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Roasted Pork Chops with Apples is a magically flavorful main dish! Perfectly seared then oven roasted pork chops with cider-spiced apples, bacon, and garlic unleashes so many aromas and flavors that will make your home smell amazing!
Have you ever had a piece of meat that was so good you wished your whole life was made out of it?
These roasted pork chops are precisely that for me.
I made this recipe for the first time back in 2014, and after re-visiting it recently, I just knew I needed to share it again.
The aromas wafting through your kitchen while you prepare the meal are so divine, you’ll wish they could swaddle you like a blanket and whisper sweet nothings in your ear.
Because the flavor meld is so pitch perfect in this dish, I recommend following the recipe to the T without any substitutions (unless you’re subbing the apples for pears and the bacon for more bacon, in which case, let loose).
The original recipe was inspired by Cooking Light’s Oven-Baked Pork and Apples, but I have since refined my earlier variation on it to make it both easier and even tastier.
Free taste bud advice: if you can get a hunk of pork, slice of apple, and plenty of garlic and bacon on your fork in a single bite, you’re looking at an intergalactic foodgasm.
While at first glance, this skillet pork chops recipe may seem complex, it actually makes for an easy weeknight dinner. These great pork chops will surely get rave reviews from the whole family.
Let’s get into the ingredients, because each one is just so special for making the best baked pork chops.
Ingredients for Roasted Pork Chops:
Bacon: Two forms of pork in this pork chops recipe! Bacon is used not only to add flavor to the dish, but also to render drippings for searing the pork. I always use quality thick-cut bacon that is sugar-free and nitrate-free.
If you aren’t into bacon, you can skip it and use 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil for searing the thick chops.
Pork Chops: Use bone-in pork chops for the best result. Bone-in pieces always add more flavor and result in a more tender meat, so this is generally my recommendation whenever possible. Plus, bone-in pork chops tend to have a nice ring of fat around the edge, which is just so tasty!
You can use boneless pork chops if you’d like, just beware that the bone is where it’s at 😉
Garlic: Adding enormous flavor to any dish, fresh garlic helps build robust rich flavors in this easy recipe for pork chops.
Fresh Rosemary: Bringing a zingy earthy counterbalance to the otherwise very rich meal, rosemary gifts an incredible freshness to the dish. You can replace it with fresh thyme if you’d like, but I definitely recommend using a fresh herb here!
Spiced Apple Cider: A small amount of liquid goes into the skillet for braising pork chops, and I’ve learned that spiced apple cider is the liquid for the job! It adds a subtle sweetness and rounds out the flavor profile.
You can also use chicken broth, but I much prefer the cider version. If you can’t find spiced apple cider, regular apple cider works too. Just be sure whatever you use is not loaded with added sugar.
Sea Salt & Pepper: Used to season the pork chops, kosher salt and black pepper go a long way in enhancing all of the flavors so that each one shines. You can also add garlic powder if you have it on hand, but doing so isn’t necessary.
For the Apples: Fresh apples, spiced apple cider, pure maple syrup (brown sugar works too), cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
All these ingredients get stewed together in a saucepan until the apples are nice and tender and aromatic.
We serve the pork with these amazing apples for an incredibly palatable experience.
How Long to Roast Pork Chops in the Oven:
The exact amount of cooking time required to cook pork chops in the oven depends on the size of the pork chops and their temperature going into the oven.
Pork chops vary in size greatly! Some of them are rather small and thin, whereas some are very large and very thick.
For this reason, the best way of ensuring you get a perfect cook on the pork chops is to first sear both sides to golden-brown perfection and then use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meat during the roasting process.
Pork is fully cooked at 165 degrees F, so aim for this temperature or a little lower, as it will continue to cook once it’s resting out of the oven.
Thinner pork chops will need about 3 to 4 minutes per side for searing and an additional 6 to 8 minutes in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thick pork chops will need about 5 minutes per side to get a good sear, and an additional 10 to 15 minutes in the oven.
Avoid a dry pork chop by using a thermometer!
Let’s make these seared pork chops, shall we?
How to Make Roasted Pork Chops:
Prepare the Cider-Spiced Apples:
Begin by preparing the stewed apples. Add all of the ingredients for the apples to a saucepan, cover, and bring it to a full boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and cook until the apples have softened to your desired doneness, about 10 to 20 minutes. Set the stewed apple aside until you’re ready to serve.
