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. Pork chops can be cooked in various ways, you can grill them like in a cowboy pork chop recipe. 

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 coleslaw salad and grilled veggies or roasted potatoes, candied green beans or asparagus. Here are some side dishes that would work great:

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Bacon Au Gratin Potatoes
• Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
• Fingerling Potato Salad
• Tropical Chicken Salad
• Honey Sriracha Coleslaw
• Baked Potato Wedges

More pork recipes you might like:

• Juicy Grilled Pork Chops
• Spinach Parmesan Stuffed Pork Loin
• Grilled Pork Satay Skewers
• Sheet Pan Pork Chops
• Pesto Garlic Rubbed Roasted Pork Sirloin
• Chile Verde Pork
• Carolina Pulled Pork

Honey Apricot Pork Chops

Written by Matt | Plating Pixels

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

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 13 minutes mins

Total Time 18 minutes mins

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 322 kcal

Equipment

• Non-Stick Pan
• Foil

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 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 nonstick 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

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

14

g

22

%

Saturated Fat

 

4

g

25

%

Cholesterol

 

106

mg

35

%

Sodium

 

516

mg

22

%

Potassium

 

639

mg

18

%

Carbohydrates

 

11

g

4

%

Fiber

 

0

g

0

%

Sugar

 

11

g

12

%

Protein

 

34

g

68

%

Vitamin A

 

185

IU

4

%

Calcium

 

11

mg

1

%

Iron

 

0.9

mg

5

%

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

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

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