Talk about a quick and easy dinner that is poppin’ with flavor, these Balsamic Apricot Pork Chops are so simple and deliver big time in the flavor department. I haven’t shared a pork chop recipe and I think this is one for your dinner rotation.
All this takes is a seasoning on both sides of a little kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper and a quick sear in the pan. Place the pan in the oven to finish them off and make the sweet and sour sauce that coats these. I serve them over mashed potatoes and be sure to drizzle more of that amazing sauce over the top of all.
How was everyone’s weekend? I didn’t get in any car accidents! I also cooked, baked and went hiking in the mountains with Dave and our boys. Lots of fantastic new recipes coming your way for the upcoming holidays.
MY LATEST VIDEOSOh, and we went and saw the Lion King musical this past Tuesday as well. Off. The. Hook. Amazing. Honestly if you can see this tour, GO! I never saw this musical before and it has to be one of my all time favorites. Oh, the costumes, the imagination, the lighting, music and the actors. I could go on and on. Fantastic singing… Just GO see it if you can.
Now, back to these pork chops, which are a fantastic meal and these are bone in for more flavor. Feel free to use boneless if you like.
The kicker in the sauce starts with apricot jam, I use sugar fee as Dave’s a diabetic and occasionally likes it on toast. Mixed with balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, thyme and a pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) and this is it!
Add some chicken stock and cook the sauce down a little to thicken as the pork chops finish in the oven.
What you get is one quick and delicious meal that’s on the table in no time. These are so flavorful, with the sweet and tangy apricot, balsamic and tang of the Dijon mustard. My favorite herb thyme makes an appearance, too.
Serve these over mashed potatoes to drizzle even more of the sweet and sour sauce over these Balsamic Apricot Pork Chops. A little sprinkle of chopped parsley for color and you’re done. With a little side salad or veg of choice you’re good to eat. Enjoy!
If you like these Balsamic Apricot Pork Chops check out my Grilled Hoisin Lamb Chops, Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Sticky Ribs or my Savory Stuffed Acorn Squash too.
Balsamic Apricot Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 4 - 8 oz pork chops bone-in, 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick (2 lbs total)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1/4 cup apricot jam See Note 1
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- pinch red pepper flakes
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Season pork chops with kosher salt and pepper.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat combine chicken stock, apricot jam, balsamic vinegar, mustard, garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Melt butter in a large oven proof skillet (like cast iron) over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes. Place in oven and roast until completely cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. (See Note 2)
- When done remove from oven and pour glaze over pork chops, turning to coat and serve immediately.
Notes
2. Cooking time may vary depending on thickness of pork chops. I used 3/4” thick.
Excited to try these! The ingredients sound like they’ll make a wonderful blend!
Thanks Liz, and for reminding me of this one. Might have to be dinner tomorrow too!
Making these tonight! Serving with bacon wrapped asparagus and roasted garlic and chipotle mashed potatoes. I think the kick from the potatoes will pair nicely with the sweetness of the sauce. I will let you know how it turns out, thank you for sharing! (Oh, and I apologize if this came to you twice, my tablet is weird.)
Making these tonight. Serving with bacon wrapped asparagus and roasted garlic chipotle mashed potatoes. I think the kick in the potatoes will pair very pleasantly with the sweetness of the sauce. I will let you know how it all works out. Thank you for sharing.
Now that sounds like a meal and a half there Angela! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe, Kevin! As a newbie in he kitchen, it was easy to follow and turned out so well. I had never made pork chops before but will have to again because they were so scrumptious (and quick)!
Definitely going to share your site with family and friends!
That is music to my ears, thanks so much for letting me know Emily. Also, if you see any recipe and have a question, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll assist you any way that I can. 🙂
I am just learning to cook at age 47 and I have to say making these porkchops was a cinch! My new husband was delighted with them. They came out moist, tangy and bursting with flavor!! My husband was one happy camper! He gets so excited when he finds out I am cooking a recipe from Keviniscooking!
