Description
A simple, budget-friendly weeknight dinner featuring thick-cut pork chops braised in a sweet and savory apple cider sauce with onions, garlic, and herbs. Perfect for cooking for one or meal prepping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 thick-cut bone-in or boneless pork chops (about 1-inch thick, 300-400g)
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 1 bay leaf
- Optional: 1 small russet potato, cubed
- Optional: 1 cup green beans, trimmed
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, mince garlic, and measure liquids. Pat pork chops dry with paper towels.
- Sear pork chops: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chops for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove to a plate.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze and braise: Pour in apple cider, soy sauce, mustard, thyme, and bay leaf. Scrape up brown bits. Return pork chops to the pan. Cover with a lid.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low-medium and braise for 15-20 minutes until pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
- Finish sauce: Remove chops from pan. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer sauce uncovered for 3-5 minutes until reduced by half. Stir in butter.
- Serve: Return chops to pan to coat in sauce or plate and pour sauce over top. Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted veggies.
Notes
Pat pork chops dry before searing to ensure a good crust. Use 100% apple cider for best flavor; unsweetened apple juice can be substituted with added brown sugar. Pork is safe to eat at 145°F. If the sauce is too thin, simmer longer. If too sweet, add a splash of vinegar or more soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pork chop with sau
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: apple cider pork chops, budget dinner, one person meal, weeknight dinner, braised pork, easy pork recipe, fall dinner