Apple and sage are the perfect pairing in this quick, easy, and delicious Apple Sage Pork Chops Recipe. It's another one of my favorite go-to dinner recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes, so it's a healthy and quick dinner that's realistic for a weeknight and Weight Watchers friendly.
These pork chops with sage and apples are especially popular in the fall during apple season, although they're great any time of the year. It pairs well with my Easy Greek Rice (with Lemon) and apple cinnamon scones for dessert!
🍒Reader Review
"This was so good! We had it last night for dinner and loved every bite 😉 " ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jump to:
- 🍒Reader Review
- 🥘 Ingredient Notes
- 📖Variations & Substitutions
- 🔪How to Make Apple Sage Pork Chops
- Expert Recipe Tips
- 🥗 What to Serve with Apple Sage Pork
- 🍽Equipment
- 🌡️Storage
- 👪 Serving Size
- 🔢WW Points
- ❔ Recipe FAQs
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 🐖More Easy Pork Recipes
- 📋 Easy Apple Sage Pork Chops Recipe
🥘 Ingredient Notes
For this recipe, you'll need:
- Pork chops. The beauty of this recipe is that it works perfectly with either bone-in or boneless pork chops. I used bone-in pork chops in the main photos and boneless pork chops (pork loin) in the process photos.
- Apples. Green Granny Smith apples work best for this recipe because they hold their shape and don't get mushy.
- Butter. I prefer to use unsalted butter, as I like to control the salt in my baking, and the salt content in salted butter varies from brand to brand.
- Sage. I like to use dried sage in the recipe and fresh sage to garnish. However, you can use fresh for both. The fresh sage garnish makes a big difference in the presentation of this dish, but you don't have to use it!
- Chili flakes. Chili flakes are the same as crushed chili and give this recipe a welcome little spice kick!
*Please see recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Apple Juice- If you don't have apple juice, chicken broth works well as a substitute. You could also try cider (non-alcoholic or hard, depending on your preference) for a deeper apple flavor.
- Sage - good substitutes for sage include thyme, marjoram, and rosemary. They all have similar earthy, woodsy, or minty notes, though with subtle difference.
- Dairy-free - just swap the butter for olive oil or a dairy-free margarine alternative.
- Apples - Honeycrisp is a good substitute for Granny Smith Apples because they are also firmer and won't turn mushy when cooked.
What to do with fresh sage
If you have a lot of sage, this recipe is perfect! And if you're looking for additional recipes for fresh sage, then check out my Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe and Sausage & Apple Rice (shown).
🔪How to Make Apple Sage Pork Chops
- Step 1: Pat pork dry with paper towels and season pork chops with salt.
- Step 2: Melt butter with garlic in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. When bubbly, add apple wedges.
- Step 3: Turn occasionally, until golden on both side, 2-3 minutes, then remove to a small plate.
- Step 4: Add pork to the pan and cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side.
- Step 5: In a small bowl, stir apple juice, Dijon mustard, and seasonings.
- Step 6: Once pork is browned, pour in the juice mixture and add apples.
- Step 7: Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, turning pork occasionally, until cooked through for 5-7 minutes (or until meat thermometer reaches internal temperature of 145 degrees F or 63 degrees C).
- Step 8: Remove pork and apples from the pan. Boil sauce, stirring often, until as thick as you desire, 3 to 5 minutes. *It will reduce quite a bit.
- Step 9: Return pork chops and apples to the pan, then remove from heat. Spoon sauce over pork chops with apples and serve.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Bring pork to room temperature: Let pork chops sit out for about 20 minutes before cooking. This helps them cook more evenly and stay juicy.
- Don't skip patting them dry: Removing excess moisture before seasoning and searing ensures you get a golden, flavorful crust on the pork chops.
- Use a meat thermometer: Pork is perfectly cooked when it reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Slice apples evenly: Cut apples into uniform wedges so they cook at the same rate and keep their texture without turning mushy.
- Adjust sweetness: If your apples are sweeter (like Fuji or Gala), cut back slightly on the apple juice or balance with a splash of lemon juice.
- Don't overcrowd the pan: Sear pork chops in batches if needed so they brown instead of steaming.
- Finish with fresh herbs: Adding fresh sage at the end enhances the aroma and presentation, even if you used dried sage during cooking.
🥗 What to Serve with Apple Sage Pork
If you are looking for side dishes for this apple pork, I recommend baked potatoes such as my 3 Ingredient Onion Baked Potatoes (shown) or these Twice Baked Caesar Potatoes.
Salads like Spinach Strawberry Salad also pair well with this dish, as do vegetable sides like Healthy Mexican Street Corn (Elote) (pork and corn are such a great pairing!
