They're the ultimate in flexible fare, and these recipes—grilled, baked, pan-roasted, fried—will get you psyched about the weeknight-dinner staple

Next to bacon, we’d venture, pork chops are the most popular cut of the pig—and one of the most flexible. They cook quickly, absorb tons of flavor from marinades (and have tons of their own, too), and can be spun in any culinary direction, grilled or baked or fried, from Vietnam to Italy. These 12 recipes are a mere beginning!