Thick and tender pork chops seared to perfection, then topped with a creamy, sweet, and cinnamon sugar butter spread-based topping of sautéed apples, garlic, fresh sage, and thyme is comfort food at its best!

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops in a cast iron skillet Mexican Otomi runner

Nothing welcomes fall more than the scent of cinnamon and apples.

red apples to make Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops

With the fall season, it’s all about embracing fall flavors. Apples caramelized in a Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread combined with a sweet and spicy brown sugar pork-chop rub smells beyond heavenly.

apples and herbs to make Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops

Pork chops are incredibly quick-cooking. This is a great one-skillet meal that’s full of sweet and savory flavors.

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops rubbed in a sweet and spicy rub

Watch this video to see how quickly these cinnamon apple pork chops can feed a family of four in under 20 minutes. This amazing, restaurant-quality pork chop recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.

rub ingredients to make Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops

The butter spread is the secret to this recipe — I used Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread to give this entire dish the right balance of sweet and savory.

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chop on a black plate with fresh thyme and rosemary sage

Maybe I should have named this dish Caramel Apple Pork Chops?

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops for day of the dead

With Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) fast approaching, this is a great dish to serve to honor your ancestors.

Set up a home altar or simply pass around family photos and enjoy a quiet dinner talking about family members that have passed.

How to make Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops 

  • Preheat the broiler to high.
  • On a plate, combine brown sugar, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and salt.
  • Lightly coat each pork chop with the brown sugar mixture.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the coated pork chops and sear on both sides for 3 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
  • Spread each pork chop with 1 teaspoon Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread. Remove the pork from the pan to a plate.
  • To the skillet, add the remaining cinnamon sugar butter spread, apples, garlic, and sage. Cook 1 to 2 minutes then remove from the heat.
  • Return the pork chops to the skillet, top with fresh thyme, and transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the apples are lightly charred. 
  • Spoon the butter spread mixture over the pork chops. Garnish with marigold petals, if using. Serve and enjoy!

What are good sides for pork chops?

This dish pairs well with Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes or a fall salad like Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad.

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops land o lakes cinnamon sugar butter spread

 

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops

4.50 (2 ratings)
Thick and tender pork chops seared to perfection, then crowned with a creamy, sweet, and cinnamon sugar butter spread-based topping of sautéed apples, garlic, fresh sage, and thyme. Comfort food at its best!
Print Pin Rate
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 pork chops , bone-in, thick-cut - 1 to 1.5 inches thick
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar 
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika or chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
  • 2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread
  • 4 teaspoons Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread
  • 2 apples, cut into thin wedges
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 12 fresh sage leaves
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme

  • Marigold petals (optional)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the broiler to high.
  • On a plate, combine brown sugar, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and salt.
  • Lightly coat each pork chop with the brown sugar mixture.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. 
  • Add the coated pork chops and sear on both sides for 3 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
  • Spread each pork chop with 1 teaspoon Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread. Remove the pork from the pan to a plate. 
  • To the skillet, add the remaining cinnamon sugar butter spread, apples, garlic, and sage. Cook 1 to 2 minutes then remove from the heat. 
  • Return the pork chops to the skillet, top with fresh thyme, and transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the apples are lightly charred. 
  • Spoon the butter spread mixture over the pork chops. Garnish with marigold petals, if using. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • For a refined sugar-free version, use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. 
Calories: 349.77kcal, Carbohydrates: 41.45g, Protein: 4.39g, Fat: 19.66g, Saturated Fat: 4.74g, Cholesterol: 15.84mg, Sodium: 393.81mg, Potassium: 216.77mg, Fiber: 2.65g, Sugar: 36.21g, Vitamin A: 766IU, Vitamin C: 7.69mg, Calcium: 42.52mg, Iron: 0.8mg
Author: Yvette Marquez
Course: Entrees
Cuisine: American

Photography by Jenna Sparks 

This post is in partnership with Land O Lakes. As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.