Saucy Apple Pork Chops
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Sep. 12, 2026
These Saucy Apple Pork Chops are amazingly tender, hugely flavorful, and the perfect autumn dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re easy enough for weeknight dinners yet delicious enough for weekend guests.
In This Article
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Amy’s Notes
Around here, summer recipes are coming to an end, which means the season of pumpkin spice, candles, and sweaters is upon us. Pumpkin recipes, apple recipes , maple pork chops, comforting soups, and all my favorite warm meals are making their annual comeback.
Pork chops and applesauce is classic because of it’s simplicity and it’s such a delicious combination. I take this much-loved recipe up a notch by adding maple syrup. Serve this recipe with your favorite side dishes and vegetable dishes and you’ve got a meal worth sitting down for. Here’s what everyone loves:
- So Fast: Saucy Apple Pork Chops come together in less than 30 minutes making them perfect for days when you don’t have a ton of time on your hands.
- Big Flavors: It has your favorite fall flavors. Not only does this recipe contain crisp apples, it also uses maple syrup for a savory and sweet dish.
- Super Tender: It makes tender pork chops. Pork chops can be dry if they’re not cooked right. I’m giving you our favorite tips for making sure they’re cooked to perfection.
- The sauce: Not only does this sauce contain fresh apples and maple syrup, it’s also packed with bold, earthy spices. Plus my secret ingredient.
Key Ingredients
This recipe is full of both pantry staples and seasonal ingredients that work together to make the most delicious meal.
- Apple – One fresh, crisp apple is all that’s needed for this recipe. What variety of apple you use is totally up to you. If you like a tarter flavor, try Granny Smith or Pink Lady. Or try Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp.
- Maple Syrup – This is one of the stars of this dish. We highly prefer pure maple syrup for this recipe. Syrups made specifically for pancakes that have corn syrup in them will have a much different flavor.
- Chili Powder – This earthy spice works together with the paprika to add a warm, comforting flavor and slight kick of spice to this dish.
- Paprika – Feel free to use smoked paprika for this dish to add an even stronger burst of warm, smoky flavor.
- Onion Powder – This sweet and pungent spice pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the apple and maple syrup.
- Kosher Salt – The measurements in this recipe are for Kosher salt. Note that using table salt will result in the recipe turning out too salty, because table salt crystals are finer than Kosher.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds acidity to the sauce helping to balance the sweeter flavors.
- Coarse Ground Mustard – Coarse mustard adds a zing of flavor, and the seeds bring a nice texture to the sauce.
- Thick Pork Chops – We like using center cut pork chops that are 1″ thick. You can use boneless or bone-in.
Key Tips for Tender Pork Chops
- Clean and dry the chops. We like to always give meat a little rinse before using it, just to be sure it’s clean. Make sure to thoroughly pat the pork chops dry to make sure the spices stick and to help them cook properly.
- Don’t crowd them. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to cook the pork chops in two batches. We’re looking for crispy edges and tender centers. If you over-crowd the chops, they won’t be able to crisp as nicely.
- Thicken the sauce to your liking. This sauce recipe is not a glaze. If you’re wanting to thicken your sauce more to get that glaze-consistency, simply add 1-2 TB of cornstarch to some water and dissolve it. Then add it to the sauce while it’s boiling.
- Cooking times may vary. Whether you use boneless or bone-in pork chops will alter the cooking time. For best results, we like using a food thermometer to make sure our pork chops reach just the right level of doneness. You’ll know they’re done when they reach 145 degrees.
What To Serve With Apple Pork Chops
- Potatoes: You can’t go wrong with a creamy batch of mashed potatoes served alongside pork chops. We love these simple Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and these Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes as a comforting potato side. We also think these extra crispy Smashed Potatoes would be perfect with this dish.
- Rice: We love this Wild Rice Pilaf as a healthy side to saucy apple pork chops. For a super simple side, try this Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice that’s ready in minutes.
- Veggies: We think this fresh and crunchy Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing would balance the warmness of the apple pork chops wonderfully. If you’re looking for a cooked veggie side, try these Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Sriracha or this Easy Roasted Vegetables Recipe.
- Dessert: If you’re looking for a warm fall dessert to finish of the meal, we’ve got you covered! Try these easy and delicious Pumpkin Pie Bars, this sweet and golden Gluten Free Apple Crisp, or these perfectly chewy Brown Sugar Cookies.
Saucy Apple Pork Chops
These Saucy Apple Pork Chops are amazingly tender, hugely flavorful, and the perfect autumn dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes, they're easy enough for weeknights yet good enough for weekends.
Ingredients
- 4 center cut pork chops, at least 1-inch thick (boneless or bone-in)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 medium apple, any variety, peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ cup regular strength chicken broth
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons coarse ground mustard, with seeds
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, if desired
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chili powder, paprika, onion powder, and salt.
- Use paper towels to dry excess moisture from pork chops. Press seasoning evenly over both sides of the pork chops. Set aside.
- In a saucepan set over medium-high heat, add the apple cider vinegar and reduce it by half. Stir in apples, chicken broth, maple syrup, and mustard. Bring to a boil and continue boiling (uncovered) until reduced, 6 minutes. Turn heat off. Add 1/4 tsp table salt, or to taste. Keep warm.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side (cook in 2 batches if needed; don’t crowd pan.) Reduce the heat to medium-low, with lid on but slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. Cook 2-3 more minutes or just until center is cooked; do not over cook.
- Transfer to a serving platter and serve with the maple apple sauce. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
Notes
- This sauce is au-jus style; not a thick glaze. If you want a thick glaze, simply dissolve 1-2 TB cornstarch in 1-2 TB water in a small bowl. Once fully dissolved, add it to the boiling maple-apple sauce during the boiling step.
- Bone-in pork chops will take longer to cook; you may need to add an extra minute on both sides.
- Serve Saucy Apple Pork Chops with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing for a comforting and nourishing meal.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ❤️
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 804mg | Potassium: 684mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 367IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell my pork chops are done without a food thermometer?
Press the pork chops in the center with your tongs or spatula. If they feel very soft, they are not cooked through. If they are extremely firm, they are already well done. Pork chops should be removed from heat when they feel firm, but not overly so. We don’t recommend cutting open pork chops while cooking, as the essential juices will escape.
How long do apple pork chops keep?
These pork chops will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you need them for longer, you can also freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Are boneless or bone-in pork chops better?
It really depends on what you’re looking for. Pork chops with the bone left in will be juicier and more flavorful than the boneless version. However, as long as boneless pork chops aren’t overcooked, they can still be absolutely tender and delicious. Boneless pork chops will take less time to cook.
What apples hold up best when cooked?
Some firmer varieties of apple that will hold up when cooking or baking are Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Gala.
More to Eat
- Sheet Pan Roast Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes – This sheet pan meal is perfect for week nights but fancy enough for special occasions. A bursting-with-flavor balsamic, honey, and rosemary marinade gives this dish that luxurious taste that we can’t get enough of.
- Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Gravy – Slow cooker dinners are perfect for busy schedules. You just throw everything together in the morning and come back to a hot meal that’s ready to eat. This slow cooker pork loin with gravy is the perfect warm, comforting, and absolutely delicious meal.
- Cuban Braised Pork with Mojo Sauce – This braised pork recipe is sure to impress! A fresh, vibrant Mojo sauce made with orange, cilantro, and garlic takes this dish to the next level.
- Grilled Pork Chops – These grilled pork chops are a perfect dinner for hot summer days. But what we love most about this recipe is the marinade made with soy sauce, brown sugar, and pineapple juice. It’s a meal that will leave your taste buds dancing!