Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
Apple and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops are thick, juicy pork chops filled with a sweet-savory mixture of crispy bacon, tender apples, herbs, and cheese. Seared until golden and finished in the oven, this comforting dinner delivers bold flavor and impressive presentation with minimal effort.
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.
Notes
Use thick-cut pork chops for best results. A meat thermometer ensures perfectly juicy pork at 145°F.