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 type of one pan dinner I prefer 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 use both candy (Fuji) or tart apples (Granny Smith): I typically use a mixture of each – identical to I did in my different recipe for pan-seared pork chops with caramelized apples. The recipe requires white wine, however you’ll be able to swap in additional cider + hen inventory as a substitute. This one-pan meal is finished 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 a tremendous lunch with a easy facet dish like my apple spinach salad or beet burrata salad the subsequent 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 strive 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 rapidly 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 understand me, you understand I toss nuts on every part—so, after all, crunchy hazelnuts jumped on prime. Might I resist? Completely not. You might additionally use pistachios, toasted pecans, or pine nuts right here.
Substances & 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 like utilizing bone-in pork chops as they are typically juicy and flavorful – simply strive them in my grilled pork chops with Dijon-Honey Marinade. However you’ll be able to actually use boneless – they may prepare dinner a contact quicker. Alternatively, hen thighs, thick-cut turkey cutlets, or different thick cuts of pork (like pork tenderloin medallions) would work effectively with this recipe.
- Bacon: Pancetta or prosciutto additionally pair properly with this dish.
- Apples: I like utilizing each Honeycrisp and/or Granny Smith apples for a steadiness of candy and tart. Nevertheless, in case you simply wish to go candy, I additionally like Fuji or Pink Girl apples. You too can substitute 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 fantastic with this recipe.
- Dijon: Entire grain mustard can be an incredible 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 might be substituted.
- Shallot: Onions or leeks are good stand-ins for shallots.
- Thyme: ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme or recent rosemary can be utilized rather than thyme.
- All-purpose flour (non-compulsory): Helps the sauce coat the chops. For Gluten-free choice, use 1 teaspoon of cornstarch whisked into 1 Tablespoon of chilly cider; stir in on the finish and simmer 30–60 seconds.
Learn how to Cook dinner Pork Chops with Apples (Step-by-Step Pictures)
- Put together pork: Pat pork dry; season effectively with salt and pepper.
- Cook dinner bacon: In a big chilly skillet, prepare 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 seems dry, add somewhat oil; warmth to excessive and sear pork chops 1–2 minutes per facet till golden (not cooked by). Take away.
- Apples: Decrease warmth to medium; sauté apple wedges 1–2 minutes to only soften.
- Add shallot and thyme; prepare 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; convey to a boil, then scale back to medium-low.
- Nestle pork into the sauce, cowl loosely, and simmer gently till cooked by (145°F), about 5 minutes, and the sauce thickens. Style and regulate seasoning.
Serve with apples and sauce spooned over, topped with crispy bacon, fried sage, toasted hazelnuts, and further 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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Substances
- 2 giant thick-cut bone-in pork chops ½–¾ inch thick, round 10-12 ounces per chop (you may as well use boneless)
- Kosher salt and freshly floor pepper to style
- 5 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
- 10 leaves Contemporary sage about 10 complete 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, crimson or combined 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 prepare dinner, stirring sometimes, till bacon is golden and crispy, about 6–8 minutes. Take away with a slotted spoon and switch to a paper towel-lined plate. Go away 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 achieved 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 seems dry. Enhance 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 should 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 only 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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Enhance 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 effectively.
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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 (145°F inner temp), about 5 minutes relying on the thickness of your pork chops and the sauce begins to thicken.
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Style and regulate seasoning as wanted. Serve pork chops with apples and sauce spooned excessive. Garnish with crispy bacon, toasted hazelnuts, sage leaves, and further thyme. Mashed potatoes, wild rice, roasted root veggies, braised cabbage, or a shaved fennel and arugula salad would pair effectively with this dish. Get pleasure from!
Notes
- Use bone-in pork chops: Bone-in pork chops are extra forgiving than boneless. Ensure that to examine the temperature of your pork so it doesn’t get overcooked.
- Attempt 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 prepare 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, in case you don’t need a thicker sauce or you’re gluten free (or use gluten-free flour)
- Greatest apples: I like utilizing Honeycrisp and/or Granny Smith apples for a steadiness of candy and tart. Nevertheless, in case you 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 crimson pepper flakes or additional mustard for somewhat kick.
Storage & Reheating
- Fridge: You possibly can 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, preserve 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.
- Learn how to Reheat: You possibly can reheat the pork with sauce and apples by inserting it in a pan, coated, on low warmth, till it reaches your required temperature. You too can microwave the pork in 30 second intervals. Remember the fact that the pork will turn out to be a bit extra robust, however it can style simply as scrumptious.
You will want these provides
- Knife
- Reducing board
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Giant skillet with a lid
Diet
Serving Options
I like to stay to traditional consolation meals facet dishes with these pork chops with apples. They pair superbly with creamy garlic mashed potatoes, simple 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 crimson cabbage, or serve a easy arugula salad or spinach salad on the facet.
You too can strive 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 Attempt
- 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
