Cast Iron Pork Chops with Apples

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Cast Iron Pork Chops with apples looks, tastes, and feels like a complex, high-class dish. But, really, it’s so easy to make! 

cast iron pork chops with apple slices.


As far as quick weeknight meals are concerned, skillet recipes are a fantastic solution!

They’re simple, not too messy, and generally, there are fewer dishes to wash – that’s always a win, right?

ingredients for pork chops with apples.

Cast Iron Pork Chops

A quick sear on high heat browns the exterior of the boneless chops, building a beautiful crust, while the center stays perfectly moist. 

When that’s all said and done, the juices in the pan are reduced and simmered with chicken stock, herbs, cinnamon and apples.

The result is an outrageously luscious and thick, fruity herb sauce. Spoon that over top of the pork, and you have a prize winning comfort food meal!!

If you love pork diners and you have a bit more time on your hands, I recommend making Mexican Carnitas or Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork!

seasoned pork chops on wood board.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Pork Chops – Using a boneless cut is best for cast iron pork chops; they’re typically the same thickness, so each chop is likely to cook at the same rate.

    Keep the cuts somewhere between ½” and ¾” thick. 
  • Light Brown Sugar – If you only have dark brown sugar. but you may notice more of the molasses flavor in your pan sauce. 
  • Chicken Stock – Stock makes up the base of the sauce for the skillet pork chops. You can use any flavor stock or broth you have on hand.
  • Apples and Cinnamon – Each is delicious on its own and becomes even more tasty when paired!
pan seared pork chops.

Best Apples for Pork Chops

Choose a firm-flesh apple that won’t fall apart when you cook it: Honeycrisp, Gala, and Golden Delicious are great choices.

Granny Smith is great if you want to cut back on the sweetness.

Serving Suggestions

The fall flavor of pork chops with apples is fantastic with sides like baked sweet potatoes or bacon hasselback potatoes.

For something green on the plate, I suggest bacon wrapped Brussel sprouts!

cooked apples in cast iron pan.

Storing and Reheating Pan Seared Pork Chops

Leftover pork is safe to eat within 4 days, as long as it’s kept in the fridge, and properly reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F. 

I recommend storing the meat separately from the apples and sauce. In fact, if you want crisp apples, you may want to slice up fresh ones to reheat with the sauce on the stove.

The whole thing can be reheated over medium heat in a skillet on the stovetop, or in a 350°F. oven. Keep the heat at medium, otherwise, you’ll risk over cooking the meat.

boneless pork chop recipe in cast iron skillet.

Cast Iron Pork Chops FAQ

How long do you pan sear pork chops?

Just about 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the cut. 

Judge the doneness by the internal temperature of the meat: 145°F is the safe internal temperature for pork consumption.

What is the best way to cook pork chops without them drying out?

It’s important to have your skillet nice and hot, getting nicely pan seared pork chops without drying out the meat through a drawn-out cooking process.

But before that, let the meat come to room temperature before cooking. Otherwise, the outside will overcook while you’re waiting for the center to cook through.

Why do people put apples in pork?

Traditionally, fruits were used to add sweetness to savory dishes without the need for sugar; that was a luxury ingredient back then!  But there’s another reason: the acid in apples actually helps you digest fats, including those found in pork. So it’s a win-win!

boneless pork chop recipe on fork.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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pan seared pork chops and apple slices.

boneless pork chop recipe with apples.

Cast Iron Pork Chops with Apples

Donna Elick
Cast Iron Pork Chops are pan seared to perfection w/ sweet cinnamon apples. My 20-minute boneless pork chops recipe is an easy dinner idea!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine American
Method Stovetop
Servings 6

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 boneless pork chops
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh herbs, (rosemary, sage and/or thyme)
  • 2 cups sliced apples, (Granny Smith, Gala or both)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Add oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Season the pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Add chops to the preheated skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer pork from the skillet to a plate and set aside.
  • Reduce heat to medium low. To the hot skillet, add chicken stock, brown sugar, herbs, apples and cinnamon. Simmer for five minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan occasionally.
  • Add the pork chops back to the skillet and drizzle sauce over them. Continue cooking until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145°F.
  • Serve pork chops with apples on the side and a drizzle of sauce on top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 301cal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 289mg | Sugar: 10g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
cast iron pork chops closeup.

Originally published October 2011, updated and republished September 2022

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3 Comments

  1. First time preparing this dish last night, and it turned out great! Early prep of the apples, made the dish quick and easy while visiting with guests!

  2. 5 stars
    This was a super quick and easy recipe, definitely helps to prep the apples before like someone else commented. This tasted amazing, my husband loved it.

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