Description
A fast, elegant weeknight dinner featuring seared pork chops served with apples caramelized in nutty brown butter and fresh sage. Ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 pork chops (bone-in, center-cut, about 1 inch thick / 600-700g)
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado or canola)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 12–15 fresh sage leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium firm apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), sliced into ¼-inch wedges
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Pat pork chops dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Slice apples and toss with lemon juice.
- Heat neutral oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear pork chops for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145°F. Remove to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Watch closely as it melts, foams, and turns nutty brown (about 2-3 minutes). Swirl pan to prevent burning.
- Immediately add sage leaves and minced garlic to the brown butter. Stir constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt. Remove from heat if necessary.
- Add sliced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon to the skillet. Toss to coat in the butter mixture. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender and caramelized.
- Return pork chops to the skillet, nestling them into the apples. Spoon the sauce over the chops and let sit for 1 minute to warm through. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pat the pork chops completely dry before searing to ensure a good crust. Watch the butter closely as it goes from perfect to burnt quickly. Pork is safe to eat at 145°F. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pork chop and 1/4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: pork chops, brown butter, sage, caramelized apples, weeknight dinner, easy recipes, fall recipes, one pan meal