Deep Fried Pork Sandwich
My deep fried Pork Sandwich brings county-fair decadence to your kitchen with sweet-tea marinated pork chops fried to crispy crunchy perfection. They are juicy, tender, and ready in about 20 minutes. This post was originally sponsored by Tradewinds tea in 2017 and updated with new information in 2025.
I love Southern deep fried favorites like hushpuppies, mashed potato cakes, and chicken fried steak. My latest creation is this deep fried pork chop sandwich. While classic pork tenderloin sandwiches rely on basic marinades, this version uses sweet tea. SO flavorful and tender. Then it is breaded with seasoned flour and deep fried until crispy and golden brown. Stack it high on a soft bun with crisp lettuce and tangy pickles. It's also great in ramen bowls or with pasta. You have to try it with our Southern Mac and cheese.
Why This Recipe Works: A Sprinkle of Food Science
- Double Duty Sweet Tea Marinade: The tea's tannins break down muscle fibers and the natural sugars add great flavor.
- Thin Pork Chops: This ensures the meat cooks quickly and evenly without drying out. I chose pork chops over tenderloin as perfectly sized for your sandwich so you don't have to chop up raw pork like with a loin.
- Milk + Flour: The first time I tested this recipe the breading was patchy. Milk, flour, milk, flour created a coating that sticks and cooks up super crunchy.
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
- Pork Chops: Look for boneless chops and be sure to trim any visible fat.
- Milk: Full-fat milk creates the richest coating. Buttermilk works too and adds extra tang.
- Vegetable Oil: Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point like canola or peanut oil.
- Sweet Tea: Use your favorite brand or make it fresh. I used Tradewinds sweet tea.
Krystle's Tips: Steal My Culinary School Secrets
- Pat Everything Dry before breading so the flour mixture sticks.
- Shake Off Excess Flour loose bits burn quickly and can make your oil taste bitter. Skim between batches as needed.
- Use a Deep Fry Thermometer: 325 is our sweet spot. Be sure to fry just a few at a time and bring the oil back up to temp in between batches. If the oil is too cold they'll be greasy, but if its too hot the outside will be done while the inside could still be raw.
- Drain on Wire Racks, not paper towels. This allows air to circulate around all sides which keeps them crunchy.
- Don't Overcook: A slight pink tinge is fine. Pull at 140, carryover cooking will bring the temperature up to the required 145 °F.
A minimum of 2 hours works in a pinch, but 6-12 hours gives you the best flavor.
Absolutely but the crust won't be quite as crunchy. Place breaded chops on a wire rack over a baking sheet and bake at 425°F for 10-12 minutes per side.
Yes! Spray breaded chops lightly with oil and cook at 400°F for about 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through.
More Pork Recipes To Try
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📖 Recipe
Deep Fried Pork Sandwich
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Ingredients
- 4 Boneless pork chops
- 4 Cups Tradewind’s Sweet Tea Chilled
- Vegetable Oil For Frying
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 Teaspoons Pepper
- 2 Teaspoons Seasoning Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt
- 1 Cup Whole Milk
- 4 Buns
- Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles, and condiments for serving if desired
Instructions
- Pound pork chops between 2 pieces of plastic wrap until they are around ¼ inch thick. In a large baggie combine Tradewind’s Sweet Tea and pork chops. Refrigerate for 6-12 hours.
- In a large skillet heat oil over medium high heat until it reaches 325 degrees.
- Create a breading station. Pour milk into one shallow bowl.
- In another shallow bowl combine flour, pepper, garlic salt, and seasoning salt. Mix well.
- Dip pork in milk, and then into flour mixture. Rest for 5-10 minutes and repeat.
- Fry 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Place onto sandwich with desired toppings and condiments.
Nutrition
This is so good! I feel bad for trying this recipe just now because it means I have been missing out on a lot. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I agree with you about draining on wire racks instead of paper towels.
This crispy fried pork sandwich sounds so delicious and I am so game for this one! I am pinning the recipe next and thanks so much for sharing!
will share with friends who eat pork.. and will also see if i can adapt this recipe for a veg alternative
This looks absolutely delicious! I love the crispy pork idea and can’t wait to try it at home.
Sounds like a great summertime recipe! I like your sweet tea suggestion as well -- I'll have to keep an eye out for that brand.
OMG! My mouth is watering! I'll have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Yes please. This is my kind of sandwich. I tend to enjoy most things that are fried.
I have used soda for a marinade but never tea. That is a great idea and it looks delicious!
We love a touch of spice so we'd add the pepper you recommended. It looks like the perfect meal to kick off this end-of-summer season.
Spice is always good!
This is an amazing recipe. I thought tea was only for drinking! Let me go ahead and get some of this Tradewind Sweet Tea and make this fried pork sandwich. I am sure it will earn a good rank in our list of family favorites.