Why You’ll Love This Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops Recipe
Picture this: thick, juicy pork chops sliced open to reveal a golden pocket of crispy bacon, tender sweet apples, and aromatic herbs. Each forkful delivers the perfect balance of smoky, salty bacon against the gentle sweetness of caramelized apples, all wrapped in succulent, perfectly seasoned pork. The apples soften during cooking, releasing their natural sugars to create a luscious, jammy filling that melts into the meat.
The bacon adds that irresistible crunch and smoky depth, while hints of sage and thyme bring earthy warmth to every bite. This is comfort food at its finest—rich, satisfying, and bursting with layers of flavor that dance across your palate. These pork chop recipes for dinner turn an ordinary weeknight into something special.
Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops Ingredients
- 4 thick-cut bone-in pork chops (1.5 inches thick)
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 medium apple, diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Thick-cut chops are essential here—they create the perfect pocket for stuffing while staying incredibly moist during cooking. The apple variety matters too; tart Granny Smith adds bright acidity while Honeycrisp brings honeyed sweetness.
How to Make Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
- Cook the bacon: In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 5-6 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon of bacon fat.
- Sauté the filling: In the same skillet with bacon fat, cook diced onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add diced apple and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened. Remove from heat.
- Mix the stuffing: Combine cooked bacon, apple mixture, breadcrumbs, cheese, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl. The residual heat will slightly melt the cheese, binding everything together.
- Prepare the pork chops: Create a pocket in each chop by cutting horizontally through the side, being careful not to cut all the way through.
- Stuff generously: Pack each pocket with the apple-bacon mixture, securing with toothpicks if needed. Season the outside of each chop with salt and pepper.
- Sear and bake: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chops for 3 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer skillet to a preheated 375°F oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Rest before serving: Let chops rest for 5 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving.
Tips for the Best Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
Choose the right chops. For pork chop recipes baked like this, thick-cut bone-in chops are essential. Thin chops won’t hold the stuffing and will overcook quickly, becoming dry and tough.
Don’t overstuff. While it’s tempting to cram in as much filling as possible, overstuffing causes the pocket to burst during cooking. Use about 1/3 cup of filling per chop for the best results.
Pre-cook the filling completely. This ensures everything is hot and the flavors are melded by the time the pork is done. Raw filling won’t cook through properly in the short baking time.
Use a meat thermometer. This is crucial for pork chop recipes in oven—145°F gives you juicy, slightly pink pork that’s perfectly safe to eat. Going higher dries out the meat.
Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops Variations
Blue Apron Pork Chop Inspiration: Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the finished chops for a tangy-sweet finish that complements the apple filling beautifully. The dark, syrupy glaze adds restaurant-quality presentation.
Crock Pot Comfort: For pork chop recipes crock pot, prepare stuffed chops as directed, then place in slow cooker with 1/2 cup apple cider. Cook on low for 4-5 hours for fall-apart tender pork chop recipes slow cooker style.
Air Fryer Speed: These pork chop recipes air fryer cook in just 16-18 minutes at 375°F. The circulating air creates a beautiful golden crust while keeping the stuffing moist and flavorful.
Instant Pot Method: Pork chop recipes instant pot work wonderfully—sear stuffed chops using the sauté function, then pressure cook for 10 minutes with 1/2 cup broth for incredibly tender results.
Skillet Only: For pork chop recipes skillet, reduce heat to medium-low after searing, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping once. Perfect for pork chop recipes easy weeknight cooking.
Boneless Option: Pork chop recipes boneless adapt easily—use thick boneless chops and reduce cooking time by 3-4 minutes.
What to Serve with Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
Creamy mashed potatoes or buttery mashed sweet potatoes provide the perfect canvas for any juices that escape from the stuffing. Their smooth, velvety texture contrasts beautifully with the crispy bacon.
Roasted Brussels sprouts or green beans add a slightly bitter, crispy element that cuts through the richness. A light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette brings peppery freshness that cleanses your palate between bites.
For pork chop recipes grilled variations, serve with grilled asparagus and corn on the cob for a complete summer feast.
Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops FAQs
Can I make these ahead of time? Absolutely! Stuff the pork chops up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking. This makes these pork chop recipes for dinner perfect for entertaining.
Can a diabetic eat pork chops? Yes! Pork chops are an excellent lean protein for diabetics. These pork chop recipes healthy can be adapted by using whole wheat breadcrumbs, reducing cheese, and choosing tart apples which have less sugar than sweet varieties. Pair with non-starchy vegetables for a balanced meal.
What if my chops are too thin? If you can’t find thick chops, butterfly regular-thickness chops by cutting almost all the way through, then open like a book. Pound slightly to even thickness, add filling, fold over, and secure with toothpicks.
Final Thoughts on Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops prove that simple ingredients can create extraordinary flavor. The combination of smoky bacon, sweet apples, and savory herbs transforms basic pork chop recipes into a show-stopping meal that tastes like it took hours to prepare. Each bite offers textural contrast and flavor complexity that keeps you coming back for more.
Whether you’re trying pork chop recipes easy enough for weeknights or impressive enough for guests, this recipe delivers every single time with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
Equipment
- skillet oven-safe
- mixing bowl
- meat thermometer
- toothpicks optional
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in pork chops (1.5 inches thick)
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 medium apple, diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 0.5 cup yellow onion, diced
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp fresh sage, chopped
- 0.5 tsp dried thyme
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Cook chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove and drain, reserving 1 tablespoon bacon fat.
- Sauté onion in reserved bacon fat until translucent. Add diced apple and cook until slightly softened. Remove from heat.
- Combine bacon, apple mixture, breadcrumbs, cheese, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Cut a pocket into each pork chop. Fill with stuffing mixture and secure with toothpicks if needed. Season outside with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet. Sear pork chops for 3 minutes per side until golden.
- Transfer skillet to a 375°F oven and bake for 15–18 minutes until pork reaches 145°F internally.
- Let pork chops rest for 5 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving.