These Pork Chops with Apples and Bacon are braised in a tangy-sweet apple cider and Dijon sauce with sautéed apples, crispy bacon, and fried sage. Your new favourite 30-minute one-pan skillet meal.
Pork Chops with Apples (30 Minutes, One-Pan)
That is the form of one pan dinner I wish to make when the climate turns chilly and wet and I’m craving one thing comforting however nonetheless weeknight-easy. I’ll throw on a sweater, crisp the bacon, and let that cider bubble away whereas I set the desk. You should utilize both candy (Fuji) or tart apples (Granny Smith): I usually use a mixture of each – similar to I did in my different recipe for pan-seared pork chops with caramelized apples. The recipe requires white wine, however you possibly can swap in additional cider + hen inventory as an alternative. This one-pan meal is completed in about half-hour with minimal cleanup. Pork chops and apples pair completely with my garlic mashed potatoes, my crispy Brussels sprouts, and easy inexperienced beans. Leftovers (if there are any) make an incredible lunch with a easy facet dish like my apple spinach salad or beet burrata salad the following day. I additionally wouldn’t be embarrassed to serve these pork chops and apples for informal entertaining—the dish at all times seems fairly, colourful, and company-worthy! I additionally extremely suggest you attempt my apple-cider braised pork shoulder and pork ragu pappardelle!
Recipe Highlights
- Apple-cider pan sauce: I thicken the cider with a contact of flour (non-compulsory) and Dijon so the sauce clings to the pork and apples—silky, shiny, and never watery.
- Juicy pork: I shortly sear the pork chops for golden crust to lock in moisture, then proceed cooking it gently in sauce to 145°F; this two-step course of retains chops tender, by no means dry.
- Crispy sage & bacon for texture: I fry recent sage within the bacon drippings—these crackly leaves plus smoky bacon bits add a lot taste and crunch!
- Hazelnuts: If you recognize me, you recognize I toss nuts on all the pieces—so, in fact, crunchy hazelnuts jumped on prime. Might I resist? Completely not. You can additionally use pistachios, toasted pecans, or pine nuts right here.
Elements & Substitutions
- Pork chops: I used 2 thick-cut bone-in pork chops (½–¾ inch thick), round 10-12 ounces per chop as bone-in chop render additional taste. I really like utilizing bone-in pork chops as they are typically juicy and flavorful – simply attempt them in my grilled pork chops with Dijon-Honey Marinade. However you possibly can actually use boneless – they are going to cook dinner a contact quicker. Alternatively, hen thighs, thick-cut turkey cutlets, or different thick cuts of pork (like pork tenderloin medallions) would work nicely with this recipe.
- Bacon: Pancetta or prosciutto additionally pair properly with this dish.
- Apples: I really like utilizing each Honeycrisp and/or Granny Smith apples for a stability of candy and tart. Nevertheless, if you happen to simply wish to go candy, I additionally like Fuji or Pink Girl apples. You can even change the apples with very unripe pears of your alternative!
- White wine: I normally use Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. Change the wine with hen broth + 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar or lemon juice.
- Apple cider (not vinegar): Apple juice and even pear juice will work simply high-quality with this recipe.
- Dijon: Complete grain mustard can be a terrific swap for the Dijon. I wouldn’t use yellow mustard because it’s too sharp/bitter right here.
- Hazelnuts: Toasted pecans, walnuts, chopped almonds, and even pine nuts will be substituted.
- Shallot: Onions or leeks are good stand-ins for shallots.
- Thyme: ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme or recent rosemary can be utilized instead of thyme.
- All-purpose flour (non-compulsory): Helps the sauce coat the chops. For Gluten-free possibility, use 1 teaspoon of cornstarch whisked into 1 Tablespoon of chilly cider; stir in on the finish and simmer 30–60 seconds.
Prepare dinner Pork Chops with Apples (Step-by-Step Photographs)
- Put together pork: Pat pork dry; season nicely with salt and pepper.
- Prepare dinner bacon: In a big chilly skillet, cook dinner chopped bacon over medium till crisp, 6–8 minutes; take away to a paper towel–lined plate, leaving drippings.
- Fry sage leaves 30 seconds till darkish and the crackling stops; switch with bacon.
- Sear pork chops: If the pan appears to be like dry, add just a little oil; warmth to excessive and sear pork chops 1–2 minutes per facet till golden (not cooked by means of). Take away.
- Apples: Decrease warmth to medium; sauté apple wedges 1–2 minutes to simply soften.
- Add shallot and thyme; cook dinner till shallot softens, ~3 minutes.
- Sprinkle in flour (if utilizing) and stir to coat.
- Pour in wine, enhance warmth to medium-high, and scrape up browned bits; scale back 1 minute.
- Stir in apple cider and Dijon; deliver to a boil, then scale back to medium-low.
- Nestle pork into the sauce, cowl loosely, and simmer gently till cooked by means of (145°F), about 5 minutes, and the sauce thickens. Style and modify seasoning.
Serve with apples and sauce spooned over, topped with crispy bacon, fried sage, toasted hazelnuts, and additional thyme. Nice with mashed potatoes, wild rice, roasted roots, braised cabbage, or a shaved fennel–arugula salad.
