An apple butter glaze sears flavor into these juicy grilled pork chops while adding a fresh apple salsa makes this dinner a surefire hit. Weeknight or weekend, this autumn main course might become a staple year-round!
When I think about pork chops I always think of serving them with apple sauce. The classic pairing of flavors is vintage to the core and seemed like a perfect topic for Vintage Kitty to put a modern twist on. Here we turn up the apple flavors by using apple butter as a baste/glaze and making a super fresh apple salsa for some pop.
As summer begins to wane and I watch the neighborhood kids go back to school, it seems time for an early fall recipe that can work on the grill (if the weather is nice) or indoors on a grill pan (if you’re trying this later in the season).
Pork is great because it is usually quite affordable and you can get it easily in a variety of thicknesses, and with or without a bone. So when Kevin and I were young, we ate lots of pork. Chicken every night gets boring and steak was not in the budget.
How to grill pork chops
When I was learning to make grilled pork chops I would always end up with a perfectly seasoned slice of shoe leather. In an effort to make sure I had my pork cooked well, I ended up cooking it too hard, too fast and not being patient with it.
Well times have changed. A number of years ago, the USDA dropped the cooking temperature recommendations down so that an internal temperature of 145F on pork chops is considered safe. So now pork is harder to overcook!!!!
But I’ve learned a number of cooking tricks too! First, I’ve discovered the joy of having a really nice thick, pork chop. If available, a bone-in chop is even better!
I went to a local butcher for these bone-in beauties and had them cut thicker than what they were displaying in the coolers. This slows down the cooking a bit (important to know if you’re trying this on a weeknight) but makes the meal look more impressive and also helps keep the chop juicy.
Another technique, if you’ve got the time, is to brine the pork chops using our apple cider brine for a more moist and flavorful dish. The secret is to brine just long enough, so about 1 hour for thin chops and up to three hours for thicker, bone-in chops. Too long a brine will result in salty meat so err on the side of caution.
Brining can be done ahead, so if you’re like me and buy meat in bulk, you can brine a whole batch and then freeze them individually for later.
Now keep in mind you only want to brine if your meat hasn’t already been brined. Check the package… if salt and water is on the list of ingredients, your meat is already brined.
The other trick is to always use a marinade or glaze. Pork chops tend to be a leaner meat, so it never hurts to add a little extra moisture. Here we’ve glazed the pork chops in an apple butter and butter mixture before and after grilling. It really sets in that apple flavor.
But we didn’t stop at the glaze! One of Kevin’s favorite things about fall is the abundance of apples so we also topped our grilled pork chops with a refreshing apple salsa.
I love the quick fresh flavor and crunch that a few minutes of chopping gives you with this salsa. I think that it makes this dish special. The different colors of the apples, red onion and cilantro really set off beautifully against the wonderfully grilled chops.
But the salsa isn’t just pretty garnish. It adds extra juiciness that is sweet, tart and mildly spicy while still allowing the pork flavor to shine through.
Mostly, I love to have a recipe or two in my back pocket in case I want to impress someone. This recipe for grilled pork chops is one of those dependable and delicious recipes. Weekday birthday, family visiting, impromptu cookout… this recipe is easy, low mess and can be scaled up or down for more or less people.
Grilled Pork Chops Recipe
Ingredients
Grilled Pork Chops
- 6 tablespoons apple butter
- 6 tablespoons butter , softened
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 large pork chops (boneless or bone-in)
Apple Salsa
- 2 limes , juiced
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 sweet apple (such as fuji ot gala) , finely diced
- 1 tart apple (such as granny smith) , finely diced
- 1 small red onion , finely diced
- 1 large jalapeno , finely diced
- 1/2 cup cilantro , finely chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Apple Salsa
- In a bowl, combine lime juice and sugar and stir to dissolve.
- Add the diced apples immediately after cutting to prevent browning.
- Stir in the diced jalapeno, onion and cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Grilled Pork Chops
- In a bowl, stir together apple butter and softened butter until smooth.
- Add in vinegar, salt and pepper and divide into two portions, one for basting and one for glazing the pork chops after they are cooked.
- Dry pork chops with paper towels and baste with half of the apple butter mixture.
- On a grill over medium heat (about 350-400F) place pork chops in a location with indirect heat. Halfway through cooking flip chops and cook to 145F.
- Before serving, glaze pork chops with the second portion of apple butter using a clean basting brush or spoon.
- Serve grilled pork chops topped with apple salsa.
Notes
Nutrition
Love this dinner entree? Check out all our main course recipes!
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Kim says
What a gorgeous dish!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Kim!
Jaide says
I love the apple salsa!
Vintage Kitty says
Then you’ll love this recipe Jaide!
Michael Wurm Jr. says
This sounds amazing! And you photography is STUNNING!! Bravo!!
xo Michael
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Michael! You’re so sweet!
Anna says
Loving that you paired grilled pork chops with apple salsa! Perfect dinner for late summer days!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Anna! That’s the idea!
Jamielyn says
Looks so yummy! Love the apple salsa idea!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Jamielyn!
Andie Thueson says
I always forget about pork chops! They are such a nice break every once in awhile.
Vintage Kitty says
Totally!
Kelly Anthony says
Apple salsa?! I have to say, this is fairly genius!! Looks super yummy to :)
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Kelly!!!
Jenni LeBaron says
These look like fantastic pork chops. I love the apple salsa because it lends a little bit of heat to the sweetness and tart of the apples!
Vintage Kitty says
Yes, that little bit of heat makes the dish!
Kim says
These pork chops look fantastic! It’s awesome that they are cooked in apple butter and apple cider vinegar and topped with apple salsa. Such a great flavor combination!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Kim! You can never have too much apple flavor!!!!!
Kiki Johnson says
Pork and apple is a match made in heaven and the idea to serve them with a fresh apple salsa is just genius! Perfect for late summer!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Kiki!
Lorie says
I recently got my hubby into pork chops and these are going to keep up the streak! Yum!
Vintage Kitty says
Let me guess, he found them dry? I think that’s why the FDA rolled back the cooking doneness a bit.
Jagruti Dhanecha says
Wow..salsa with apple, I am sold! I am going to make this so soon :)
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks for doing business with us ;-)
Chelsey says
These pork chops look devine! Love the apple salsa, so bright and fresh. Just looking at your photography is making me hungry!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Chelsey! My job is done!
lauren says
These photos are gorgeous!! The apple salsa sounds like the perfect pairing for the grilled pork chops too. A great way to switch up a classic dish. Definitely would love to serve this for a crowd
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Lauren. Seeing your beautiful work pushes me to keep up with you! And for everyone else reading these comments, Lauren’s Apple Cinnamon Whiskey Smash would be KILLER with this recipe!
Ashley says
I remember being freaked out by pork that was even a tiny bit pink when I was a kid. But now, oh maaaan it’s so juicy and delicious when it’s cooked through but still a bit pink in the middle. This pork looks SO elegant – that plating is totally on point!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Ashley!
Vanessa Vickery says
Perfect summer recipe!! I am loving the look of that apple salsa!
Vintage Kitty says
Looking like the hot weather will continue so we can enjoy this recipe for a while!
Heather says
Love this! Very creative to pair the two together. Gorgeous pics and such a great contrast of flavors and textures
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Heather!
Carolyn says
I do love pork chops and these look fabulous!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Carolyn!