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Apple Pork Chops

These Apple Pork Chops are smothered in a sweet and savory sauce with freshly cooked apple slices! This recipe is easy to make in a single skillet and has the best flavor!

Be sure to try my Peach Chicken recipe and my Baked Chicken Thighs next!

Apple Pork Chops in a skillet with sliced apples and sauce.

Apple Pork Chops

Your taste buds are going to flip when you taste these incredible Apple Pork Chops. Mr. Cozy Cook almost fell out of his chair when he first tried this! The flavors are well-rounded and on point.

We’ve got every flavor element represented in this sauce- sweet, savory, tart, and tang, it’s all here, in perfect balance.

Check out the post below for my tips on the best pork chops and apples to use, what to serve this with, as well as my pro tips! Don’t miss those!

How to Make It

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Sprinkle each side of the pork chops with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning and let them sit for 35-45 minutes. This brining technique makes them more tender, flavorful, and juicier. If short on time, pat completely dry and season  just before searing. 

Heat olive oil and sear the pork in batches until golden brown and crisp. Set aside.

Pork Chops on a plate before and after being seasoned and seared.

Deglaze the skillet with white wine. Add butter and garlic, then add sauce mixture (chicken broth, chicken bouillon cube, honey, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and cornstarch). Bring to a boil and allow it to thicken, then reduce to a simmer.

A skillet being deglazed with white wine next to a skillet with sauce for pork chops.

Add the pork back and apples and spoon the sauce on top. Cover and simmer until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Serve! (See below for serving suggestions!)

Apple Pork chops in a skillet with sauce before and after being simmered and concentrated.

Best Pork Chops to Use

  • Center cut, Bone-in Pork Chops – pictured in this recipe
    • These are the best cut for this recipe as the bone adds more flavor to the meat and sauce. The thicker the cut, the juicier they’ll be. Aim for nicely marbled meat.
  • Loin Chops
    • These may also be used, although they are a leaner cut.
  • Boneless Chops
    • These will work as well, although they are the leanest cut which makes them prone to becoming dry. Salt them first and let them sit to mitigate this.

Best Apples to Use

Truly, any kind of apple will work here. But here are some of the best varieties to pair with pork:

  • Fuji, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Cortland, Jonagold, Braeburn and Granny Smith are all ideal candidates for pork. 
  • Gala apples are my personal choice. They’re not too sweet and have a very pleasant taste. They also hold up well in cooking.

What to Serve with Apple Pork Chops

Pro Tips

  • Brining: If you’re able to dry brine the pork chops for 35-45 minutes, you can salt the pork more liberally than you normally would, as the salt will penetrate through the surface and flavor it inside and out. The exact amount of salt will vary, as it depends on the cut and size of pork chops used. 
  • Searing: Sear the pork chops in batches, don’t overcrowd the skillet. This allows the edges to get nice and crisp. Use kitchen tongs to prop the pork on it’s side to sear any fat on the edges as well. Adjust heat up/down as needed while you sear.
  • Wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc are my go-to dry white wines for this recipe. My next recommendation would be non-alcoholic white wine, which is widely available. While the wine does really elevate this recipe, chicken broth can be used instead.
  • Be sure to try my Peach Chicken recipe next!

 Storage

  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftover pork chops do freeze/reheat well.
  • If reheating from frozen: Thaw leftover pork overnight in the fridge (or defrost it in the microwave) and then bake it in a small, lightly greased, covered casserole dish at 350° for 20 minutes or so.

Apple Pork Chops on a white plate next to roasted potatoes.

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Apple Pork Chops in a skillet with sauce and sliced apples.

Apple Pork Chops

5 from 9 ratings
These Apple Pork Chops are smothered in a sweet and savory sauce with tender sliced apples. This is an easy and flavorful skillet recipe that takes dinner to the next level!

Ingredients

  • 4 pork chops, see notes
  • Salt/Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 apple, sliced. See notes.

Sauce

  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ½ chicken bouillon cube
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon EACH: dried thyme, dried oregano, mustard powder, onion powder, parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon EACH: ground sage, cinnamon
  • 1 pinch nutmeg, no more than a small pinch

Instructions

Prep Work

  • Season each side of the pork chops with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. If possible, let them sit out at room temp for 35-45 minutes. This will give the salt a chance to penetrate through the meat and flavor it. It will also make the pork juicier. If you’re short on time: Season the pork chops just before searing.
  • Combine the chicken broth with the cornstarch and mix until well combined. Make sure the broth is not warm/hot so that you don’t activate the cornstarch. Mix in the remaining sauce ingredients and store in a cool place until ready to use.

Sear the Pork

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the pork chops and sear 2 at a time for 2-3 minutes on the first side, and 1-2 minutes on the second side. Extra thick cuts can be seared a little longer, and smaller/leaner cuts can be seared more quickly. Set aside and let rest.

Make the Sauce

  • Turn the heat off and add the wine. Set heat to medium and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom and sides of the skillet, the brown bits add more flavor to the sauce.
  • Add the butter and garlic. Simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 4 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth mixture (from step 2 of prep work) and bring it to a boil to activate the cornstarch. It will thicken rather quickly once a boil is reached. Once desired thickness is obtained, reduce to a simmer.

Finish the Dish

  • Peel the apples and cut them into 1/4-inch slices.
  • Add the pork chops to the sauce along with any juices from the plate). Add the apples and spoon the sauce on top. Note: The apples will soften better if they're submerged in the sauce.
  • Cover and simmer gently for 5-8 minutes, or until the apples have softened and the pork is nearly 145° F.
  • Remove from heat and let the pork chops rest for 3-5 minutes, the internal temperature will increase a few more degrees and the juices will absorb. Serve with sausage stuffing! (See blog post for other great serving options!)

