Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Ozarks Apple Cider Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-07 · Updated 2026-06-07

Juicy pork chops pan-seared to golden perfection and finished with a sweet and tangy apple cider glaze inspired by the Ozarks region. 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.

Ingredients

• 4 pieces, about 1 inch thick bone-in pork chops
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp, freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup, preferably from local apples apple cider
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• 2 cloves, minced garlic cloves

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 4 bone-in pork chops dry and season both sides with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
2. Step 2: Add the pork chops to the hot skillet and sear for 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and an internal temperature of 145°F is reached. Remove chops and tent with foil to rest.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, sautéing until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Step 4: Pour in 1 cup apple cider, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves. Stir and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the glaze thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
5. Step 5: Return pork chops to the skillet for 1-2 minutes, spooning glaze over them to warm through and absorb flavor. Serve chops drizzled with the apple cider glaze.