Apple Butter Pork Chops are the perfect one-pan recipe for fall and winter! These skillet pork chops with apples are so juicy and flavorful when cooked in the apple butter. And as a bonus, there’s only one skillet to clean!
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What’s in This Apple Butter Pork Chops Recipe?
Nothing goes together quite like pork chops and apples. Something about the sweetness of the apples mixed with the pork really works. A lot of people eat pork chops with applesauce, so let’s take it up a notch. Cook the pork chops in apple butter, and add a side of apple slices– that is the ultimate way to eat pork chops with apples.
- Pork Chops: We used boneless center-cut pork chop filets. If using bone-in, they may take longer to cook.
- Apple Butter: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade apple butter.
- Apples: We used Granny Smiths for their balanced flavor.
- Sugar: A little bit of brown sugar enhances the sweet flavor of the apples.
- Chili Powder: We like ancho chili powder for its slightly smoky flavor, but regular chili powder also works.
- Cream: Heavy cream helps thicken up the sauce.
Variations on Pork Chops with Apples
We love Granny Smith apples because they keep this recipe from turning out too sweet, but Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, Honey Crisp, or Jonagold are all great choices that will hold their shape once cooked. And if you can’t get your hands on any apple butter, try using applesauce instead!
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How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover apple butter pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, or until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze apple butter pork chops in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These pork chops are great served with rice, egg noodles, or our favorite easy mashed potatoes. The sauce is so rich and flavorful, so a simple side is best! For a little more savory flavor, try green beans with bacon!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
This one-pan skillet pork chops with apples recipe is so simple! All you need are some pork chops, a jar of apple butter, a couple of apples, butter, brown sugar, chili powder (a little kick of spice), butter, and heavy cream. And your cast iron skillet, but that’s the only dish here!
5-Star Review
“Made this tonight. It was delicious! So flavorful. Easy to make. Minimal ingredients.” -Lori P.
Apple Butter Pork Chops Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless center-cut pork chop filets (about 2 filets)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 2 apples cored and sliced (no need to peel)
- 7½ ounces apple butter (½ jar) – use more if desired
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder or chili powder
- ⅓ cup heavy cream room temperature
Instructions
- Season both sides of each pork chop with salt and pepper.1 pound boneless center-cut pork chop filets, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the pork chops and cook each side for 3 minutes. Place pork on a plate and allow to rest while you cook the apples.3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Using the same skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the apple slices and allow to cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Pour in the apple butter (you can use a bit more if you want, but it does get pretty sweet), brown sugar, and chili powder. Stir to combine. Add in the cream and continue to stir. Bring to a light boil.7½ ounces apple butter, 2 apples, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder, ⅓ cup heavy cream
- Add the pork chops, pushing aside the apples to make sure the bottoms of each pork chop are touching the skillet. Spoon a tablespoon of apple butter onto each side of each pork chop as you cook.
- Cook each pork chop for about 4 more minutes or each side, adding a tablespoon of apple butter to each side as you cook. Cook until pork is cooked through to your liking.
- Serve hot with the apple mixture spooned over the pork.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- For a dairy-free option, use vegan butter and coconut cream in place of the heavy cream.
- Use room temperature heavy cream to prevent curdling.
- Properly cooked pork chops should be 145°F internally.
Nutrition Information
How to Make Apple Butter Pork Chops Step by Step
Season the Pork: Season both sides 1 pound of center-cut pork chops with salt and pepper.
Sear the Pork: Melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the pork chops and cook each side for 3 minutes. Place pork on a plate and allow to rest while you cook the apples.
Make the Sauce: Using the same skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Add 2 cored and sliced apples and allow to cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Pour in 7½ ounces (½ jar) of apple butter (you can use a bit more if you want, but it does get pretty sweet), 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of ancho chili powder. Stir to combine. Add in ⅓ cup of room-temperature heavy cream and continue to stir. Bring to a light boil.
Simmer the Pork: Add the pork chops, pushing aside the apples to make sure the bottoms of each pork chop are touching the skillet. Spoon a tablespoon of apple butter onto each side of each pork chop as you cook. Cook each pork chop for about 4 more minutes or each side, adding a tablespoon of apple butter to each side as you cook. Cook until pork is cooked through to your liking. Serve hot with the apple mixture spooned over the pork.
More Pork Chop Recipes To Try
I tried this last night. It was quick and easy to put together, and the instructions were dead on. There was a LOT of apple butter; it was saucier than I expected but absolutely delicious. Even my husband, who typically does not enjoy pork, was delighted. I’m eating it again for lunch this afternoon :)
I’m am defiantly making this for my family. They always look forward to something new on the table. I have a question about the apples, are they green or red apples? keep up the good work, I’m inspired by your creations.
I kind of had the feeling that Musselman’s Apple Butter was a bit too thick so I watered it down just a tad with apple juice. These are incredible.
If you are worried about getting your pan clean, use the candy cleaning method and it is no trouble at all.
For those of you that don’t make candy, the simplest way to clean stuck on sticky from any pan is to take the product out and immediately while it is still hot, run water in it to clean out any bits and pieces that might remain. Next, put water back in the pan, bring it to a boil, cut it off and put the lid back on it, and eat. The steam and water should self clean the pan, You might have to do this a couple of times but it will make the clean-up so much easier.
Wow !This great recipe. it’s recipe complement and delicious. i really like that. we love pork at our house so this will be fun to try .thanks
Hi! I think your mom’s apple butter has a consistency that is much thinner than the store-bought kind. I made your apple butter pork chops (using only 2/3 of apple butter than what the recipe called for), and the apple butter was entirely overwhelming. Very, very thick and sticky – not at all like in the photos. Perhaps it would be a good idea to mention somewhere in the description that if you use store bought apple butter, you should more than halve the amount or go with something with less viscosity.
Love the looks of this!! Thanks for sharing. As a new cast iron skillet cook, this dish looks like a mess. Could you share the best cleaning method once it’s done? This will be a new winner in my kitchen.
This looks absolutely amazing!
The color on those pork chops is aboslutely amazing! What a brilliant use for apple butter.
What a genius use of apple butter! Love this recipe!
I love one pot meals!!! I also really love apples with pork chops and this recipe with apple butter makes it that much better!!! YUM!!