Notes

Best Pork Chops to Use:
  • Center cut, Bone-in Pork Chops - pictured in this recipe
    • These are the best cut for this recipe as the bone adds more flavor to the meat and sauce. The thicker the cut, the juicier they'll be. Aim for nicely marbled meat.
  • Loin Chops
    • These may also be used, although they are a leaner cut. Note that they will likely require a little less searing time.
  • Boneless Chops
    • These will work as well, although they are the leanest cut which makes them prone to becoming dry. Salt them first and let them sit to mitigate this. Note that they will likely require less searing time.

Best Apples to Use:
  • Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Cortland, Jonagold, Braeburn and Granny Smith are all ideal candidates for pork. 

Pro Tips:
  • Brining: If you're able to dry brine the pork chops for 35-45 minutes, you can salt the pork more liberally than you normally would, as the salt will penetrate through the surface and flavor it inside and out. The exact amount of salt will vary, as it depends on the cut and size of pork chops used. 
  • Searing: Sear the pork chops in batches, don't overcrowd the skillet. This allows the edges to get nice and crisp. Use kitchen tongs to prop the pork on it's side to sear any fat on the edges as well. Adjust heat up/down as needed while you sear.
  • Wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc are my go-to dry white wines for this recipe. My next recommendation would be non-alcoholic white wine, which is widely available. While the wine does really elevate this recipe, chicken broth can be used instead.
  • Be sure to try my Peach Chicken recipe next!

Storage:
  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftover pork chops do freeze/reheat well.
  • If reheating from frozen: Thaw leftover pork overnight in the fridge (or defrost it in the microwave) and then bake it in a small, lightly greased, covered casserole dish at 350° for 20 minutes or so.

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving. There are 4 servings in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 107mg, Sodium: 669mg, Potassium: 622mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 216IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 1mg
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18 comments on “Apple Pork Chops”

  1. Unbelievable taste! Honestly, these are the best pork chops that I have ever ate or made! I didn’t think another pork chop recipe would beat out your smothered pork chop recipe, (those are also delicious) but this one is brilliant! I’m having trouble describing the taste of the gravy. I could drink it, put it that way, lol. Just made these for dinner this evening, and another home run/ball out of the park recipe from the Cozy Cook Stephanie! You’re turning me into the cook I’ve always wanted to be, & making my family excited to come home & actually have a meal as a family! Thank you so very much for sharing your experience, talent & outstanding recipes with us! 
    * I couldn’t find anywhere throughout the recipe about if I was supposed to peel the skin off the apple? I went ahead and  peeled it. I also wasn’t quite sure on the thickness of the apples as well. I think I did alright without directions in that area. Was just wondering how you do your apples. Thanks!

    • Hi Kristin!! I am soooo happy that you love these Apple Pork Chops!! And that you’re loving the other recipes too, your touching comments really made my day, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to write such kind words!! Thank you so so much. As far as the apples- good catch! I’ve updated the recipe here to indicate the following: “Peel the apples and cut them into 1/4-inch slices.” – Thank you again Kristin!! ❤️

  2. I was looking for something different from our usual baked pork chops when I found these. They were perfect. My entire family loved them so it’s definitely a meal I will make again.
    I made the cheesy scalloped potatoes in the link, they were also a hit!

    I was wondering about putting them in a crock pot after they are seared. Do you think that would work?

    Thanks for a great meal!!
    Corrine

    • Hey Corrine! I’m so happy that you loved these pork chops- I LOVE that you served them with my cheesy scalloped potatoes too, what a perfect pairing! I think this is a good candidate for the crock pot. I would sear them (as you mentioned), and I’d still deglaze with wine and then transfer the reduced wine liquid to the crock pot along with the remaining ingredients, (including the apples I’d say)! Then I’d cook on low for 4-5 hours, depending on the thickness of the pork! Enjoy!! 🙂

  3. My husband is not a fan of pork chops (and I am) but we all enjoyed these! He even ate the leftovers for lunch the following day.  I will definitely be making this again.  Thanks for a great recipe.

    • You’re very welcome Bonnie, I’m so happy your husband liked these! My husband is the exact same. Claims he doesn’t like pork chops but he loves the pork chop recipes I make him. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!🩷

  4. We used Honey Crisp apples and two big fat boneless chops – Salted and IT seasoned for a few hours in the fridge because we ran up to watch the U of T game. Had the chops out of the fridge for about 30 min. then seared the pork fat and both sides of the chops followed your recipe after that. The sauce is awesome , I did fall off my chair for it… great recipe you can’t beat apples and pork, thanks for sharing

  5. This was delicious! I didn’t have any honey but it was still good. I love apples and pork chops. Used Gala apples.

  6. This was the most fabulous recipe., beyond delicious! Followed it exactly except only made 2 pork chops but the recipes full sauce. Pork was delicious as was the gravy and apples.

    • Hi Carol! I am soooo happy that the apple pork chops were a hit!! I was super excited about this recipe, it’s nice to have a something different to make in the Fall! Thank you so much for the review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie

  7. This recipe knocked it out of the park, my whole family was so impressed! Thank you for this one! It’s amazing.

  8. This was an excellent way to prepare pork chops! They were so tender. Marinating them with salt and pepper for 45 minutes made them extra juicy. So good! Thank you for another excellent recipe.

    • You’re very welcome Debbie🩷! Sounds like you really nailed this one, nice work! I’m extra proud of this one, it’s one of my new favorites. I think these flavors are just so perfect with pork.😋

  9. I bought a big bag of Gala apples for the kids and they weren’t eating them very fast so when I saw this recipe posted, I decided to go for it! The flavors smell and taste like Fall. We loved the sweet and salty combination. My family asked for it again next week and I absolutely will oblige!

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