Make the Pork Chops:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat a large cast iron skillet (or oven-safe skillet) over medium-high heat and cook the bacon until crispy, flipping occasionally. Transfer the bacon to a plate or cutting board and return the skillet with the bacon drippings to the stove top to cook the pork chops.
Season both sides of the pork chops with sea salt and pepper. Once the skillet is sizzling hot (if it isn’t already), carefully transfer pork chops in the hot skillet.
Sear for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown. If there is a ring of fat around the edge, be sure to give the fat a quick sear for a minute or two as well so that it becomes a little crispy.
Once the pork chops are nicely seared, immediately transfer the garlic, rosemary, apple cider, and vinegar to the skillet. Be careful with this step, as the skillet is very hot and the liquid will sizzle once it hits the skillet. Just be sure to keep your hands and face out of the way.
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and roast for 6 to 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork chops reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remember, the cook time will vary depending on how large and thick your chops are. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chop to check the temperature so that they don’t become overcooked.
Chop the bacon into small bits and sprinkle it over the finished pork chops.
Serve pork chops with the cider-spiced apples, and any additional choice of side dishes.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
I like this delicious pork chops recipe with some form of rice or mashed potatoes in order to soak up some of the delicious sauce that’s left in the pan. Green beans is always a classic side for roasted pork chops.
What to Serve with Pork Chops:
Here are some of my favorite healthy side dishes to serve with this easy pork chops recipe.
Apple Cider Glazed Roasted Carrots with RosemaryLemon Garlic Rosemary RiceRoasted Garlic Mashed CauliflowerRoasted Sweet Potato Salad with Spinach and GrapesCreamy Mashed Rutabaga with Caramelized OnionsRoasted Brussel Sprouts with Garlic and LemonSmashed Sweet Potatoes
I hope you love this easy, tender juiciest pork chops recipe as much as we do!
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Roasted Pork Chops and Apples
Yield: 2 ServingsPrep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes
Amazing roasted pork chops with apples and garlic is HUGE on flavor and so easy to make for a show-stopping dinner. Rosemary and bacon play crucial supportive roles here!
Ingredients
For the Pork Chops
3 strips thick cut bacon2 bone-in pork chops*Salt, pepper, and paprika2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped1/3 cup unsweetened spiced apple cider1 tablespoon cider vinegar4 cloves garlic, minced
For the Cider-Spiced Apples:
2 large apples, peeled and sliced**¼ cup unsweetened spiced apple cider2 tablespoons pure maple syrup1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely choppedPinch ground cinnamon¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Prepare the Apples:
1. Add all of the ingredients for the apples to a saucepan, cover, and bring it to a full boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and cook until the apples have softened to your desired doneness, about 10 to 20 minutes. Set aside until ready to serve.
Make the Pork Chops:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Heat a large cast iron skillet (or oven-safe skillet) over medium-high heat and cook the bacon until crispy, flipping occasionally. Transfer the bacon to a plate or cutting board and return the skillet with the bacon drippings to the stove top to cook the pork chops.
3. Season both sides of the pork chops with sea salt and pepper. Once the skillet is sizzling hot (if it isn’t already), carefully transfer pork chops in the hot skillet. Sear for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown. If there is a ring of fat around the edge, be sure to give the fat a quick sear for a minute or two as well so that it becomes a little crispy.
4. Once the pork chops are nicely seared, immediately transfer the garlic, rosemary, apple cider, and vinegar to the skillet. Be careful with this step, as the skillet is very hot and the liquid will sizzle once it hits the skillet. Just be sure to keep your hands and face out of the way.
5. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and roast for 6 to 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork chops reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember, the cook time will vary depending on how large and thick your chops are. To check the internal temperature, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chop.
6. Chop the bacon into small bits and sprinkle it over the finished pork chops.
7. Serve pork chops with the cider-spiced apples, and any additional choice of side dishes.
Notes
*You can make as many pork chops as you would like by searing the pork in batches. Only two large chops will fit in a 10-inch cast iron skillet at a time, so if you make more than two pork chops, place them in a large casserole dish when you roast them, and add more apple cider.
**I use honeycrisp apples but you can select any apples you love.
Nutrition Information
Yield 2Serving Size 1 Serving (of 2)
Amount Per ServingCalories 645Total Fat 21gUnsaturated Fat 0gCarbohydrates 29gSugar 23gProtein 93g
