Instant Pot Autumn Apple Pork Chops are incredibly delicious! These pressure cooker pork chops are rich and warm tasting with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg in an incredible apple gravy. My family’s absolute favorite pork chop recipe!
Originally published on Oct 19, 2017
Instant Pot Autumn Apple Pork Chops
I typically make pork chops with a mushroom gravy, and they come out tender and delicious. But when I make these, my family runs to the table! When we start eating, it gets really quiet, and all you can hear is yum, and mmmm after every bite.
Being a Washington girl, I’m used to having apples around all year long. The Autumn apples are my favorite, as they seem to have a freshness and sweet flavor that you can’t get any other time of the year.
I would still make this dish with any apples, but Fall ones are my favorite! I like Fuji or Red Delicious, as I prefer sweet apples in this recipe.
Part of the charm is the way the flavors play off of each other. The sweet of the apple and brown sugar, and the savory flavors of the pork, salt, and the onion. And just a touch of spice to set it off. Perfection!
These Instant Pot Autumn Apple Pork Chops are very simply made. You can easily make these on a busy weeknight. You don’t even have to peel the apples! I never do!
I hope you try this pressure cooker pork chops recipe. It is delicious, and kids of all ages love it!
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If you make these delicious Instant Pot Pork Chops, please leave a comment and a star rating below. I’d love to know how you liked them!
Instant Pot Autumn Apple Pork Chops are rich and warm tasting with just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. My family’s absolute favorite pork chop recipe!
- 3 Apples (I prefer a sweet variety, like Red Delicious) sliced about 1/4" thick
- 1 Small Sweet Onion (Walla Walla, Vidalia, etc) Cut in half and thinly sliced.
- 2-4 Pork Chops (I prefer bone-in 3/4")
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 1/4 cup Plus 1 Tbsp Water (divided)
- 4 Tbsp Butter (unsalted)
- 4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
- Pinch of Salt
- 2 Tbsp Corn Starch
- 3 Tbsp Cold Water
- 2-4 Small Potatoes (to cook with pork chops as a side dish)
- Chopped Pecans (optional)
Prepare apples by coring, and slicing (peeling is optional. I never do). Set aside.
Remove the outer skin of the onion. Cut in half and slice thinly (You will have half circles). Set aside.
Season the pork chops with a sprinkling of salt and pepper on each side. Go lightly on the pepper. Set aside while pot warms up.
Turn the IP to Sauté mode (Normal heat). When the display reads "Hot" add the oil to the pot.
Add the pork chops, two at a time, and brown on each side for about 4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and set aside.
Add the onion and 1 Tbsp water. Cook the onion, stirring frequently and scraping to deglaze the pot (get all of the brown bits off the bottom). I like to use a wooden spoon.
When the onions are translucent and tender, add the butter and stir until melted.
Add the apples and 1/4 cup water. Stir well.
Add the pork chops (and any juices on the plate) back in and just set them on top of the apples. Don't stir.
If you are cooking potatoes with this dish, set them on top of the pork chops. Leave them whole (small potatoes).
Put the lid on the pot and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position. Cancel the Sauté mode.
Press the Manual (or Pressure Cook) button and then the + or - button to select 10 (8 minutes for thinner chops) minutes.
***Yes, the pot will come to pressure with only 1/4 cup of water in it. This is because the apples will release water as the pot is heating up and building pressure, so you will be okay. It's the same for making applesauce!
While the pork chops are cooking, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
When the cook cycle ends and the pot beeps, don't do anything to it, just let it naturally release pressure for 10 minutes (the counter will begin counting up). After the 10 minutes is up, turn the steam release knob to manually release the remaining pressure.
When the pin in the lid drops, open the lid. Remove the pork chops (and potatoes) to a plate and cover with foil or a lid to keep warm.
Turn the Sauté mode back on.
Add the brown sugar mixture to the apple mixture and stir.
Mix the corn starch with the cold water. Stir the corn starch slurry into the apple mixture, stirring constantly.
When the mixture thickens, turn off the pot. Remove apple gravy to a serving bowl immediately.
Serve the pork chops smothered in the warm apple gravy. Yum!
Garnish with chopped pecans, if desired.
Resources To Make Instant Pot Autumn Apple Pork Chops and More
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We made this recipe tonight and it was a hit! I made it exactly as directed an it turned out perfect. So excited to add this to our regular family menu.
