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Home / Main Dishes

Apple Cider and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops

4.12
/5
20 minutes minutes
42 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 09/16/2015

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Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze!  A “must try” recipe!

Boneless pork chops rubbed with a delicious spice mixture, grilled to charred perfection, and brushed with a finger-licking apple cider, orange and thyme glaze…. a perfect dish to welcome the Fall season!

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

I love love love apple cider!  There’s a farm about 15 minutes from us where you can pick your own apples and they have a shop where they have the most delicious apple cider… ahhhhh I’m about drooling just writing about it!

Apples and pork go really well together and the addition of the orange and thyme is just a yummy little zip that I know you’ll love.

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

I love how quickly this meal comes together!  Just 30 minutes or less.  I’ve been on a fast meals kick lately, like my 15 Minute Honey Pepper Beef Stir Fry 🙂

I found this great recipe on Pinterest from Delightful E Made, then added a few little things of my own.  Just mix together the rub spices and olive oil until it’s a dry paste consistency and rub all over the pork chops.

Let them sit for a few minutes to let the rub really sink in, while you whisk together the sauce and bring it to a boil, then reduce and simmer.  If you have nice weather near you, by all means, take these out to your outdoor grill!

As the pork is cooking, you’ll want to continually baste it with the sauce, it’s what will give you that incredible glaze.

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

As a quick side I sliced up some red delicious apples and grilled them alongside the pork chops, but that’s totally optional.  Some Stick of Butter Rice or Slow Cooker Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes would be awesome alongside as well!

IMG_5606-2IMG_6022-2-small

You’ll want to save that sauce that’s been simmering away, to drizzle over the pork chops right before serving… not only does it look stunning, more flavor is always great!

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

Feel free to try this sauce and rub with some chicken breasts as well… it would be equally delicious!

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

Be prepared to have this be your new favorite way to have pork chops!  I prefer the ease of the boneless chops, but bone-in would probably be even better 😀

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

I like to garnish my chops with a little fresh thyme leaves, but that’s optional as well.  I hope you all make and love these!

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Apple Cider Orange and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops | The Chunky Chef | Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

Apple Cider and Thyme Grilled Pork Chops

4.12 from 18 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
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Summer meets Fall in these apple cider orange and thyme grilled pork chops.. deliciously juicy and tender with a finger-licking glaze! A "must try" recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 - 1 1/2 lbs boneless pork chops
  • SPICE RUB:
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme minced (can substitute 1/4-1/2 tsp dried thyme)
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • CIDER GLAZE:
  • 1 1/2 cups apple cider
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp grainy Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp orange zest
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Combine cider glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat to LOW and simmer.
  • Preheat your grill pan or outside grill over MED/MED-HIGH heat.
  • Add spice rub ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Mixture will resemble a dry paste.
  • Dry pork chops then rub liberally with spice rub mixture. Really massage it into the meat.
  • Once grill is hot, spray with cooking oil then place the pork chops on the grill.
  • Brush with the sauce that's been simmering and grill for about 4 minutes or so.
  • Flip chops over, brush with sauce, and grill for about 4 minutes.
  • Continue to liberally brush the chops with the glaze as they cook, and once they're cooked through, remove them to a plate to rest for a few minutes.
  • Drizzle chops with some remaining sauce and sprinkle with fresh thyme before serving.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

** If using bone-in pork chops, increase cooking time accordingly
** Recipe adapted from Delightful E Made

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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4.12 from 18 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. veronica weissner says

    Posted on 11/18 at 8:01 pm

    This was delish!!!. I made this tonight, except I used chicken breast instead of pork. I did this for the points. I am on weight watchers and chicken breast is 0points and pork is anywhere from 5-7 point per piece.

    Reply
  2. Tamara Hopkins says

    Posted on 10/16 at 9:39 pm

    I made these tonight and they were amazing! They will definitely be on the menu again. The pork chops paired perfectly with sauteed green beans with onion and garlic.

    Reply
  3. Morgan @ChasingBites says

    Posted on 7/9 at 7:42 pm

    I made these for my husband and he really liked them! The rub worked well with the pork chops!

    Reply
    • Ada says

      Posted on 7/12 at 3:56 pm

      I want to make this recipe for tonight but don’t have apple cider just apple cider vinegar. What can I substitute it with?

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        Posted on 7/12 at 5:13 pm

        You can use apple juice, but nothing else is really going to have the same or similar flavor.

        Reply
  4. Katy says

    Posted on 12/9 at 10:08 am

    Apple cider is a great idea, it really makes meat softer without adding this unpleasant sour vinegar smell. Thaks for the recipe.