So happy you guys enjoyed them Mary and that your trying new things. We’ll have you cooking up a storm of new dishes in no time!
Thanks a lot Kevin, now I’m SOOO hungry! 😉 Something about the combo of balsamic, apricot and pork just has me drooling…
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the Lion King! I saw it once in London and once in Seattle and, I agree, just spectacular in every way.
Sweet and sour and pork, just can’t go wrong there! Lion King was definitely unlike any other show we’ve seen. We took took in a few in London and saw Wicked and Billy Elliott. I swear, sometimes in Billy Elliott the accents were so heavy I had trouble understanding our common language! 🙂 Fun, fun fun!
My mouth started watering as soon as I saw this on Instagram and I’m making it tomorrow! I have to take a meal to my uncle (broke his arm bowling!) and this works for him and for us, especially your tip about the fruit-only jam. My Dave will insist on it and we prefer the fruit-centered flavor of no sugar jams anyway. I would love to see The Lion King and hope to someday. Glad you all had a great weekend!
Not only is it quick to put together Sally, but quite tasty. Love your son’s sushi pics from the other day. He did an outstanding job. I haven’t even tried that! 🙂
Thanks, friend! I have to admit that I was impressed as well. And it tasted good, too! p.s. I just showed him your comment. You made his night. xo
Fruit and pork are such a good match and your sauce on those pork chops sounds great.
Thank you Karen! It’s a very tasty sauce, hope you give it a try!
Your work is getting better by the day. I am not a pork chop lover and I am completely drooling over this! Can you please just move to the East coast already? 😛
Really appreciate your comment Olivia, thanks so much. If I ever get out there, we must meet up!
Sounds like you had an awesome weekend, Kevin! I’d LOVE to see the Lion King musical, but for some reason I am highly doubting it will ever come to our little city. Share some photos on FB if you have them, so I can at least live vicariously through you! 😉 These chops look DELICIOUS, buddy! I’m a sucker for some juicy chops, so I’m totally adding these to my list! Loving that balsamic apricot combo! The sauce looks so luscious and absolutely perfect! Piled on some mash? YESSS! Heavenly deliciousness up in here! Cheers!!
Gotta love a saucy dinner on mash and this one is quite tasty! Indeed it was actually a great week, better than last. Speaking of cars (ahem, my car getting hit) I see you got a new 4Runner, looks way cool!
I will try and take some decent pics from the book they gave to us at the theater for you of the Lion King and tag you on FB. Cheers!
Hey Kevin! I just made Nagi’s oven baked pork chops with potatoes last night and now I want to make this! I love the ease of pan searing and finishing in the oven, I use that technique for thick fillets and duck breast. Your glaze sounds delicious! I can regularly get thick, bone-in chops at my local store so this will be dinner very soon!
Finishing in the oven is so underused because people don;’t want the extra step when in reality it makes for abetter meal. Hope you guys give it a try, thanks Dorothy:)
Sounds like you had a lovely weekend, Kevin! And I remember seeing that you went to The Lion King last week. I remember seeing that years ago and you are right….it is soooo good!! Would love to see it again! This recipe looks awesome, as usual, my friend. Love the apricot jam in there and, of course, the balsamic and red pepper flakes. And anything made in a cast iron skillet is the perfect thing in my books 🙂 Pinned, of course! Looking forward to seeing what deliciousness you are going to bring next….sounds like you have some more good… Read more »
Thanks Dawn! Been on a pork tenderloin binge lately and needed to give the chops some love. 🙂
I love a good pork chop, and the balsamic apricot glaze on this one sounds awesome! Love the flavor combination there. Also, we saw Lion King a few months back, and I echo your thoughts. Amazing show! The creativity with the costumes just left me sitting there in awe the whole time. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I don’t get them as often I I used to, got into tenderloins, but these are superb. Thanks Dave!
As for Lion King, they came down each side aisle (the theater tore out the seats for the show) and I was awestruck as these amazing elephants, rhinos and giraffes walked by. Looking closely you could see the crazy detail in costume and the people/actors being actually apart of them. So cool. 🙂