Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Midwest Apple Cider Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-04 · Updated 2026-06-04

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 golden perfection, finished with a sweet and tangy apple cider glaze inspired by Midwest flavors. 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 350 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 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces (6 oz each) bone-in pork chops
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup apple cider
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 bone-in pork chops (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add pork chops and sear for 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through, internal temperature reaching 145°F. Remove chops and keep warm.
Step 3: In the same skillet, add 1 cup apple cider, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tbsp Dijon mustard. Stir and simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until reduced by half and slightly syrupy.
Step 4: Remove skillet from heat and whisk in 1 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves until the sauce is glossy and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 5: Return pork chops to the skillet, spoon glaze over them, and serve immediately.