Pork Chops and Applesauce

My pork chops and applesauce recipe is an easy sheet pan meal for a busy weeknight. Tender pork chops are roasted with potatoes and onions.
(Originally published 6/30/2018 and updated for content 9/11/2024)

If you like this recipe, check out my Broiled Pork Chops next!

Pork chops and applesauce is a classic comfort food combo. Did you happen to hear that previous sentence in Peter Brady’s voice? If you were a Brady Bunch fan like me, you likely never forgot Peter Brady talking about “pork chops and applesauce”. This recipe is the perfect meal, which includes two kinds of roasted potatoes and onions. The applesauce in the marinade really seals in the moisture as the pork chops are baking. Making for really tender and juicy chops!

I usually make this recipe with unsweetened applesauce. But you could really elevate it with homemade applesauce. I have a great Crockpot Applesauce recipe that I make many times each fall season because my kids love it so much!

More pork recipes

• Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut
• Apple Butter Glazed Pork Tenderloin
• Individual Pork Wellingtons

Ingredients for pork chops and applesauce

• Pork Chops – I have only tested this recipe with boneless pork chops. And I prefer using thicker chops, usually at least 1-inch thick.
• Applesauce – I usually make this recipe with unsweetened applesauce. But to really elevate it, make it with homemade applesauce. And serve some more on the side for dessert.
• Russet Potatoes – I use two russet potatoes that I peel and slice into wedges.
• Sweet Potato – Sweet potatoes really add a nice extra dimension of flavor to this dish.
• Onion – A roasted sweet onion pairs so nicely with the potatoes and pork.
• Olive Oil – My personal favorite oil for roasting vegetables.
• Steak Sauce – Use your favorite brand. I like the Lawry’s Steakhouse Marinade for this recipe.
• Honey – Adds some sweetness to the marinade. You could substitute honey with a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar if you prefer.
• Mustard – I prefer using yellow mustard but you could use Dijon if you want to.
• Paprika – I originally tested this recipe with smoked paprika but you can also use sweet paprika.
• Cayenne Pepper – I like the heat this adds to the flavor profile.
• Salt – Season the finished pork chops to taste with more salt before serving.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. In a small bowl whisk together the applesauce, steak sauce, honey, mustard and one teaspoon salt. Pour it over the pork chops, coating both sides. Allow them to marinate as you pre roast the potatoes and onions.

Toss the prepared potato and onion wedges with the olive oil, paprika, cayenne pepper and remaining salt. Roast them for 20 minutes. Push the potatoes and onions to the perimeter of the pan.

Place the marinated pork chops in the center of the sheet pan. Bake again for an additional 20 minutes. Take the temperature of the pork chops. Continue baking an additional 5 minutes, if needed, until the pork reaches a minimum of 145 degrees F. Allow the pork to rest for 3 minutes before serving.

Pro tips

• Choose pork chops between 1 and 1 1/2 inches thick – I like to purchase my chops direct from the meat counter so that my chops are all about the same size.
• I prefer boneless chops for this meal as they are easier to cut and eat but you could use bone-in pork chops if you like.
• I marinate the pork chops while the potatoes and onions are pre-roasting.
• I line my sheet pan with parchment paper so the roasted potatoes and onions release easily from the pan. I’ve tested this recipe with foil, and I much prefer parchment paper for it’s nonstick ability.
• 145 degrees F is the recommended internal temperature for fully cooked pork chops, followed by a 3-minute rest before eating.

Serving suggestions

Serve the pork with a green vegetable or salad and some additional applesauce on the side. Like I said previously, if you really want a WOW factor, make your own apple sauce!

• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Sugared Walnut Grape Salad
• Crockpot Applesauce
• Apple Dapple Cake

Storage directions

Store any leftover pork and vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave. Or in the air fryer at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Kitchen tools

• My favorite reliable and inexpensive meat thermometer (instant read)
• Sheet pans for baking
• Parchment paper for lining the sheet pans – easy clean up and no sticking

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