Description
A simple, 5-ingredient weeknight dinner featuring thick-cut pork chops glazed with a sweet and savory apple cider reduction. This beginner-proof recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and delivers dinner-party-level flavor with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in or boneless pork chops (about 1-inch thick)
- 2 medium firm apples (such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), sliced into ¼-inch wedges
- 1 cup apple cider (not juice cocktail)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- Salt and black pepper to taste (approx. ½ teaspoon salt for chops)
Instructions
- Pat pork chops dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once melted and foaming, add pork chops.
- Sear chops for 3-4 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Remove chops to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Add sliced apples and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden.
- Pour in the apple cider and sprinkle in the cinnamon. Scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the mixture reduces by half and thickens slightly.
- Return pork chops to the skillet, nesting them into the apples and glaze. Spoon glaze over the top.
- Simmer for 2-3 minutes until pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145°F and the glaze is sticky.
- Serve immediately, spooning extra glaze and apples over the top.
Notes
Do not crowd the pan; cook in batches if making more than four chops. Use thick-cut chops (1-inch) to prevent drying out. Ensure the cider reduces to a syrupy consistency for the best glaze. Pork is done at 145°F. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Do not freeze as apples may become mushy.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pork chop with app
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: pork chops, apple cider glaze, cinnamon, easy dinner, weeknight meals, 5-ingredient recipes, autumn recipes, skillet dinner