Pork Chops with Apples and Bacon
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Elements
- 2 giant thick-cut bone-in pork chops ½–¾ inch thick, round 10-12 ounces per chop (you can even use boneless)
- Kosher salt and freshly floor pepper to style
- 5 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
- 10 leaves Recent sage about 10 entire leaves, for crisping
- 1 tablespoon olive oil if wanted, for searing
- 1 giant candy or tart apple skin-on, reduce into 8 items and cored (or 3 small apples, purple or blended with inexperienced)
- 1 giant shallot sliced
- 1 tablespoon recent thyme leaves roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour non-compulsory, to thicken sauce
- ¼ cup dry white wine Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
- 1 ¼ cup apple cider (NOT apple cider vinegar) or recent apple juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Garnishes
- Toasted hazelnuts
- Thyme leaves
Directions
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Pat the pork dry with paper towels, and season generously with salt and pepper on all sides. Put aside.
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In a big skillet, add the chopped bacon to a chilly pan. Flip warmth to medium and cook dinner, stirring often, till bacon is golden and crispy, about 6–8 minutes. Take away with a slotted spoon and switch to a paper towel-lined plate. Depart drippings within the pan.
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Add the sage leaves and fry for 30 seconds till crisp. A great way to know if they’re accomplished is when the sage is darkish and the sound of crackling oil is gone. Take away and put aside with the bacon.
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Add olive oil to the skillet if the pan appears to be like dry. Improve warmth to excessive and warmth till you see the drippings start to smoke. Sear pork chops 1-2 minutes per facet, till golden. (They don’t must be absolutely cooked but.) Take away and put aside.
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Decrease the warmth to medium and saute the apples for about 1-2 minutes to simply soften them ever so barely.
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Add the shallots, and thyme till the shallots are simply softened, about 3 minutes.
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Sprinkle flour (if utilizing) over the shallot apple combination and coat.
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Improve warmth to medium-high. Add white wine and scrape up any browned bits from the underside. Let it scale back for about 1 minute.
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Stir in apple cider and Dijon mustard. Combine nicely.
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Deliver to a boil, then scale back warmth to medium-low. Nestle the pork chops into the pan, cowl loosely, and simmer gently till pork is cooked by means of (145°F inside temp), about 5 minutes relying on the thickness of your pork chops and the sauce begins to thicken.
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Style and modify seasoning as wanted. Serve pork chops with apples and sauce spooned excessive. Garnish with crispy bacon, toasted hazelnuts, sage leaves, and additional thyme. Mashed potatoes, wild rice, roasted root veggies, braised cabbage, or a shaved fennel and arugula salad would pair nicely with this dish. Take pleasure in!
Notes
- Use bone-in pork chops: Bone-in pork chops are extra forgiving than boneless. Ensure that to verify the temperature of your pork so it doesn’t get overcooked.
- Strive to not slice the apples too skinny. Slicing a big apple into eight items maintains the construction and helps them maintain their form for not solely visible enchantment, however for textural causes.
- Beginning with a chilly pan to cook dinner the bacon permits the fats to be rendered slowly and evenly for crisp items and helps to make sure the bacon doesn’t burn.
- Omit the flour, if you happen to don’t need a thicker sauce or you’re gluten free (or use gluten-free flour)
- Finest apples: I really like utilizing Honeycrisp and/or Granny Smith apples for a stability of candy and tart. Nevertheless, if you happen to simply wish to go candy, I additionally like Fuji or Pink Girl apples.
Variations
- Creamy: Add about 2-3 tablespoons of heavy cream, mascarpone, or creme fraiche on the finish of cooking for a silky sauce.
- Spice: Add a pinch or extra of purple pepper flakes or additional mustard for just a little kick.
Storage & Reheating
- Fridge: You may retailer the cooled leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days within the fridge. In case you are making this forward of time, hold the fried sage saved individually on the counter to take care of texture.
- Freezer: I extremely suggest not freezing this dish, as it can degrade the feel of the apples and dry out the pork.
- Reheat: You may reheat the pork with sauce and apples by putting it in a pan, coated, on low warmth, till it reaches your required temperature. You can even microwave the pork in 30 second intervals. Take into account that the pork will change into a bit extra powerful, however it can style simply as scrumptious.
You may want these provides
- Knife
- Reducing board
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Giant skillet with a lid
Diet
Serving Strategies
I like to stay to basic consolation meals facet dishes with these pork chops with apples. They pair fantastically with creamy garlic mashed potatoes, straightforward scalloped potatoes, sautéed inexperienced beans, roasted brussels sprouts, or wild rice. My household additionally likes to pour the apple cider sauce over buttered egg noodles, braised purple cabbage, or serve a easy arugula salad or spinach salad on the facet.
You can even attempt these hearty and wholesome sides: cauliflower mash, farro with parsley and lemon, roasted Brussels sprouts with pine nuts, and mushroom and spinach quinoa.
Different Pork Recipes To Strive
- Creamy Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Orzo, Spinach, and Mushrooms
- Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
- Creamy Mushroom Pork Chops
- Braised Pork Ragu Pappardelle
- Marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Pineapple, Grilled Veggies, and Garlic Herb Butter
- Grilled Marinated Pork Chops and Mango Salsa
- Peach Bourbon Glazed Grilled Pork Chops