Hi Cynthia! Yay! I’m really happy that you like this recipe! It is my favorite pork chop recipe. I will eat that apple gravy piled high on every bite of pork! It’s time to make it again! Thank you so much for your review!
Oh my goodness this looks delicious, I hope to try it this week! The Cajun pasta turned out so good, I’m glad I’ve found your website so I can explore with my new instant pot.
Hi Susan! This is a tasty pork chop recipe! I love fruit with pork. Hope you like it!
Tried you dish tonight for dinner and found it fun to make and more fun to eat it! Really delicious, we will definitely make it again.
Hi Dori, I’m really glad that you liked this recipe! It is fun to make! I always eat way more of the apple gravy that anything else! Love that stuff! Thank you for taking the time to review this recipe!
Wonderful! I’ve just had my Instant Pot for a couple of months and this was my first successful pork chop recipe. There are so many different pork chops; thick, thin, bone-in, boneless. I’ll buy pork chops that look similar in thickness to the particular recipe I’m attempting to make. My question in reference to my past recipe failures is, if the recipe time is up and the pork chop is chewy, does that mean it is overcooked or not cooked enough? I’ve ended up feeding my failures to the eager crows in my yard! Thank you!
Hi Tempe, I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe. A tough pork chop is often the result of overcooking, and sometimes you just get a tough one. I prefer bone-in as I get better results from them.
This was so yummy and so easy. I absolutely loved the new and different taste of these porkchops. Not your run of the mill dinner! Thank you for a wonderful recipe that I will cherish and share with my friends and family.
Hi Sherry! I’m happy that you like this pork chops recipe! I can never get enough of that apple gravy! Thank you for the nice review!
First thing I made in my new Instant Pot! This recipe is really delicious! Pork, onion and apple is a wonderful combination. I have made this several times, and it is always a hit. Thank you!
Hi Martee! I’m so happy that you like this pork chop recipe! Thank you for taking the time to write a review!
Absolutely delicious. I’m making this for the third time in 6 weeks. It is that good. The pork chops are so tender. I use bone-in chops. The apple gravy is so good. This is a great recipe. Thank you Sandy.
Hi Kim! You and I both feel the same about this recipe! I just bought pork chops today and am making this for dinner tonight, lol! I’m so happy that you like it! Thank you for taking the time to review this recipe.
I’m trying this tonight, so cross your fingers! Two small changes: I’m using Honey Crisp apples, and I put in carrots instead of potatoes. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Has anyone tried this yet with sweet potatoes?
We just tried this with sweet potatoes and it was SO DELICIOUS!!! Such a great autumn dish.
Hi. I like the sound of this recipe and plan to make it this week. I was wondering if it could be made with 8 chops and more potatoes and if so, what time/other ingredient modifications you’d suggest? Thanks.
Hi Kim, I think if 8 chops fit in your pot, then go for it! After cooking, check to make sure all of the chops are cooked evenly.
Wondering if it worked with the 8 chops? Planning on making tonight with about the same.
Can I change brown sugar to swerve for keto and olive oil to vegtable oil. can xanthum gum be an exchange for corn starch to make more keto friendly
I haven’t tried those substitutions, but they sound like they will work.
Made this tonight and was kinda concerned about there only being 1/4 C. Water so increased it to 1/2C. Worked great! I had 4 very thin pork chops and they were very tender. I have a mini pot and kept the cooking times the same. Will make again’
Hi Shelley, the apple has a lot of water in it, so that helps. I don’t like my gravy to get watery, so i only use 1/4 cup. I’m glad it worked for you!
My family loves these! I am wondering though if and how these could be made without an instant pot? My son just moved out on his own and doesn’t have an instant pot yet, but he loves these chops. I know he can just pan fry the chops, but what about the gravy? I am lost on how to convert this. Please help.
Hi Janet, I’m happy that your son likes these pork chops! I think I would Brown the chops but not cook them all the way. Remove to a plate. Then sauté the onion in the butter, then add the apple to it and cook a few minutes. Add the pork chops, cover, and bake at 350° for maybe 25 minutes? He’ll need to check that. Then remove from the oven and add the brown sugar mixture and stir well. Might need to turn on the stove to thicken. Then add the chops back in and enjoy! I love this recipe, and now I need to make it again!
