Tender and Juicy Apple Stuffed Baked Boneless Pork Chops
Cooked in an iron skillet, this gourmet pork chop with apples recipe is surprisingly approachable, and one that any home chef can master. You'll want thick boneless pork chops to hold the savory apple filling for the most tender and juicy pork chops that start on the stove and finish in the oven. Plus they're a one-pan dinner; less mess in the kitchen is always a win!
Ingredients
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 boneless pork chops at least 1 inch thick
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium apple (chopped)
- 1 shallot (diced)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375º.
- Add pork chops to a ziplock bag and pour buttermilk over the top. Refrigerate overnight. Remove 20 minutes before cooking and rinse off the buttermilk and pat dry with a paper towel.
- With a sharp knife, cut a slit into the pork chops at the fat side.Cut as deep as you can without cutting all the way through.
- Add oil to an iron skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops and add to the skillet browning the pork chops about 2 minutes each side, remove to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add apples and shallots and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add brown sugar and cook for an additional minute until it dissolves.
- Add the apple filling to the slit cut into the pork chops. Leave any extra apple mixture in the skillet and place the filled pork chops on top of the extra filling. Bake ata 375 until the internal temperature reaches 135º, about 15 minutes. Remove and place on a plate and cover with foil until for about 3-5 minutes until the temperature increases to 145º. Do not leave in the skillet as they will continue to cook.
- If you don’t have an iron skillet or an oven proof skillet, place the pork chops on a sheet pan instead. It will take a little longer to cook if not using an iron skillet.
- Spoon any extra apple mixture over the top and serve.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- Chop the apples into evenly sized pieces. This will help them cook more consistently. It will also add to the lovely presentation. You can add more then the recipe calls for and have extra to spoon over the pork chops.
- Don’t allow the pork chops to sit in the skillet after you remove them from the oven. They’ll quickly overcook.
- If you don’t have an iron skillet or an oven-proof skillet, place the pork chops on a sheet pan instead. You can line it with foil or parchment to avoid sticking and make clean-up easier. The pork will take a little longer to cook, so temperature check it after 20 minutes.
