Artificial Flavors Free Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops
There's something deeply satisfying about a pork chop with a glossy, caramelized glaze, and this one delivers that restaurant-quality finish using nothing but real, whole ingredients. The warmth comes from a hand-mixed blend of turmeric, ground ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon rubbed directly onto the meat — no spice packets, no flavor enhancers, just honest pantry staples doing their job beautifully. The glaze builds from unfiltered apple cider, a splash of apple cider vinegar, honey, and fresh thyme, all reduced in the same pan until syrupy and deeply fragrant. For anyone trying to avoid synthetic additives, this kind of from-scratch approach is exactly what makes a weeknight dinner feel trustworthy — every single component is something you can read and recognize. Searing the chops in coconut oil first locks in a gorgeous golden crust before they finish in that bubbling cider reduction, so the texture is as good as the flavor. The result is tender, juicy pork draped in a sweet-tart glaze with just enough spice to keep things interesting. Serve it straight from the skillet with the pan sauce spooned generously over the top.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 bone-in pork chops (about ¾ inch thick, 6–8 oz each)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
For the glaze
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 cup apple cider (unfiltered, unsweetened)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pat the pork chops completely dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, stir together the salt, turmeric, ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon. Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of each chop.
- 2
Heat the coconut oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the pork chops in a single layer and sear, undisturbed, for 4 minutes, until the underside is deep golden and releases easily from the pan. Flip and sear the second side for 3–4 minutes, until equally golden.
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