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I guarantee you are going to love my recipe for Baked Pork Chops with Apples! Combining beautifully seared pork chops with sweet and tangy caramelized baked apples, this dish is mouthwatering comfort food the whole family will love. Best of all, you can make my baked pork chops and apples in just 30 minutes.
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Pork Chops with Apples in the Oven
Everyone loves a one pot dinner, especially when it can be on the table in just 30 minutes! This is why I love pork chop recipes so much, and make them all of the time, from my famous baked smothered pork chops to pork chops in the Instant Pot and air fryer. You can have them on the dinner table in no time.
My pork chops and apples is one of my favorites out of all of my recipes for pork chops. It’s a super satisfying dinner for Sunday night or a weekday meal. My kids ask me for it frequently, and now that I have grandkids, they’ve started asking me for these apple pork chops, too!
Give my recipe for baked apple pork chops a try, and let me know what you think in the comments at the bottom of the page. I’d love to hear from you!
This recipe is so delicious. It has become a family favorite at our home.
Chelsea on Pinterest
Baked Apple Pork Chops Ingredients
- Pork Chops: I’m using bone-in pork chops that are about three-fourths of an inch thick. If you use boneless pork chops or pork chops that are thicker or thinner, please keep in mind that the timing of the recipe will change. Always use a meat thermometer.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is a great choice. Light olive oil can also be used.
- Kosher Salt: Or sea salt flakes! Avoid table salt.
- Pepper: I’m using freshly cracked black pepper, but use what you have on hand.
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work. Keep in mind that dark brown sugar has a deeper molasses flavor.
- Sage Leaves: The perfect combination with apples and brown sugar. Sage is a great herb for serving with baked apple pork chops.
- Butter: If you use salted butter, make sure to taste test before adding more salt.
- Chicken Stock: I like to use my homemade stock when I have it on hand, but otherwise, any chicken stock will do. Veggie stock works in a pinch, and I’ve used my recipe for ham broth, too.
- Marsala Wine: The flavor this wine adds to baked pork chops and apples is just irresistible. You can leave it out if you prefer, but I really recommend trying it.
- Thyme Leaves: Paired with sage, thyme is a beautiful addition to pork chops and apples in the oven.
- Apples: Sliced apples of your preferred variety. I recommend using a sweeter baking apple and avoiding red delicious apples, which are not good for baking. I have a full list of suggestions for baking apples below.
How to Make Pork Chops with Apples in the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 450°F.
- While the oven is preheating, heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat on the stove.
- Rub your pork chops with olive oil, then season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Coat evenly and work the seasoning into the meat with your fingers.
- Once the skillet is hot, add the pork chops. Sear on one side for about two minutes.
- Add the sage leaves to the pan and turn the pork chops to sear the opposite side.
- Add butter to the pan and let it melt and brown a little.
- Gradually pour in the chicken stock and marsala wine.
- Mix well, then add in the thyme leaves. Bring the sauce to a boil.
- Add sliced apples to the sauce. Turn off the heat and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
- The sauce should thicken nicely. If the sauce isn’t thick enough, remove the pork chops from the pan and simmer the sauce on low on the stove.
- Serve, and enjoy!
Baked Apple Pork Chops Expert Tips
- I prefer bone-in pork chops, but boneless pork chops also work well.
- You can substitute sherry or port for the marsala wine.
- If you want a thicker sauce, transfer the pork chops to a warm plate and cover them with foil. Heat the sauce in the skillet for a few minutes until it thickens up.
- You can use bone-in or boneless pork chops in this recipe. They both work really well.
- The sweet apples are enhanced by a little kick of Marsala (a sweet wine). If you don’t have Marsala on hand, a sweet sherry or light port will do the trick.
Apple Pork Chops FAQ
Pork Chops that are approximately 1 inch thick will be in approximately 15 minutes in a 450° oven.
The safe temperature for pork chops is 145°F. I recommend always using a meat thermometer to check your meat is cooked to the proper temperature.
Best Apples for Baking with Pork Chops
I recommend these apples when baking apples because they will not fall apart during the baking process.
- Honeycrisp
- Granny Smith Apples
- Braeburn
- Rome
- Golden Delicious
- Gala
- If you haven’t tried this new variety, Rubyfrost, it is a must! Its texture and vanilla flavor make it great for snacking, but it’s sturdy enough for baking. It is a perfect choice for this dish.
- The other new variety worth mentioning is the Jazz apple. They are extra juicy with a sweet-tart flavor similar to pears. They do really well in all baked recipes.
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Baked Pork Chops with Apples
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops on the bone about ¾ inch thick
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt + pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 10-12 fresh sage leaves or substitute 2 teaspoons of dried sage
- ¼ cup butter ½ a stick of butter
- ½ cup chicken stock
- ⅛ cup marsala
- ⅛ cup fresh thyme leaves or 2 teaspoons of dried thyme
- 2 apples sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Rub the pork chops with olive oil, followed by the salt, pepper and sugar making sure it's evenly dispersed.4 pork chops, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt + pepper to taste, 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Once the skillet is hot, add the pork chops. Sear them on one side for about 2 minutes. Add the sage leaves to the pan and turn the pork chops to sear the other side.10-12 fresh sage leaves
- Add the butter to the pan a let it melt and brown a little. Gradually pour in the chicken stock and marsala. Mix well, then add the thyme leaves. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the sliced apple. Turn off the heat and transfer the skillet to the oven.¼ cup butter, ½ cup chicken stock, ⅛ cup fresh thyme leaves, 2 apples, ⅛ cup marsala
- Bake for around 12-15 minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Photo Credit: Marie Roffey
Dianna trimborn says
Should it be a dry or sweet wine
Em Beitel says
Hi Dianna! We recommend using dry marsala wine. Thank you and enjoy!
April Tifft says
Hello, I am wondering which Apple would be best for this recipe.
I know you give a list of apples that would be good. But wondering which would be the best flavor for this recipe.
I am so excited to try this new recipe looks so delicious thank you for sharing.
Isabel Laessig says
Hi, April! You really could use any apple on the list, and they will all taste great. If you’re not sure what to go for, just use golden delicious. Thank you and enjoy!
Marjorie Sovec says
How thick should the pork chops be?
Em Beitel says
Hi Marjorie! About ¾-inches thick. We used bone-in.
Alexis Jones says
I have made this multiple times with pork and it came out very good! Do you think I could substitute the pork for chicken or would that mess up the flavor? Also would that change cooking times?
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Alexis! You could definitely substitute the pork for chicken if you like! As for flavor, I don’t think it would mess it up at all – it should be very delicious. The timing depends on whether you use chicken thighs or breasts, and whether they’re bone-in or boneless, but for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, I would leave the time the same. Just make sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature – it should read 165 fahrenheit (see my chicken temperature chart [link] if you need more info). So glad you enjoy this recipe, and thank you!
Bridget says
I’m confused on the Thyme. Doesn’t an 1/8 C equal 2 T? So would it be 2 T fresh and 2 tsps dried? Sorry, my brain is struggling on the conversion.
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Bridget! You are completely correct- that was an error on our part. Thank you for pointing it out, and enjoy!