Pan-fried pork chops with apples is an easy, one-skillet recipe with a delicious Dijon sauce!

Tender boneless chops, onions, and sweet juicy red apples are gently simmered to tender perfection. This dish is great served with mashed potatoes or even over homemade egg noodles.

Fried Pork Chops with Apples in a frying pan

Ingredients & Variations

PORK CHOPS
Boneless chops are used in this recipe. Choose thicker chops (.75″ – 1″ in thickness), each about the same size, for even cooking.

APPLES
Any type of apple will pair perfectly with the pork chops but I find red apples have a thinner skin that doesn’t get tough and they are a bit sweeter. If you prefer, the apples can be peeled first.

SAUCE
Apple cider (the drink, not apple cider vinegar), dijon mustard, garlic, and thyme are whisked together to create an amazing sauce!

Most of the ingredients for this recipe are probably already on hand, but notice the recipe calls for apple cider, not apple cider vinegar!

Technically, any kind of mustard will do, but Dijon (or a stronger grainy mustard) gives the sauce a depth that yellow mustard can’t.

ingredients to make Fried Pork Chops with Apples

How to Fry Pork Chops

The best way to fry the pork chops in this recipe is to sear the outside, not to fully cook them as they will finish off in the sauce after the other ingredients are added.

Pork chops can (and should) be served a little bit pink in the middle and cooked to about 145°F on an instant-read thermometer. Do not overcook.

  1. Brown pork chops on each side in the skillet. Set aside.

pork chops frying in a pan

  1. Cook onions & apples until soft, combine sauce ingredients (per recipe below).

process of frying ingredients to make Fried Pork Chops with Apples

  1. Add pork chops back to the pan and simmer until tender and cooked through. (do not overcook)

Serve pork chops with apples with: garlic mashed potatoes, rice, roasted sweet potatoes, or Parmesan roasted broccoli. And don’t forget some homemade French bread to soak up that savory sauce!

cut Fried Pork Chops with Apples on a white plate with rice

Tips for Juicy Chops

  • For even more amazing flavor, use leftover bacon grease for frying the chops!
  • When preparing the apples, make sure they are evenly and thinly sliced so they cook at the same rate. Whether or not to peel them is purely the cook’s choice. Unpeeled apples will add a bit more color and fiber to the dish, however, peeled apples make the dish a little more elegant.
  • Pork chops should reach an internal temp of 145°F at the thickest point. Once the skillet is removed from the stove, they will still continue to cook.

More Perfect Pork Chops

Did you make these Fried Pork Chops? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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Fried Pork Chops with Apples

These fried pork chops with apples are cooked in an apple-dijon sauce until tender and flavorful!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

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Ingredients  

  • 4 boneless loin chops about 1” thick
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ red onion sliced
  • 2 large tart apples sliced
  • ⅔ cup apple cider or as needed, not apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons whole grain dijon mustard
  • ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme or ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Instructions 

  • Season pork chops with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown pork chops about 5 minutes on each side or until browned (be sure not to overcook the pork). Remove from the pan, and set on a plate.
  • Add butter and onions to the skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes or until onions start to soften. Add apples and continue to cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Whisk apple cider, mustard, and cinnamon, and add to the skillet with thyme. Simmer 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the pork chops, along with any juices on the plate, back into the skillet.
  • Push the pork chops down into the apples. Simmer an additional 2-3 minutes or until the sauce has cooked down slightly and the pork reaches 145°F with a meat thermometer.

Notes

*Ensure you are using apple cider and not apple cider vinegar in this recipe.
Pork chops can (and should) be served a little bit pink in the middle and cooked to about 145°F on an instant-read thermometer. Do not overcook. Keep in mind that the pork chops will continue to cook a little bit once removed from the heat.
If using a very large skillet, the cider may evaporate quickly and you may need to add a little bit extra.
Red apples (or thinner skinned apples) can be peeled if preferred. If using thicker-skinned apples, they should be peeled to keep the skins from being tough.
5 from 75 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 430 | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 165mg | Potassium: 764mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 172IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Pork
Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. These are sooo good. I didn’t have apple cider so I used pineapple juice. They came out so flavorful and tender. This is my new favorite pork chop recipe! I will definitely be making these again.5 stars

    Reply

  2. Very, very good and easy to make. My husband really enjoyed it. Thank you again for another great recipe.5 stars

    Reply

  4. I wish you would’ve never even mentioned apple cider vinegar because guess what I put in‍♀️ Hopefully it’s still good lol

    Reply

    1. Oh no! I am sorry for the confusion. I hope you were still able to enjoy it!

      Reply

  5. This was pretty good overall ! I think it would be better with thicker chops; however, I did not have them. I will make this again with that in mind.5 stars

    Reply