Cinnamon spiced pork chops nestled in an apple cider sauce bursting with apples, onions and thyme. These Cinnamon Pork Chops with Apples & Onions are quick, healthy, can be made in ONE pan and on the table in 30 minutes!
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Hey hey heeeey, friends! How’s the week going? Someone please give me some good news!
Maybe you got a puppy, your kid got an A, you won a scratch off lottery, or simply woke up on the right side of the bed. I don’t care how big or small, just something… anything (!) good. SHARE it with me!
You see, I’m having a CRAP week. We are talking EPIC sized kitchen fails one right after the other. The first involved scones plummeting to their death on the hard wood floors. And the second involved vegetable noodles that disintegrated like a magic trick gone wrong right in front of my eyes.
All I want to do is curl up in a ball, eat my weight in ice cream and never leave my bed.
Okay, so maybe I’m being a weeeeee bit dramatic. But for real, I feel like I have been kitchen cursed. Anyone know some good reverse voodoo?
When I can’t seem to do anything right, and cooking dinner feels like the bane of my existence, there is one thing I can always rely on – Smithfield All Natural Fresh Pork.
If you follow this blog the above statement may feel like déjà vu. Well, that’s because I’ve talked openly about my love of Smithfield pork before on this here blog, see glazed pork chops and sriracha pork ribs.
Naturally tender and perfectly juicy, Smithfield Bone-in Pork Chops are my solution to down in the dumps, dinner ruts.
Cinnamon Pork Chops with Apples & Onions
Tender, succulent, savory, juicy cinnamon spiced pork chops nestled in a cozy, warm apple cider sauce bursting with crisp apples, mellow onion and hints of earthy thyme.
This easy, but impressive dish is all made in ONE pan AND can be on the table in 30 minutes flat.
Easy enough for weeknight dinner, yet elegant enough for entertaining, this dish is what I call winning at life.
Notes, Tips & Tricks for Cinnamon Pork Chops with Apples & Onions recipe:
- The apple cider apples portion of the recipe calls for 2 heaping cups of green apples, which is about 2 apples. I used Golden Delicious green apples because their crisp mellow sweetness pairs wonderfully with pork, but feel free to use whatever variety is your favorite – red or green.
- I didn’t peel the apples because I like the crispness of the skin, but you can absolutely peel them prior to dicing them if you prefer.
- The amount of time the cinnamon pork chops take to finish cooking in the sauce will depend on the thickness of your pork chops. I recommend using an instant read thermometer. If you love your pork medium rare, you should cook it to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (followed by a 3-minute rest). If you like your pork a little more done, you can cook them to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
SWEEPSTAKES TIME!
On top of Smithfield being THE people for pork, they have also teamed up with Walmart on a ‘Compassion for Community’ mission.
My hero has always been my father, not only was he my best friend, but he was the embodiment and definition of Compassion, Care and Commitment.
If you have a hero in your life, don’t miss the chance to give them a little recognition in the #SmithfieldCares Sweepstakes! With over $9,000 in prizing, nominate someone in your community who embraces the 3 C’s (compassion, care and commitment).
*Sweepstakes closed
Forget beef, pork chops are what’s for dinner!
Until next week friends, cheers – to pork-tastic fall eats!
XOXO
Cheyanne
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How to make skillet Cinnamon Pork Chops with Apples & Onions recipe👇
Cinnamon Pork Chops with Apples & Onions
Ingredients
- 4 Bone-in Pork Chops
- 1 ¾ tsp Ground Cinnamon , divided
- Kosher Salt & Ground Pepper
- 3 TBS Unsalted Butter , divided
- 2 heaping Cups Green Apples – Cored and diced* (about 2 apples)
- 1 medium Yellow Onion – peeled and diced
- 2 TBS Light Brown Sugar , packed
- 1/8 tsp All Spice
- 1 Cup Apple Cider
- 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 TBS Fresh Thyme Leaves , plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Season the pork chops with ¾ tsp cinnamon and generously with salt and pepper.
- Brown the pork chops: Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 5 minutes total. Transfer the pork chops to a clean plate and set aside.
