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The combination of pork and apples is the first meal I think of during the fall. The pairing is traditional and is sometimes swapped out for applesauce.
Pork is a simple, savory meat and apples offset it with a slight sugary note. Fruit has the amazing ability to provide sweetness to a meal without making it seem like a dessert. The apples gain an almost savory quality, especially when mixed with cabbage.
To make this a one-skillet meal, the chops are brined first to ensure a well-seasoned and juicy meat. Once brined, they’re browned but not fully cooked. Onions and cabbage are cooked, pulling up any drippings left from the pork. Lastly, apples are added. The pork lays on top of the cabbage and apples and everything is finished in the oven, braising the cabbage and apples and finishing the pork perfectly.
Now that’s a great weeknight meal!
Why pair apples with pork?
There are a lot of theories as to why these two are always paired together. One is that, in ancient times, the acidity of apples helped digest meats such as pork. Another is that farmers used to let pigs clean up the orchards of any fallen apples, thus associating the two.
The one I think is most true is that in the fall, when apples are usually ripe, farmers often begin butchering their meat and eventually put the two together.
Apples are a great fruit to cook with, but picking firm, crisp apples is important so that they hold up during the cook time. Adding the savory, slightly sweet allspice lifts the cabbage and brings the apples and cabbage into a perfect combination.
Do bone-in pork chops have to be used?
No, you can use boneless pork chops as well. Boneless will cook slightly quicker so be sure to watch closely. Leaving the bone on the pork chops helps retain moisture during the cooking time and gives slightly more flavor to the meat.
Does allspice work well with cabbage?
Allspice usually seems like it’s reserved for apple pies and crisps. The spice is made from ground dry berries of Pimenta dioica trees and is related to cloves. The spice works surprisingly well in the marinade for the pork chops and in the cabbage and apples component of this dish. The slight hint of the warming spice marries together the various flavors and ingredients. When eating, you cannot place the fact that allspice is used, but you enjoy the warm spice flavor imparted in each bite.
More pork recipes
Citrus Glazed Pork Roast
Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Squash
Spiced Pork & Nectarine Summer Salad
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Watch how to make this cabbage and apples recipe
Pork Chops with Cabbage and Apples
Ingredients
For the pork chops
- 4 6-oz bone-in pork chops
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp allspice
- ¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the cabbage and apples
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 lb cabbage sliced
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large apples
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, and black pepper. Mix together. Sprinkle on all sides of pork chops, using all the spice mixture. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.1 tbsp kosher salt, ¾ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp allspice, ¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper, 4 6-oz bone-in pork chops
- Once the pork chops have brined, remove them from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Over medium heat, add 1 tbsp neutral oil in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet. Brown the pork chops on both sides, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet add the sliced onions and salt to the remaining oil and pork drippings. Sauté until softened and slightly brown, 4-5 minutes. Deglaze the pan by adding the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, allspice, and pepper. Add the sliced cabbage and cook until beginning softened and slightly reduce in volume, 4-5 minutes. Add the apples. Stir and add the pork chops on top.1 medium onion, 1 tsp kosher salt, 2 lb cabbage, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 2 large apples
- Roast in the oven until the pork chops reach 155°F. Remove the skillet from the oven and allow the pork chops to rest for 10 minutes to finish cooking and reach a temperature of 160°F.
- Slice off the bone or leave whole and serve with the cabbage and apples.
Another excellent video, and delicious Autumnal recipe! I truly enjoy your wonderful recipes and enthusiasm. Your demos are well planned, excellent organization, and the presentation is always attractive!
I watch you on Facebook every chance I’m able. Much appreciation for inviting us into your kitchen, and garden. You inspire me to get back into the kitchen and try new dishes. You are delightful, truly a real treasure, and no doubt, you make your Mom so very proud sharing family recipes! Thank you Kaleb! Congratulations👏👏👏👏👏🥰
I am giving this a 5 star, although I have not cooked it yet. I love love love your recipes and how you use basic ingredients to make wonderful meals. I made your apple butter and will be making the kale squash salad today. This recipe here will be on the menu after I get the pork chops. I watch the Food Network all the time, and rarely actually make any of the meals as there are way to many ingredients, I am super basic. So I appreciate how you do your thing! Thanks bunches, you are a gem 💎.
Ummmmmm…. Yesssssss! This recipe was so delicious! My 4 children LOVED it and my husband said it was one of the best pork chop meals he has ever had! I am a vegetarian, so I made some roasted garlic mashed potatoes and ate the cabbage/apple mix with it and it was perfection, so I can only imagine how good the pork was based on everyone’s reaction! This will be in rotation in my kitchen for sure! Thank you!
