Pan-Seared Pork Chops with North Carolina Apple Cider Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-06 · Updated 2026-08-06

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 drafted and published.

Juicy pork chops pan-seared to golden perfection and finished with a sweet and tangy apple cider glaze inspired by North Carolina's famous orchards. This American-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs boneless pork chops, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces, about 6 oz each boneless pork chops
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup apple cider
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 boneless 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 per side until golden brown and cooked through; remove and keep warm.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, pour in 1 cup apple cider, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, stirring to combine, and simmer for 6-8 minutes until the glaze reduces and thickens to coat the back of a spoon.
Step 4: Stir in 1 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves into the glaze for richness and aroma.
Step 5: Return pork chops to the skillet, spooning glaze over them for 1-2 minutes to reheat and coat before serving.