Baked alongside tender apples and glazed in a sweet apple butter sauce, these apple butter pork chops are a quick weeknight fall dinner that comes together in minutes.
Fall skillet dinners like this one have my heart now and forever! Especially if apple butter happens to be involved.
And a big juicy pork chop obviously seals the deal since we all know you can never go wrong with the almighty combo of pork + apples!
The end result is an easy skillet dinner anyone can make with only a few simple ingredients and it literally tastes like all the best parts of fall!
The beauty of a simple pork chop dinner like this is that it’s applicable for pretty much any dinner situation. Easy enough for any regular old weeknight, yet also elegant enough for a fancier occasion.
And don’t even get me started on all the side dishes that go spectacularly well with this one. Keep reading for all my recs!
These Pork Chops feature…
- A perfect sear with a juicy interior
- A sweet and tangy apple butter glaze
- Tender apples and sweet onions roasted alongside chops
Making the Pork Chops
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Pork chops
- Unsalted butter
- Vegetable oil
- Sweet onion
- Apples
- Garlic
- Apple butter
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Rosemary
Choosing Your Pork Chops
For this recipe you will need 2 lbs thick-cut bone-in pork chops. Depending on the size you buy, this should be about 3 medium chops. To prep pork chops for searing, pat them dry and trim any excess fat off the outside.
Boneless pork chops will also work for this recipe, however, be aware that they will cook much faster than bone-in. Always use a kitchen thermometer to test the internal temperature of meat and aim for 140F for pork chops.
Tips for Perfect Pork Chops
- Sear pork chops – this gives the pork a flavorful crust on the outside.
- Use the right pan – I highly recommend a cast iron skillet for searing the pork as this will give it an incredible golden crust. If you don’t own a cast iron, use a large stainless steel pan instead.
- Sauté apples and onion in drippings – this will caramelize the apples and onions and is a great use for those flavorful drippings.
- Finish cooking pork chops in oven – 8-10 minutes in a 400F oven will finish cooking the pork.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on these pork chops.
- Add more fruit – try a handful of cranberries or a sliced pear.
- Use another herb – try thyme or sage in place of the rosemary.
- Use chicken instead of pork – boneless chicken breasts or thighs will work in place of the pork chops, however, be aware they will take a bit longer to cook than the pork. Cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165F.
Serving Suggestions
This pork goes great alongside mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes or vegetables, or a big green salad. Crusty bread is also great for mopping up all that wonderful apple butter glaze.
It’s the rich apple butter that really makes this pork everything that it is! The apple butter cooks down into a thick and sweet sauce that coats those juicy pork chops to perfection. Roasted alongside fresh apples for additional fruity goodness and it hits all the right notes.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find an easier fall skillet dinner than this one right here!
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
More apple-packed dinners you’ve gotta try next!
- Apple Cider Chicken Thighs
- Caramelized Apple Brie Flatbread
- Apple Butter Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
Glazed Apple Butter Pork Chops
This recipe may included paid links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs thick-cut bone-in pork chops (about 3 chops)
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 2 small apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
- 3 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Season pork chops well all over with salt and pepper to taste.
- Heat 1 tablespoon butter and vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add pork chops in a single layer and sear 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Repeat searing with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and pork chops and transfer seared pork chops to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium and add onions and apples to drippings in pan, sautéing 2-3 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Remove pan from heat and nestle pork chops into pan or transfer everything to a larger baking dish. Set aside for a moment.
- In a small bowl, whisk apple butter, honey, and apple cider vinegar until smooth.
- Spoon half of glaze over pork chops in pan and arrange rosemary sprigs on top. Bake pork chops at 400F 8-10 minutes until pork registers 140F and apples are tender. Spoon remaining glaze over pork chops and serve warm. Enjoy!
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