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    Posted on 11/28 at 7:52 pm

    This was excellent!

    Reply
  6. Stephanie says

    Posted on 9/26 at 1:39 pm

    Perfect Fall dish! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! This post has been pinned on the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! I love having you and can’t wait to see you next week!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/27 at 9:52 pm

      Thanks Stephanie! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Jennifer A Stewart says

    Posted on 9/22 at 8:46 pm

    Thanks for bringing these delicious chops to the party! What a great way to start fall with thyme and apple cider! Can’t wait to try these!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/23 at 9:31 pm

      Thanks so much Jennifer!! 😀

      Reply
  8. Judi Graber says

    Posted on 9/19 at 1:36 pm

    I can finally comment Amanda! I love, love apple cider too almost as much as apples. I might try it with chicken instead – the sauce sounds delicious. Thanks for bringing a delicious entree to Fiesta Friday 🙂

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/20 at 10:38 pm

      Yay!! Thank you Judi!! I hope you love the chicken version 😀

      Reply
  9. Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says

    Posted on 9/19 at 8:36 am

    Apples, thyme, and pork–a perfect match! These look just perfect and I am adding them to my meal plan tonight!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 9:05 am

      Thank you so much Kristen!! I hope you LOVE them 😀

      Reply
  10. swayam says

    Posted on 9/18 at 3:40 pm

    These look soo good!! I can imagine having this and just feeling at peace with the world.. hehe… Great pics too!! See you tomo for #SaucySaturdays 🙂

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 9:00 am

      Thanks so much Swayam!! 😀

      Reply
  11. Quinn Caudill says

    Posted on 9/18 at 1:43 pm

    My kind of recipe. A little habanero jelly wouldn’t hurt either. I know what you mean about the fall recipes. I have a 1/2 bushel of apples I need to work over this weekend. Have you taken the kids to Irons fruit farm yet to pick apples or for their pumpkin patch. Just down the street from you in South Lebanon. Have a great weekend.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 8:59 am

      Oooooh it would definitely be great with your habanero jelly! We have a little bit left, I’ll have to add it when I make these again next week 😀 Wow a 1/2 bushel of apples… that’s awesome! We take the kiddos every year to the pumpkin patch, but I do want to take them for some apple picking (plus I could use some to make some apple butter) 🙂 Love Irons!

      Reply
  12. Carlee @cookingwithcarlee says

    Posted on 9/17 at 11:10 pm

    Oh my goodness, those look good. We will have to fire up the grill this weekend!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 8:50 am

      Thanks so much Carlee!! If you make these, I hope you love them 😀

      Reply
  13. Des @ Life's Ambrosia says

    Posted on 9/17 at 10:19 pm

    What gorgeous pork chops! So perfect for fall!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 8:49 am

      Thank you Des!! 😀

      Reply
  14. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

    Posted on 9/17 at 1:56 pm

    Ooh! You’re so lucky to live near a farm. I think I love like 90 minutes away from one. Booo! I don’t like pork chops because they’re usually so boring and dry but these?! I really want to try them!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 8:46 am

      Thanks Erin!! Yeah we live sort of out in the country here, I love it 🙂 I’m usually anti-pork chop (for those reasons too), but if you wanted to, you could definitely do this with chicken instead 🙂

      Reply
  15. Carla (@charliesue) says

    Posted on 9/17 at 1:40 pm

    Oooh, loving the idea of apple AND orange- two total fall flavors come together!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 8:45 am

      Thanks Carla!! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Andi @ The Weary Chef says

    Posted on 9/17 at 9:18 am

    This looks so good! I can’t stop thinking about it. Indeed, a perfect dish to welcome the fall season!
    Great photos too!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/19 at 8:43 am

      Thanks so much Andi!! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says

    Posted on 9/16 at 9:07 pm

    Amanda, this looks amazing! What a lovely fall recipe…I definitely want to try it. I know my family will love this!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/16 at 10:02 pm

      Thanks so much Michelle!! I hope you all LOVE it 😀

      Reply
  18. Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector) says

    Posted on 9/16 at 1:38 pm

    These look mouthwatering!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/16 at 10:01 pm

      Thank you Jaren!! 😀

      Reply
  19. Lauren @ Hall Nesting says

    Posted on 9/16 at 9:45 am

    i love this glaze!! I’m so excited about all the fall recipes!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/16 at 10:00 pm

      Thank you Lauren!! Fall recipes are just awesome… so much comfort food 😀

      Reply
  20. Julie is Hostess At Heart says

    Posted on 9/16 at 9:16 am

    These chops WILL grace my table!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 9/16 at 10:00 pm

      I hope you love them Julie!! 😀

      Reply
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