I don’t have a meat thermometer. Approximately how long does it take for the pork chops to reach 155-160 degrees? Thanks. Can’t wait to make the pork chops with cabbage and apples. Love watching your videos.
Mine took just 15 minutes, pork chops are an inch thick.
I found the time for the pork chops in the oven to be the same as well around 15 minutes.
Wow, my house smells wonderful! Loved this dish! Thank you Caleb
I made this tonight What a great Fall dish My husband loved it Definitely a winner
Oh. My. Gumby. So delicious! I watched the video and knew I had to make it. I love trying new recipes, especially using healthy and seasonal ingredients! Love it!
Absolutely delicious great on this cold rainy day. I did cut back a smidge on the salt. Bless you and your cooking skills,!!!
Made the pork chops with apples and cabbage for dinner today and it was wonderful! The flavors reminded my husband and I of when we lived in Germany….it is a keeper!!
I made the pork chops with cabbage and apples recipe. It was so good! great flavor! my husband and my dad loved it too! thank you for sharing that!!!!
I made this last night. Shared with family members. Everyone loved it. Thanks!
I made this tonight and my husband loved it! It was so delicious and a wonderful fall inspired meal!!
Thank you! I had not made pork chops for a long time and our family loved this recipe! The combination with red cabbage and apple was delicious. Just so you know for the gluten free issues I find many of your recipes gluten free or easily adaptable as well.
Just finished this delicious dinner tonight. We loved it! I was pleasantly surprised at how easy this was to put together. I already had all the ingredients in my fridge/freezer/pantry.
My chops were about 1” thick and only took about 10-12 min. in the oven.
I will certainly be making this again soon.
Thanks Kaleb❤️
This was absolutely wonderful. My whole family loved it. Thank you for sharing
Love all he recipes and gardening tips. He has so many great tips to share and he is amazingly talented:) And l love how he speaks about his mother and grandmother.
Easy to put together and very good. Thanks for another great recipe!!!
This sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing. I try to avoid sugar. Has anyone made this without the apples? Thank you!
Oh my! Kaleb, this is wonderful. I found a great deal for a couple 2 inch thick bone-in chops and wanted to do them justice. The warmth of the allspice is a perfect flavor kicker! You are right when you mentioned the salt is needed for the dry brine – it was perfect. I’m going to post a picture on IG because you deserve some attention on this one. Mmmmm I love this recipe! It’s a keeper!
not a fan lacks flavor for us. technique was great and love how recipes are written
Have been watching you awhile …love all your recipes … hard to believe you are not a professional chef … you have all the qualifications to being a great chef !! Also your gardening tips as well . Enjoy watching you and all your gardening tips and delicious recipes. Thank you for sharing.
We had the Pork chops with cabbage & apples for dinner tonight. I am a Southern cook from Georgia so I have to admit I have never cooked pork chops with cabbage. My pork chops usually turn out somewhat dry. I have improved over the years, but tonight’s dinner was amazing. My husband & I enjoyed this meal so much. It is a definite have again meal. I recently started following you on FB and admire your energy and all the things you accomplish in & outside your home. Happy Thanksgiving from a fan in Georgia!
Our second time making this dish which has escalated to a family fave. Incredibly delicious and healthy. Popping the whole skillet into the oven is so genius!
Allspice is one of my secret weapons! My mother always used it whole in soups and pickled beets.
I am so happy that I found your Pork Chops and Cabbage recipe because I really do feel badly for my kids. I cannot cook. I admit it. I made this recipe last night and my 16-year-old daughter said, “I gotta admit, when I see that you are making chicken or pork, I don’t want to eat it.” Well, I don’t want to eat it either. Your pork chops are so well seasoned that my daughter and my 20-year-old son, who typically takes forever to eat, both ate their chops in record time. We pretty much figured out that we aren’t fans of cabbage, but I’m going with 5 stars based on the fact that these chops were enjoyed by all, and I will definitely make them again…only with a thicker cut chop because the thinner cut that I purchased simply wasn’t enough. I’m definitely going to look at your other recipes! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Delicious! Moist chops, flavorful veg! Easy to do and well worth it. 5 stars from us
OMG. So good my husband kept saying how good it smelt! Delicious!
Making the cabbage, pork apple one skillet dish right now. Smells yummy! My chops are not at thick as the ones in his video. I adapted. So proud of myself I had everything to do this. Can not wait to taste this!
Why am I rating a recipe I haven’t tried? The video convinced me to try this tonight. It looks easy; it’s one pot; and, looks yummy