🍽Equipment
You'll need a sharp knife, a cutting board and a large nonstick skillet or a heavy cast iron skillet. An apple corer (affiliate links) comes in handy too for this pork chops with apple sage sauce. The best way to check for doneness is internal temperature, with an instant read thermometer (affiliate link). This ensures the pork chops won't dry out.
🌡️Storage
Store these apple sage pork chops in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
This dish doesn't stand up well to freezing, as the apples tend to turn mushy.
👪 Serving Size
This apple and sage pork chops recipe makes 4 servings. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This Sage and Apple Pork Chops recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 2 WW points. You can further reduce the points in this recipe by using light butter.
❔ Recipe FAQs
The best way to cook pork chops to prevent them from drying out is to season them with salt and use a meat thermometer to check for doneness with internal temperature (155 degrees F) so you do not overcook them.
The sauce should lightly coat the back of a spoon. If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it simmer a little longer, but watch carefully so it doesn't burn.
Absolutely! Grill the pork chops first, then cook the apples and sauce in a skillet on the side. Pour the sauce over the grilled pork chops before serving.
Yes! You can cook the pork chops and apples ahead of time, then store them in the fridge. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat so the pork doesn't dry out.
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📋 Easy Apple Sage Pork Chops Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in or boneless pork chops (ach about ½ inch thick
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 apple, cored, peeled and sliced into thin wedges green, preferably Granny Smith
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup apple juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground sage leaves *if using fresh sage, use 2 tsp
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
Garnish:
- fresh sage leaves optional
Instructions
- Prep: Peel and cut apples into quarters, then slice out the core. Cut into thick wedges. (don't worry if they brown a little because you will be browning them in butter anyway).
- Pat pork dry with paper towels and season pork chops with salt.
- Melt butter with garlic in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. When bubbly, add apple wedges. Turn occasionally, until golden on both side, 2-3 minutes, then remove to a small plate.
- Add pork to pan and cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side.
- In a small bowl, stir apple juice and Dijon mustard and seasonings.
- Once pork is browned, pour in juice mixture and add apples. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, turning pork occasionally, until cooked through for 5-7 minutes (or until meat thermometer reaches internal temperature of 145 degrees F or 63 degrees C)
- Remove pork and apples from pan.
- Boil sauce, stirring often, until as thick as you desire, 3 to 5 minutes. Return pork chops and apples to pan, then remove from heat.
- Spoon sauce and over pork chops with apples and serve.
Notes
- Bring pork to room temperature: Let pork chops sit out for about 20 minutes before cooking. This helps them cook more evenly and stay juicy.
- Don't skip patting them dry: Removing excess moisture before seasoning and searing ensures you get a golden, flavorful crust on the pork chops.
- Use a meat thermometer: Pork is perfectly cooked when it reaches 145°F (63°C).
- Slice apples evenly: Cut apples into uniform wedges so they cook at the same rate and keep their texture without turning mushy.
- Adjust sweetness: If your apples are sweeter (like Fuji or Gala), cut back slightly on the apple juice or balance with a splash of lemon juice.
- Don't overcrowd the pan: Sear pork chops in batches if needed so they brown instead of steaming..
- Finish with fresh herbs: Adding fresh sage at the end enhances the aroma and presentation, even if you used dried sage during cooking.
Tiffany
This was so good! we had it last night for dinner and loved every bite 😉
Terri Gilson
Hi Tiffany- glad you guys loved it!
chefkreso
Delicious combo of flavors!
Food Meanderings
Thanks!
The Finer Cookie/Kim
Pork chops and apple sauce was a kid favourite meal. This recipe is all grownup. Looks great. Boy would I love to come home to this meal after a long day. Nice post.
Food Meanderings
Thanks.. I agree - I make it ahead sometimes, then I'm guaranteed to come home to it!
foodinbooks
Lovely recipe. I made it, omitting the apples, the other night and the combination of sage and pork was divine. I'd not thought about using sage this way, and now it's a keeper. I made it with these Brussels sprouts https://frugalhausfrau.com/2017/02/20/cream-braised-brussels-sprouts/ and it was a heavenly combination!
Food Meanderings
So glad you liked it! And those brussels sprouts look so good too!
Cathy
There is a reason why apple with pork is such a classic combination! The sage leaves make yours look very pretty!
Food Meanderings
Thanks, Cathy!
thefoodblognet
This looks very delicious!
Food Meanderings
Thank you!
Tasty Eats Ronit Penso
This looks so tasty! 🙂
Food Meanderings
Thanks - it is very yummy!