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This recipe for Apple Cranberry Pork Chops brings sweet and savory goodness to your plate in just 30 minutes. A perfect weeknight meal!
Pork chops and I haven’t always been buds. I guess I spent too much of my life eating bland, overdone chops which lead to me reaching for chicken or steak in most cases. Fortunately I’d noticed enough rustic autumn recipes in magazines, similar to these Apple Cranberry Pork Chops, that swayed me into giving chops another shot.
This recipe is fantabulous. Pairing apple sauce with pork chops is nothing new, but adding actual apples, all spice, cinnamon, and dried cranberries? This is a whole other thing that needs to be served at your table while the cold weather is here. It’s really easy to put together, and your family will just mow it down – trust me. My husband is pretty iffy when it comes to pork chops, for the same reason that I was, and he loved this. He was on his knees begging for me! And then he wanted a second helping of pork chops! Ha…
Apple Cranberry Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 boneless pork chops
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Half of one large onion, minced
- 1 large apple, quartered and sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- With a paper towel, pat the pork chops dry.
- Season each side of the chops with Kosher salt and ground black pepper.
- Toss the chops in flour and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the sliced apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and allspice.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large saucepan over moderate heat.
- Bring the chops to the pan and seer them until browned on each side, approx. 2 mins. per side.
- Once each side has browned, remove from the saucepan and set aside.
- Add the other tablespoon of oil to the saucepan.
- Add the onions and simmer until softened.
- Add the apple cider or apple juice, as well as the cranberries.
- Bring to a simmer and allow the mixture to thicken, approx. 4 mins.
- Add the apples, then bring the chops back to the saucepan and toss to coat.
- Cover, and let the chops simmer until cooked through - approx. 10 mins. or until the internal temperature of the pork chops has reached 145° F.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
I just made something with apple and cranberry this week and it was the first time I used the combination, but it’s SO good; bet it’s divine with pork, this looks delicious!
Thanks, Annie! I love the combination, too. It’s perfect for this time of year!
I have the same feeling towards pork chops – mine always come out tough! But, this recipe is making me want to give them another chance. Looks like the perfect fall meal!
Hey, Tara!
It’s so easy to overcook chops – I hear ya. I mentioned in a comment above that the meat thermometer has become one of my most precious tools in the kitchen and, since I’ve started using it, I haven’t had dried/overcooked poultry or pork since! I never worry with beef, because it’s beef, but I was always so afraid to undercook poultry and pork. Now I can relax and let the thermometer tell me it’s all good. Haha.
I agree with you – pork can get so dry if you leave it just a smidge too long in the pan, or it lacks flavour completely. I love your version! Apples and cranberries go so well with pork! This is fall perfection in a skillet.
Thanks so much, Amanda! Do you have a meat thermometer? It’s honestly become one of my most precious kitchen tools. Poultry and pork are basically destroyed if overcooked, but they are also meats that you don’t want to gamble with when it comes to doneness. The meat thermometer leaves me reassured and I’ve been able to enjoy juicy, tender pork and chicken since!
Cranberries and apples….apples and pork…everything goes so well together. Perfect fall/winter dish.
Thanks, Gloria! I’ll be honest, I ate some of the leftovers cold for lunch today and wowza – they were even good cold. haha.
Pork works so well with fruit – and the sweet/sour apple cranberry combo is perfect!
I totally agree! I was thinking about how versatile pork can be and how I feel like it doesn’t get enough credit for being so. I mean sure, you could do this with chicken, but I feel like it wouldn’t have the same “Oumph!” and savoriness.
Pork Chops, apples and cranberries… Oh yum!
Right? This dish has so much going on but it all ties the dish together as a whole, which is great. Nothing seems out of place!
I love the flavor combination here! It just sounds so good and looks incredibly delicious :)
Thanks so much, Stacey!
Hi Dana,
I’ve been thinking of cooking pork chops lately because I have a wonderful organic farm close by and I know their pork products are fabulous. This recipe is perfect because I’m always craving apples this time of year and I love a quick and easy dish. Thanks!
PS…This is my first visit and your blog is truly lovely. I’ll be back :)
Hey, Robyn!
I love how wonderfully this recipe works out for you, then! Definitely let me know what you think after you’ve made these :)
And thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate that and I’m so glad that you plan to visit the blog again. I also definitely plan on visiting yours on the regular, too! I am trying to also get into the habit of commenting more. Being able to see the presence of your readership is so motivating and I want to be able to offer that.
I’m sure we will chat again soon!
Spot on! I love the combination of pork and apples. The cranberries are a nice touch too. I have some regular cranberries to use up, so that would work too.
I like to cut a cm into the fat butt, repeating three or four times for each chop. That way, when you fry them, they stay flat, and get a lot better crust. Plus the cuts form a space for the saucy buts to hide. All in all, good!
Thanks, Jason! Regular ol’ cranberries would work just fine for sure. Let me know what you think!
Hehehe, saucy buts.
Pork chop love!! I’ve never added cranberries to my rendition before but I now think I should.
You definitely should! Haha – if you do, let me know what you think!