Juicy Honey Apricot Pork Chops

Honey Apricot Pork Chops make an easy weeknight meal in less than 20 minutes. Juicy pork chops topped with a homemade sweet and tangy honey apricot reduction. Full of protein and is gluten-free for a healthy, comforting meal.

Pork chops are a favorite comfort food of mine and were enjoyed often growing up. It reminds me of the quality family time over dinner. With the fall season here, I’ll be cooking plenty of cozy meals and creating more special memories. These Honey Apricot Pork Chops just may become a favorite of yours as well.

Ingredients for Honey Apricot Pork Chops

• Pork Chops: boneless or bone-in
• Light olive oil: helps create a nice brown while cooking
• Rosemary: use fresh, not dried for best flavor
• White wine vinegar: adds a sharp tang to the sweet sauce
• Honey: sticky, sweet and delicious. A wonderful compliment to the pork.
• Dried apricots: these are chopped and added to the sauce for texture and flavor
• Apricot preserves: heightens the apricot flavor and helps create a delicious, sticky sauce
• Red pepper flakes: for a spicy kick

How to cook juicy pork chops in a pan

Here are a few of my favorite tips to make sure pork is juicy and cooked perfectly.

1. Bring pork to room temperature before cooking, for 20-30 minutes. This will ensure more even cooking throughout.
2. Be sure to not to overcook the pork, it seems obvious but it can be easily done. 4-5 minutes per side over medium-high heat is all that’s needed. Watch carefully and use a meat thermometer to check the desired internal temperature.
3. Once cooked rest the meat 3-5 minutes before serving. If you cut into meat that hasn’t been rested, juices will run out and the pork will be drier.

How to tell if pork is cooked?

Pork chops don’t take long to cook through, especially if they are thinner. After about 4-5 minutes on each side, check the internal temp with a meat thermometer. For medium rare cook to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. (followed by a three-minute rest). For well done, cook them to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

How to make pork chops with apricot sauce

1. Rub pork with salt, pepper, and rosemary.
2. Brown pork chops in skillet on both sides. Remove pork from pan and allow to rest.
3. Drain any excess liquid but keep brown bits in the pan. Add white wine vinegar and cook until reduced slightly.
4. Stir in honey, apricot preserves, chopped dried apricots, and red pepper. Cook until heated through.
5. Serve honey-apricot mixture over cooked pork chops.

Tips and things to note

• Use high-quality pork, preferably without hormones, antibiotics or nitrates.
• The thickness of pork chops will affect cooking time. Add more or less time depending on thickness.
• Remember to rest the meat before serving.
• You can easily adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey.
• Leftover pork can be used in salads, stir-fries or even sandwiches.
• Store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

What to serve with pork chops

These pork chops can be served with many different sides. Try serving them with a fresh salad and grilled veggies or roasted potatoes, green beans or asparagus. Here are some side dishes that would work great:

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Bacon Au Gratin Potatoes
• String Bean Casserole
• Fingerling Potato Salad

More pork recipes you might like:

• Juicy Grilled Pork Chops
• Spinach Parmesan Stuffed Pork Loin
• Cowboy Rub Grilled Pork Chops
• Sheet Pan Pork Chops
• Pesto Garlic Rubbed Roasted Pork Sirloin

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5 from 6 votes

Honey Apricot Pork Chops

Flavorful pork chops topped with a sweet and tangy honey apricot reduction.

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Keyword juicy pork chops, pork chops in skillet, pork chops with apricot

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes minutes

Total Time 18 minutes minutes

Calories 322kcal

Servings 4 servings

Author: Matt Ivan

Did you know? Servings and ingredient amounts can be adjusted on all my recipes. Click the green number above to change.

Ingredients

• ▢ 4 medium boneless pork chops, about 1.5 pounds
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon fresh minced rosemary
• ▢ 1 tablespoon light olive oil
• ▢ ⅛ cup white wine vinegar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons honey
• ▢ ¼ cup apricot preserves
• ▢ ⅛ cup chopped dried apricots
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

• Sprinkle pork chops on both sides with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Rub in to evenly coat.
• Heat olive oil to medium-high heat in a large skillet or pan. Add pork chops and cook 4-5 minutes until browned. Reduce heat to medium, rotate and cook the other side until browned. Pork should reach a minimum internal temperature of 145° F. measured with a thermometer. 
• Remove pork from pan, lightly cover with foil and allow to rest. Drain any excess liquid but keep brown bits in the pan. 
  
• Add white wine vinegar to the pan and cook on medium-high 2-3 minutes, until reduced slightly. 
• Stir in honey, apricot preserves, dried apricots, and red pepper. Cook until heated through. Serve honey-apricot mixture over cooked pork chops.

Notes

• Use high-quality pork, preferably without hormones, antibiotics or nitrates.
• The thickness of pork chops will affect cooking time. Add more or less time depending on thickness.
• Remember to rest the meat before serving.
• You can easily adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey.
• Leftover pork can be used in salads, stir-fries or even sandwiches.
• Store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Honey Apricot Pork Chops

Amount Per Serving

Calories 322 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 106mg35%

Sodium 516mg22%

Potassium 639mg18%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Fiber 0g0%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 34g68%

Vitamin A 185IU4%

Calcium 11mg1%

Iron 0.9mg5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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