This is a recipe I crave time and time again when I need something savory and sweet but cozy and a bit rustic. The savory notes of pork chops combine with the sweet notes of caramelized apples and onions to create the perfect meal that is not only healthy, but extremely satisfying and quick to create! Please meet: Pan Seared Pork Chops + Caramelized Apples, Onions & Garlic!
I talk about purchasing super high quality meats whenever possible. We are lucky enough to know a farmer who treats his animals like royalty. I’m pretty sure that the cows and pigs he raises wear crowns and get sung to each and every day. (Kidding…not kidding.) The beef we buy is grass fed and the pork is pasture & barley pork. No corn fillers or by-products here…just good old fashioned farming practices at its finest.
Feel free to use whatever apple type suits your fancy here or what you have on hand. I regularly stock Honeycrisp in my refrigerator, however tart green apples would work nicely here. So would Gala or Fuji. The only one I would shy away from is Red Washington; they get a little “mushy” when cooked at high temps. Just pick a firmer apple type that holds up in heat.
Lastly…as most of you know, I use recipes merely as “suggestions.” If you find that you’d like to add a sprig or fresh rosemary to the dish…by all means, throw that sprig in there! How delicious! Sage or thyme would also be a fantastic flavor additions. If you have leftover herbs in the fridge from the holidays, here’s the time to use them.
And, if you loved this recipe, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my newsletter to receive recipes and adventures first hand! After that, give my recipe for Chimichurri Steak + Mixed Greens a try…you’ll never go back to your old ways!
Until next time…Eat Well, Travel Often & Love Much.
xoxo
Pan Seared Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples, Onions & Garlic
If you crave the decadent, richness of a seared pork chop with the caramelized goodness or apples & onions, you've found heaven right here! If you need even more sweetness, add another apple to the mix...it won't hurt!
Ingredients
- 3-4 1/2-1 inch pork chops, (I use bone-in)
- 2 apples, thinly sliced (your choice...I use Honeycrisp because that's what we regularly stock in our fridge, green tart apples are great here as well)
- 1 onion, finely sliced
- 2-3 cloves of garlic (if you know me, this means 3-4)
- sea salt + freshly ground black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil or ghee
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Step 2 In a large skillet, place a small amount of extra virgin olive oil (hereafter referred to as EVOO) and bring the pan up to a hot temp with a medium to medium high heat.
- Step 3 Season the chops liberally with s & p and place the chops, seasoned side down, in the hot pan. We want a nice sear here so don’t flip until your chops give way and are ready to be flipped. Season the top side with s & p, then flip. The total searing should take 5-7 minutes.
- Step 4 Once seared, remove the chops and set aside.
- Step 5 Add the sliced onions and saute for a few minutes until slightly tender.
- Step 6 Add the apples and salt and pepper liberally.
- Step 7 Saute until both become slightly tender and add the garlic, if using.
- Step 8 Add the chops back into the pan and nestle the apples and onions around the chops. Place the saute pan in the oven to finish cooking the pork chops through. The time to finish cooking will depend on the thickness of the chops, so probably 10-15 minutes.
- Step 9 Remove from the oven and serve each chop with a generous portion of apples & onions~Enjoy!
Who would have thought onions & apples go together? The Pan Seared Pork Chops were delicious. We added a nice salad to round out the meal.
They are a unique combination, aren’t they?! I think when they both caramelize, magic happens! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe and yes, a nice green side salad is the perfect accompaniment to the chops!