Skillet Pork Chops With Apples Recipe

Delicious meals often incorporate unexpected pairings that work like a charm. Take pork chops and apples, for example, which recipe developer Kate Shungu describes as "a classic fall combination." Shungu created a tasty recipe featuring this duo, and she spends plenty of time revisiting vintage recipes on her food blog Gift of Hospitality. Shungu explains that this match is a total success because, "The savory pork pairs really well with the sweet, tart apples." There's no shortage of ideas for baked goods that evoke the fall season, but Shungu's recipe for skillet pork chops and apples is a great option for a main course.

Not only is this recipe tasty and seasonal, but it also comes together in under 30 minutes, which makes it absolutely perfect for any night of the week. Thanks to the rich flavors, a simple side dish is all you need to complete the meal. For a different take on pork chops, you'll want to try your hand at this sweet and savory recipe. It also makes a deceptively impressive dish to serve guests without having to spend hours in the kitchen before their arrival.

First of all, gather the ingredients you'll need for this tasty pork chops and apples dish. For starters, you'll need some olive oil to cook the meat in a skillet. If you regularly use a different type of oil for cooking meat, then use what you're used to. Next, you'll need four bone-in pork chops, one for each portion. When cooking meat, a generous pre-seasoning with salt and pepper makes a difference in flavor and texture.

For the apples, you'll want to use butter to add richness and flavor to the fruit. Once you incorporate some brown sugar and cinnamon, the aromatic caramelized flavors are especially highlighted. As for the apples, Shungu uses Gala, but she says, "I recommend choosing your favorite apple — many varieties are delicious in this dish!" Finally, to add an herbal element to the completed dish, some chopped fresh parsley is the perfect touch.

Set out a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat, and pour in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once it is hot, add the pork chops to the pan — you may have to work in batches depending on the size of your skillet. Cook the pork chops until they have browned and cooked through on both sides, it should take about three to four minutes per side. Once you've cooked the four pork chops, transfer them all to a plate. Cover the plate with tin foil to keep the heat from escaping, and set it aside.

Now that the meat is cooked, you're ready to move on to the apples. Without wiping it out first, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet that you used for the pork chops. The flavors from the meat will add an extra element to the apples that you won't want to skip! With the pan on medium heat, add the sliced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon to the butter. Cook the apples, occasionally stirring them for five to six minutes until they are tender.

Once the apple mixture is ready, transfer the pork chops from the plate to a larger serving platter. Pour the cooked apples on top of the pork, making sure to add all of the juices. Chop some fresh parsley to sprinkle on top for a final garnish, and serve up these delicious skillet pork chops with apples. Shungu is a fan of the combination and notes, "The apples have the perfect amount of sweetness to complement the pork chops nicely."

For an easy side dish to go with this flavorful main, Shungu suggests "serving the pork chops with rice or mashed potatoes, with roasted broccoli on the side." If you have extras she adds, "Leftovers can be stored for three to four days in the refrigerator."