Naturally Sweetened Baked Pork Chops with Apple Sauce

Delight your taste buds with these Naturally Sweetened Baked Pork Chops with Apple Sauce—a perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors for a comforting yet elegant meal. Featuring thick-cut, bone-in pork chops seared to golden perfection and baked in a luscious, homemade apple sauce flavored with maple syrup, cinnamon, and fresh rosemary, this dish embraces the natural sweetness of juicy apples and wholesome ingredients. The skillet-to-oven technique locks in moisture and ensures tender, flavorful meat with minimal effort. Ready in under an hour, this family-friendly recipe is both refined and simple, making it ideal for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Serve with a spoonful of the rich, fragrant apple sauce for an irresistible pairing! Keywords: baked pork chops, naturally sweetened, apple sauce, pork and apples, skillet recipes, comfort food.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 pieces Thick-cut bone-in pork chops
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 3 medium Apples (e.g., Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp)
• 1 cup Unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Maple syrup
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• 1 sprig Fresh rosemary
• 0.5 cup Chicken broth

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Pat dry the pork chops with a paper towel. Rub them with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then season both sides with salt, black pepper, and ground cinnamon.

Step 3

In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the pork chops for 2-3 minutes on each side until they develop a golden crust. Remove the chops from the skillet and set aside.

Step 4

Peel, core, and dice the apples into small chunks.

Step 5

In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the diced apples. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until they start to soften.

Step 6

Stir in the unsweetened applesauce, lemon juice, maple syrup, ground nutmeg, and chicken broth. Add the rosemary sprig and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Step 7

Nestle the pork chops back into the skillet, spooning some of the apple mixture over the top.

Step 8

Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).

Step 9

Remove the skillet from the oven and allow the pork chops to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Step 10

Serve the pork chops with generous spoonfuls of the naturally sweetened apple sauce on top. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1676.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1807.9

Total Fat 101.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 28.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 300.0mg	0%
Sodium 2932.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 134.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.1g	0%
Total Sugars 107.2g
Protein 92.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 131.9mg	0%
Iron 5.9mg	0%
Potassium 2249.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 50.2%

Protein: 20.2%

Carbs: 29.6%