Crispy Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Apple Cider Reduction

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-25 · Updated 2026-06-25

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy pork chops pan-seared to a golden crisp and finished with a sweet and tangy apple cider glaze. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bone-in pork chops, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 400 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces, about 1 inch thick bone-in pork chops
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup apple cider
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 bone-in pork chops and season both sides evenly with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Step 2: Add pork chops and sear without moving for 5 minutes until the edges are golden and crispy. Flip and cook for another 4 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Remove chops and keep warm.
Step 3: In the same skillet over medium heat, pour 1 cup apple cider and 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, scraping the browned bits from the pan with a wooden spoon. Simmer for 6-7 minutes until reduced by half and slightly syrupy.
Step 4: Remove from heat and whisk in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves until the sauce is shiny and smooth. Spoon the apple cider reduction over the pork chops before serving.