Pork
Apple Cider Pork Chops
Seared bone-in pork chops finished in a tangy apple cider and Dijon pan sauce with soft sliced apples.
- Prep
- 15 mins
- Cook
- 30 mins
- Total
- 45 mins
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Easy
Thick bone-in chops stay juicy when you sear them hard, then finish them gently in the sauce. Reducing the cider by about half gives the sauce real body, and a spoonful of Dijon keeps it from tasting too sweet. Pull the chops at 145°F (63°C) and let them rest.
Ingredients
Serves 4
Directions
- Take the chops out of the fridge 20 minutes ahead. Pat them very dry and season both sides with 1 tsp of the salt and the pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Sear the chops 3 to 4 minutes per side until deep golden brown, then move them to a plate. They will not be cooked through yet.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add 1 tbsp of the butter. Add the apples and shallot with the remaining 1/2 tsp salt and cook 4 minutes, stirring, until the apples start to brown at the edges.
- Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds, then pour in the cider and broth, scraping up the browned bits. Add the mustard and thyme and simmer 6 to 8 minutes until the liquid has reduced by about half and looks slightly syrupy.
- Nestle the chops and any juices back into the skillet, spooning sauce over them. Simmer gently, turning once, for 4 to 6 minutes until an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part reads 145°F (63°C).
- Move the chops to a plate and rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the remaining 1 tbsp butter and the vinegar into the sauce and discard the thyme stems.
- Spoon the apples and sauce over the chops and serve with mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles.
Tips and make-ahead notes
- Choose chops at least 1 inch thick; thin chops overcook before the sauce reduces.
- Use a firm baking apple such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith so the wedges hold their shape.
- Leftovers keep 3 days in the fridge; reheat gently in a covered skillet with a splash of broth.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 440
- Carbohydrates
- 20g
- Protein
- 35g
- Fat
- 24g
- Fiber
- 2g
- Sodium
- 720mg
Estimated. Values change with brands, portion sizes and substitutions.
