Sunny’s Apple Butter Braised Pork Chops

  4.2 – 21 reviews  • Pork
Level: Easy
Total: 45 min
Active: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1 tablespoon olive oil
  2. 4 strips bacon, chopped
  3. 1/2 cup chopped Vidalia or other sweet onions
  4. 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  5. 8 to 10 sprigs fresh thyme
  6. 1 green bell pepper, halved, seeded and thinly sliced
  7. 2 cloves garlic, grated on a rasp
  8. 2 tablespoons butter
  9. 1 tablespoon olive oil
  10. 4 thick-cut, bone-in pork chops
  11. 10 ounces apple butter
  12. 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  13. Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, for garnish
  14. Garlic Red Bliss Mash, recipe follows, for serving
  15. 3 pounds red bliss potatoes
  16. 4 cloves garlic
  17. Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  18. 3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
  19. 1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream, room temperature

Instructions

  1. For the bacon and veggies: In a large straight-sided pan with a lid, add the oil and bacon and cook on medium-high heat until the bacon is crisped. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
  2. Add the onions, pepper flakes, thyme and bell peppers. Cook, stirring, until the onions and peppers are tender and the pan is fragrant, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Pick out and discard the thyme stems. Remove the vegetables to a separate plate.
  3. For the chops: To the same pan, add the butter and olive oil. Once the butter is melted and the pan is hot, add the pork chops and sear on one side until a peek beneath reveals a golden color, about 4 minutes. Remove the chops to the plate with the vegetables.
  4. In the same pan still on medium high, add the apple butter and 1 1/4 cups water. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the chops back into the pan, then surround and cover them with the vegetable mixture. Pour the tomatoes over the top, lower the heat to a low simmer and cover halfway. Cook until the desired doneness, usually 5 to 10 minutes lends itself to a lovely pink center.
  5. Allow to rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with the reserved bacon and chopped parsley or cilantro. Serve with Garlic Red Bliss Mash.
  6. In a large pot, cover the potatoes and garlic with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, add salt and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
  7. Put the potatoes and garlic back in the pot and cook over low heat to evaporate the rest of the water. Mash in the butter with a potato masher. Add the heavy cream in stages until the desired consistency is reached. Season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 4 servings
Calories 1237
Total Fat 68 g
Saturated Fat 30 g
Carbohydrates 103 g
Dietary Fiber 12 g
Sugar 33 g
Protein 56 g
Cholesterol 256 mg
Sodium 2019 mg

Reviews

Shirley Diaz
Excellent pork chop recipe. The mix of the apple butter, tomato, bacon, and bell pepper flavors was fantastic. We used red bell in place of the green bell. Also, I couldn’t find red bliss potatoes, so I used “Enchanted Rose” potatoes, which were excellent. The sauce was great with the potatoes. I think my chops were much thicker than intended, but they were labeled thick cut, so I used them even though I suspected they were TOO thick cut. They took much longer to get to temperature, and one was plenty for two of us. No worries though, because there are numerous uses for great leftover pork.
Christie Ford
Loved this. Apple and pork are so good together how could it not be great. I substituted dried thyme and I would definitely hunt down fresh for next time.
Kelsey Anderson
Thanks Sunny another great keeper easy too
Anthony Murray
One of my favorite recipes ever.
Jeffrey Curry
This was terrible. Dry, tasteless, and tough. I can’t rule out that I did something wrong, but followed the recipe. Oh well…
Robin Garrett
We’re going to do this tonight. ..but couldn’t find apple butter.  So I’m just going to make sautéed apples and spices.   
Philip Thompson
Sunny love this recipe. Haven’t had Apple butter since I was a child but what goes better with pork but apples. Made this tonight. Was so easy and soooo yummy. This recipe is a keeper. Thanks
Walter Ferguson
Made this tonight and it was delicious! Will make this a favorite recipe!
Michael Cox
Absolutely delicious! I did not make the potatoes as I am trying to stay low carb; but loved the pork chops.
Jacob Murphy
I watched you make this on the show, and had to have it that very day! Delicious! My husband loves pork chops, so he was in heaven!

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top