Pan-Fried Pork Chops with Apple Cider Pan Reduction

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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-fried and finished with a sweet and tangy apple cider reduction, complemented by caramelized onions for depth of flavor. 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

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Season 4 bone-in pork chops evenly with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper on both sides.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add pork chops and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until a golden crust forms and internal temperature reaches 145°F. Remove chops to a plate and tent with foil.
  3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter to the skillet. Add 1 thinly sliced medium yellow onion and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are soft and caramelized.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 1 cup apple cider and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, scraping the browned bits from the pan. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and reduces by half.
  5. Step 5: Return pork chops to the skillet and spoon the apple cider reduction and onions over them. Heat through for 1-2 minutes before serving.

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