- Make the apple sauce: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and cook until melted. Add in the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the apples, brown sugar, remaining teaspoon cinnamon and all spice. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until the apples are crisp-tender, about 2 additional minutes. Stir in the apple cider, vinegar and thyme.
- Finish the pork: Return the pork chops and any juiced that have accumulated to the pan, nestling them into the pan and spooning the apples and glaze over top. Cook, turning once halfway through, until the pork is tender and cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, about 6-12 minutes*.
- Serve: Transfer the pork chops to serving plates or a platter and top with apple glaze spooned on top. Garnish with fresh thyme. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
*The amount of time the pork takes to finish cooking in the sauce will depend on the thickness of your pork chops. I recommend using an instant read thermometer. If you love your pork medium rare, you should cook it to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. If you like your pork a little more done, you can cook them to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Nutrition
You show to us how way we can make more recipe from a fruit. Really if we made it very easy. Thank you for your good recipe.
How delicous it looks <3 <3 <3 Your dish is so beautiful and I bet it tastes pefect!!! Always like using apple when cooking because it bring sweet and faint aroma to our dish. Thank you so much for sharing a great recipe!!!!
I’ve been cooking pork chops for my boys like crazy lately. they can’t get enough. this recipe is going in the recipe file for sure. they will love it. delicious and quick is the best for our busy weeknights and i love all the fall apple-ness in here.
Wow! That’s a hard week girl! You should’ve have say F- it and gone on vaca with me in the pimpin camper 😉 Hopefully this week is better in the kitchen for you. These chops look delish thou and def not a fail. Yum in my tum! Perfect fall dinner dish too 🙂
These are really beautiful. Pork and apples are just heavenly together. And I also had a really crappy few weeks in the kitchen a while back, and I was wondering if I’d lost my mojo altogether – but it got so much better!! You’ll pull through 🙂
Whenever I’m having a crappy week complete with kitchen disasters, I always make a go-to meal that is fail-proof! Not only does it comfort me, but it brings back my confidence, too. I sure hope you had a great weekend and this week turns out much better for you! These pork chops look absolutely delish and the perfect fall meal!
I have DEFINITELY had those kinds of weeks…work has been pretty overwhelming these past few weeks. Grrr…I’m going to try and cheer myself up with some brownies later today, because CHOCOLATE. Although these pork chops look like they could cheer anyone up no matter what – they are fall deliciousness extraordinaire! Sending hugs from rainy NJ – xo
Chey, I had a crappy week too, so I can’t give you sunshine today. My new job is kicking my a$$. But I am an optimist for both of us that it will get better. This week I bet you have all kitchen success and no failure!
Besides, you made this, and it looks phenomenal!
Urghh this was NOT my week either. My mother was admitted and after a few days of cancer scare, we escaped that demon. Now my baby is sick and I can’t seem to focus on recipe making. Oieee. Hope next week is better for all of us. These pork chops look amazing!
Oh no! Sorry your week isn’t going so hot, Cheyanne! Maybe just go out and do a little rain dance. Oh wait, that’ll just make it rain. Hmmm…back to the drawing board there! Hang in there, though! We all have kitchen fails. Good thing this pork chops recipe is 100% NOT a kitchen fail. In fact, this totally makes up for other kitchen mishaps because of how amazing it looks! Love the apples + onions combo in there! #client
Pork chops and apples are one of my favorite combos! This recipe is divine and the perfect weeknight dinner for the fam. I’ve had kitchen fails, plenty of them. Sometimes they really get in my head and I can’t get out of the cycle. My solution? I set the blog aside and bake up something delicious to just hand out to neighbors, friends, etc. It seems to break the curse, lol and brings the fun back.
Sorry you are having such a tough week. I know how it is. Not sure all the readers know how many times we have to test recipes! You definitely made a come back with this pork dish. Loving all those fall flavors.
Oh, Chey. Your week sounds really challenging. Indeed recipe fails are the worst things. But I know that you always come up with some exotic and innovative ideas so failure is just a part of it. Remember success comes to those who try! SO I am hoping many many more successful recipes coming from you. And this Cinnamon spiced pork chops looks so bright and sounds super delicious. And the addition of apple cider sauce with apples, onions and thyme are just making me wow! Love that these are really quick and healthy too. Wish you a lovely weekend, girlfriend. 🙂 <3