Pork Chops with Apples & Stuffing

There is something about pork and apples that feels like fall. Add savory stuffing and caramelized onions, and you have the kind of cozy dinner that makes everyone happy to gather around the table.

These Pork Chops with Apples & Stuffing start with thick, bone-in pork chops seared in a cast iron skillet until beautifully browned. Sweet onions cook in butter until golden, then everything is layered with apple pie filling, cinnamon, and savory stuffing before it goes into the oven.

The result is tender, juicy pork with that wonderful sweet-and-savory combination that works so well with pork chops. And because everything finishes in one skillet, it looks impressive without much trouble.

Fall is just around the corner, and before everything turns into pumpkin everything, let’s take a moment to savor apple season. It’s one of my favorites, and I have loads of apple recipes right here on my website. Both sweet and savory, like this brand new recipe, sure to bring all kinds of comfort to your kitchen table.

Iowa Pork sponsors this recipe, but my opinions here and lifelong love of pork and pork farmers are all my own.

I am excited to partner with Iowa Pork to bring you this recipe. Pork is such a versatile protein for family meals, and thick-cut pork chops are especially nice for recipes like this because they stay juicy while all of those flavors bake together.

Even though I didn’t grow up on a farm in Iowa like my husband did, growing up we ate pork a lot. My Mom’s Pork Chops and Mushroom Gravy were one of my favorite comfort meals as a kid, and I still make them all of the time for my family. Little do they know that while they are enjoying my pork recipes, I am internally smiling because I am aware of Pork’s nutritional value.

Pork Chops with Apples

This is one of those dinners that looks like you fussed over it much more than you actually did. Once you sear the pork chops and caramelize the onions, the skillet does most of the work in the oven.

The apples add sweetness without turning the dish into dessert, while the onions, pork, and stuffing keep everything wonderfully savory. A little cinnamon ties it all together.

I also love that each pork chop gets its own generous helping of stuffing right on top. No need to make a bunch of separate side dishes unless you want to. Add a simple green vegetable or salad, and dinner is done.

Ingredients in Pork Chop, Apple, Stuffing Bake

You will find the complete ingredients and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

• Bone-in pork chops: Choose thicker pork chops, about 1 to 1 ¼ inches thick. The thicker cut works especially well for searing and then finishing in the oven.

• Salt and pepper: A simple seasoning is all the pork needs because there are plenty of flavors coming from the other ingredients.
• Olive oil: Used to get a nice sear on the pork chops.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps the onions cook until soft and beautifully golden.
• Sweet onion: I used a Vidalia onion. Thinly sliced sweet onion becomes mild and almost buttery as it cooks.
• Chicken stock: Deglazes the skillet and picks up all of those flavorful browned bits left behind from the pork.
• Stuffing mix: I used pork-flavored Stove Top Stuffing, but Sage or Traditional would also be delicious.
• Apple pie filling: A convenient shortcut that gives you tender apples and a sweet sauce without peeling and cooking fresh apples separately.
• Ground cinnamon: Just enough to complement the apples and bring a warm fall flavor to the dish.

How to Make Pork Chops with Apples & Stuffing

Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Season the pork chops generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the pork chops for about 6 minutes on each side.

While the pork is searing, prepare the stuffing according to the package directions and set it aside.

Remove the pork chops from the skillet and add the butter. Once melted, add the thinly sliced onions and cook until they are soft and caramel-colored, about 8 minutes.

Pour in the chicken stock, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen all of those flavorful browned bits.

Push the onions to one side and return the pork chops to the skillet. Divide the onions evenly over the pork chops.

Spoon apple pie filling over each chop and sprinkle the apples with cinnamon. Divide the prepared stuffing into four portions and mound one portion over each pork chop.

Cover the skillet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the stuffing is lightly crisp on top and the pork has reached a safe internal temperature (145° F.)

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover pork chops, apples, onions, and stuffing together in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

When reheating, cover the pork so it doesn’t dry out. You can warm individual portions in the microwave or place everything in a covered baking dish and reheat gently in the oven.

Love it? Pin it!

If you can’t wait to try this recipe for Baked Pork Chops with Apple & Stuffing, make sure you can find it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go.

Tips for the Best Pork Chops with Apples & Stuffing

Use thick, bone-in pork chops for this recipe. Thin chops can cook too quickly during the combination of searing and baking.

Don’t skip deglazing the skillet. Those little browned bits left behind after searing the pork are packed with flavor. Scraping them up with the chicken stock adds that flavor right back into the dish.

Give the onions time to develop some color. You don’t need to deeply caramelize them, but allowing them to become soft and golden makes them sweeter and more flavorful.

Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check your pork rather than relying only on cooking time. Because pork chops can vary in thickness, temperature is the best way to know when they’re ready.

Best Pork Chop Tip: Insert your thermometer into the thickest part of the pork chop without touching the bone for the most accurate reading.

To What Temperature Should Pork Chops Be Cooked?

For juicy pork chops, cook whole cuts of pork to an internal temperature of 145°F, followed by a 3-minute rest.

Keep in mind that your pork chops will continue cooking slightly after they come out of the oven. Checking the temperature toward the end of the cooking time can help prevent overcooking.

Pork Chops with Apples FAQs

• Can I use boneless pork chops? Yes, but watch them carefully because boneless chops may cook faster. Thick, bone-in pork chops are my preference for this recipe.
• What kind of stuffing should I use? I used pork-flavored Stove Top Stuffing. Sage or Traditional stuffing would also pair nicely with the pork and apples.
• Do I have to use a cast iron skillet? No. Use any large, oven-safe skillet with a lid. If your skillet doesn’t have a lid, you can cover it tightly with aluminum foil. If you can’t transfer your skillet to an oven, transfer the pork chops to any other oven-safe pan for baking.
• Can I use fresh apples instead of apple pie filling? You could make a homemade cooked apple topping, but I wouldn’t simply substitute raw apples cup-for-cup. The prepared pie filling provides both the tender apples and the sweet sauce that are part of this recipe.
• Why do pork and apples go together? The mild savory flavor of pork is a natural match for the sweetness and slight tartness of apples. Add onions, sage-style stuffing, and cinnamon, and you get a classic sweet-and-savory combination.

More Pork Recipes to Love

There are so many different cuts of pork to enjoy, and I have many pork recipes on my website for you to love. Different cuts require different cooking techniques and internal cooking temperatures too. Iowa Pork makes it easy for you to figure out those internal temperatures with their Pork Cooking Temperature Guide.

If you love pork chops like we do, be sure to check out these No Peek Pork Chops and Rice, Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy, Baked Pork Chops with Stuffing (a great way to use up extra stuffing from the holidays!), and these yummy Taco Pork Chops, too!

Last summer I shared this Pepperoni Pizza Burger, perfect to make on the grill or indoors all year long. Some other Iowa Pork favorites include Pork Stew (pictured above), Dr. Pepper Pork Ribs, Creamy Bacon Soup, Pork Roast and Gravy, Pork Roast and Sauerkraut, and this Iowa classic: Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.

See ALL of my Pork Recipes Here

Be sure to follow along with Iowa Pork on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for delicious pork recipes year-round!

The minute cooler weather arrives, I start craving meals just like this one. These Pork Chops with Apples & Stuffing have everything I want in a cozy dinner: juicy pork, buttery onions, sweet apples, and savory stuffing, all together in one skillet.

It’s simple enough for a family dinner but pretty enough to serve when you have company. And that combination of pork and apples just seems made for those first crisp evenings of fall.

Thank you to Iowa Pork for sponsoring this recipe and for supporting the work I do here at An Affair from the Heart.