Crispy pork chops and applesauce is a must-try and one of the best combos ever. Quick to prepare and oh-so-tasty, it’s an easy-peasy, fuss-free dinner option for any night of the week.
How to Make Pork Chops and Applesauce
- Prep the pork chops. Season pork chops with garlic powder, salt, paprika, thyme, and pepper. Lightly coat them with flour. In a skillet, sauté apples and onions in butter for 5 minutes. Mix with applesauce, mustard, salt, sugar, pepper, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Sear. In the same skillet, melt more butter and cook the pork chops for about 3 minutes per side until golden. Remove from heat.
- Bake and serve. Spoon the applesauce mixture over the pork chops and bake in the skillet at 350°F for 25 minutes. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired, then serve.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions
To Make Ahead: Pork with applesauce can be prepared the day before. Keep the sauce and the pork separate and bake just before serving. After cooking, keep the pork in the refrigerator.
To Freeze: Cook the pork as instructed and make the sauce. Keep the sauce and the pork separate and freeze them both for up to three months. Once ready, leave the pork and the sauce in the refrigerator overnight to defrost, then cover the pork in the applesauce mixture and bake as instructed.
Pork Chop Recipe Variations
Maple mustard pork chops: Swap the brown sugar with maple syrup and omit the applesauce. Mix two tablespoons of maple syrup with one tablespoon of Dijon mustard for a sweet and savory glaze.
Honey garlic pork chops: Replace the brown sugar and Dijon mustard with two tablespoons of honey and two cloves of minced garlic. Brush the honey mixture onto the pork chops before baking.
Spiced apple pork chops: Add a spicy twist by mixing half a teaspoon of powdered ginger with the same amount of cayenne pepper. Add the mixture to the flour before coating the pork chops.
Herb-crusted pork chops: Replace the paprika, garlic powder, and dried thyme with one tablespoon of chopped fresh rosemary and one tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley for a fragrant herb crust.
Pork Chops and Applesauce
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 ½-inch thick pork chops
- 2 tbsp flour
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 ½ cup applesauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- fresh thyme for serving, optional
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Season the pork chops with paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt and black pepper.
- Place the flour on a small plate.
- Lightly pat the pork chops with flour. Set aside.
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large oven safe skillet over medium heat.
- Add the apples and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until tender.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
- Add the mustard, applesauce, sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Set aside.
- Melt the remaining butter in the skillet.
- Add the pork chops and cook 3 minutes per side or until golden.
- Remove from the heat.
- Top with applesauce mixture.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Top with fresh thyme (if using) and serve.
Notes
- Flouring tip: Instead of patting the flour onto the chops, sprinkle a thin layer of flour on a plate and put the chops on top. Press down lightly to get the flour to stick. Repeat on the other side.
- Browning tip: Make sure the pan is properly hot before searing the pork. The hot pan will help lock in the juices, keeping the pork tender and moist throughout the baking process.
- Resting tip: Let the pork chops rest for five to ten minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute for juicier meat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
