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This fried pork chop recipe with Pumpkin Spiced Applesauce is one of my very favorite pork chop recipes. I mean, good gravy, Is there a more “Fall” dish than that?! If you are having the, “goodbye to summertime” blues, I promise this dish will wipe away your tears! Once you smell the pumpkin spicy applesauce bubbling and the see crispy pork chop browning in the pan you will be launched into full-on pumpkin spice season, err, Fall.
Ingredients
- 4 Porkchops about 1 inch thick. You can use either boneless or bone in.
- Herbes de Provence or dried Thyme
- Flour
- Panko Japanese breadcrumbs
- Salt and Pepper
- Half and Half
- Olive Oil
- 6 Apples
- 1 Lemon
- 1 Orange
- Brown Sugar
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Cinnamon
The Herbs
So. There are SO many wonderful things about living in Montana. For example, I have a view of the mountains as I pick the apples that I will be using in this Pumpkin Spiced Apple Sauce recipe. One of the major downfalls, however, is that Montana does NOT have a Trader Joes. I know! It should be illegal to not have a Trader Joes in every state, amiright?! So whenever I am anywhere near a TJ’s, I stock up on all of the very special necessities. One of these necessities for me, is their Herbes De Provence. This is a dried blend of Thyme, Marjoram, Savory, Rosemary, Basil, Lavender, and Sage. I do realize that you can buy this from other stores, but I just needed a little pity party. I am really missing my Trader Joes. So thank you for indulging me. And no, I don’t get any money from them for saying all of this, I am just a really huge fan! 🙂 Ok, moving on. If you are one of the lucky ones who have Herbes De Provence on hand, you can use this instead of the Thyme in this recipe. That is all.
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Why this is the Best Fried Pork Chop Recipe…
Pork Chops just feel like fall, don’t they? And if you ask me, these Thyme Crusted Pork Chops with Pumpkin Spiced Applesauce are the perfect transition to fall, dinner. The Thyme with the Japanese breadcrumbs feels light and summery. The cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger spices with the apples beckon you gently into fall.
One of the nice things that sets this recipe apart from others is the fact that it is a very light crust on the Pork Chop. This is because we are just using milk to adhere the crumbs to the Pork Chop and no eggs. The milk allows the crumbs to stick, but does not create a thick, pasty layer. You may have to push the Panko lightly into the Pork Chop, but no need to worry if it doesn’t seem like a lot are sticking. This is what you want!
How to make Pumpkin Spiced Applesauce…
Of course the juicy, crispy pork chop is melt in your mouth good and all, but the real star of this show is the Pumpkin Spiced Applesauce. I am pretty sure the layer I spread on my pork chop is just as thick as the pork chop itself. It is like fall in a single bite!
AND! It is SO easy to make. Pretty much just throw everything in the pot, cook it down, mash it up and serve! I like to use tarter apples because I feel like they tend to have more flavor, but of course you can use any variety you like. If you do use sweeter apples, you may want to use a little less sugar and a little more lemon juice. But this is a very adaptable recipe, so you do you!
If you are like me and like your applesauce a little chunky, you can simply mash the softened apples to your desired consistency with a fork or potato masher. If you prefer a smoother applesauce, you can use an immersion blender and blend it right in the pot! No problem if you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a food processor or even a blender. Just make sure the applesauce has cooled slightly before you blend it! You want it on your plate and not on the walls! ????
Other Super Yummy Recipes
Comfort Food
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Rigatoni with Creamy Mushroom Marsala
- Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie
- Mexican Chorizo Stuffed Peppers
Vegetable sides and Apps
- Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Toasted Sesame Aioli
- Blistered Shishito Peppers
- Burrata Caprese Crostini
Sweet Treats
- Citrus Glazed Orange Cardamom Cake
- Brownies with Salted Tahini Buttercream
- Almond Paste Pinecones
- Salted Spiced Rum Ginger Cookies
This fried pork chop recipe is classic perfection. However, if you want to break out of the box and try a little spin on this oldie, consider replacing the applesauce with this Fresh Fig Jam, or this Breakfast Bacon Jam.
I hope you enjoy this fried pork chop recipe and it helps you feel all the fall feels! I would love to hear from you in the comments below! Thank you and thank you for visiting Mollie in Montana~*! ♥️
Thyme Crusted Pork Chop with Pumpkin Spiced Applesauce
Ingredients
- 4 Pork Chops about 1" thick I like them with the bone in, but You can use boneless as well!
- 1 Tbsp Dried Thyme You can substitute the Thyme for Herbes De Provence if you have it!
- 1/2 Cup Flour
- 1 Cup Panko
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Cup Milk or Half and Half
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
Pumpkin Spiced Applesauce Ingredients
- 6 Large Apples
- 1/2 Lemon, Juiced
- 1 Orange, Juiced You may substitute 1/4 cup Orange Juice
- 1/4 Cup Water
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Pumpkin Spice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Rinse and Dry Porkchops
- Add Flour to a plate
- On a different plate, combine panko, thyme, and salt and pepper
- Add milk to bowl
- Dip Pork Chop in the milk and then into the flour. Dust off excess flour
- Dip Pork Chop in Milk again and then into the Panko and Herb mixture. You may need to press the Panko into it a little to get it to stick, but you don't need a thick crust.
- Set crusted Pork Chops on a cooling rack while you heat the Oil.
- Heat Olive Oil over moderate heat in Cast iron or other heavy bottomed pan until it is hot and thinly covering the bottom of the pan.
- Place Porkchops Carefully into the oil.
- Cook about 5 minutes per side, or until crust is nicely browned and internal temperature is 145F.
Pumpkin Spiced Applesauce Instructions
- Peel and Chop apples into large chunks
- Add all ingredients into pot and stir together well.
- Cook on medium heat with lid on, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes.
- Once apples soften and cook down, remove them from heat and mash them to desired smoothness. If you like your applesauce chunky, you can simply use a fork or potato masher. If you like it very smooth, you can use an immersion blender or food processor to blend.
- Enjoy it on your Thyme Crusted Pork Chops, and any leftover Applesauce can be stored in the fridge for up to a week!
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