Description

A quick, comforting weeknight dinner featuring thick-cut bone-in pork chops seared in a skillet and finished with a sweet and savory apple cider, balsamic, and thyme glaze.

Ingredients

Scale

4 thick-cut bone-in pork chops (about 1 inch thick)
2 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado or canola)
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup apple cider (cloudy, unfiltered)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
2 cloves garlic, minced
Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Take pork chops out of the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly and season generously with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chops for 3-4 minutes on the first side until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Remove to a plate and tent with foil.
Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and thyme sprigs; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add apple cider, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard to the pan. Whisk to combine, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
Simmer the glaze gently for 5-7 minutes until it reduces by half and becomes syrupy.
Return pork chops to the skillet. Spoon glaze over the chops and cook for 2-3 minutes, basting frequently, until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Remove chops from the pan and let rest for 5 minutes. Reduce remaining glaze slightly if needed, then spoon over chops and garnish with parsley.

Notes

Do not skip resting the meat to retain juices. Use a thermometer to ensure pork reaches 145°F. Avoid washing the pan after searing to keep the flavorful fond for the glaze. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 pork chop with gla
Calories: 380
Sugar: 14
Sodium: 450
Fat: 16
Saturated Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 18
Protein: 35

Keywords: pork chops, apple cider glaze, fall dinner, easy weeknight meal, one-pan dinner, pork recipe, autumn cooking