can use those instead; just start checking for doneness around 30 minutes total bake time, as they can dry out faster. You can also swap the brown sugar for granulated sugar if that’s what you have, though the flavor will be a little less rich and molasses-like.

Family-style plated pork chop dinner with rice and peas

For a slightly tangier version, stir 1–2 tablespoons of yellow mustard into the pineapple juice and brown sugar mixture before pouring it over the pork. If you need to stretch the meal, add a few thick-cut onion slices or baby carrots around the chops—they’ll soak up the sauce and roast right along with everything else.

For a bit more seasoning without adding more ingredients, sprinkle the pork lightly with salt and black pepper before baking; this isn’t strictly necessary but does deepen the flavor.

Food safety tips: Always thaw pork chops fully in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Patting them dry before baking reduces splatter and helps them cook evenly. Use a clean instant-read thermometer to make sure the pork reaches at least 145°F (63°C) in the center, then let it rest a few minutes before serving. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in a shallow, covered container, and reheat until hot all the way through before eating.