I made this tonight and the family really enjoyed it. I thought this was my first time, but when I went to save the recipe, I found that I’d already done that when I made this several months prior. I’ll have to put this in regular rotation for Sunday dinner. It’s easy and uses things I typically have on hand. I used quartered sweet potatoes instead of whole white potatoes and they were good, soft, but not too mushy. Thanks for the spot on directions.
Absolutely delicious! That apple-onion gravy is so good with the pork chops. I had some sweet peppers I needed to use up, so I threw just a few in with the apples. Worked pretty well, if I do say so myself. I’m keeping this recipes, peppers or not, in my rotation. Thank you!
Hi Tyler! I’m so happy you like this pork chop recipe! I could eat that apple gravy with a spoon. Okay, I do! I’m glad you found that your peppers worked well in it, that’s a great tip for using up extra veggies! Thanks so much for your review!
I’m confused… I’ve always mixed my cornstarch with cold water…then mixed it into the hot liquids to thicken. I followed these directions, and my cornstarch thickened into a gummy lump instead of dissolving. I tossed it. Then I mixed the 2tbsps cornstarch with cold water, and mixed into the apples and liquid on saute in the IP and it came out great! Did I read it wrong? Regardless…it was FABULOUS!! Thanks for the recipe. My family LOVED it!
Hi Amy, I’m so glad you liked this recipe. As for the corn starch slurry, I clarified it so no one else is confused. Thank you for your review!
I just made these for dinner and they turned out great. The gravy was very tasty. Definitely will make again. This was my second Instant Pot recipe. Thank you for the recipe.
Awesome! Thank you for your review!
I plan on making this for Christmas for my family, only thing is that I need to make 5 chops instead of 2-4.. should I add in plenty of extra liquid/apples for the extra one?
Just add the extra chop, you will have enough of the apple gravy.
Excellent recipe. Even better day two. Great way to make moist pork chops. Will definitely be making this again. We used Granny Smith and yellow onions since that’s what was at hand.
Thank you, Deb! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I’ve made this twice now and it just might be my favorite IP recipe! It reminds me of the pork chops and applesauce my mom used to make when I was a kid. The chops come out so tender (I do bone-in). I decided to mix up the apples – one Granny Smith, one Gala and one Fuji. It’s perfect. I was worried about throwing potatoes in there to cook with everything else, thinking they would come out tasting like apple cinnamon, but nope. They are great. I made 4 chops and still had SO much apple gravy left over, so I made some potato latkes for breakfast and served with the apple gravy and some sour cream. It was delicious!
Hi Jenny, boy does that sound delicious! I adore latkes with applesauce, so this must have been awesome! Thank you for your review!
This was wonderful. I made it exactly as described. The apples I used were Gala and they made the perfect gravy. I thought my pork chops were a bit thicker than what you described so I cooked it longer. Like 3 minutes longer. That was a bad idea because they were tough. I added 4 Yukon gold potatoes, not the baby ones, and they were cooked to perfection. Next time I will try sweet potatoes. This is a five star keeper.
Exceptional! Made this for tonight’s dinner and was completely impressed! Tender juicy chops and the apple topping was just…..well, absolutely super yummy! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Sara. I’m so glad you liked it!
I fixed this recipe a few months ago and I’m here to tell ya, my dear hubby doesn’t want pork chops any other way now. LOL! So, for my weekly meal planning I need to include this terrific dish. I love the apple gravy so much I claim any pan leftovers. I always make a big batch, and sometimes add carrots on top, so I can pack a couple of lunches for hubby after we finish dinner. Sandy, you need to add a warning:
Fixing this wonderful meal will have your family wanting pork chops no other way. Lol
I love it! I feel the same way about these pork chops! Thank you for your review!
This was delicious! I cut the sugar in half, still plenty sweet. I think the butter helped with the deglazing and preventing the dreaded burn notice..consider yourself Pinned! Thanks
This was sooo good. This is the first time I’ve commented on an on-line recipe. So often the recipes need major adjustments, but this is really just fine. I suppose one could cut down on the sugar a bit if they wished, but I didn’t think it was too sweet.
Chops and taters done to perfection. And that sauce…I want to just spoon it into my mouth by itself.”
(I’d rate it 5 stars, but for some reason I couldn’t click the stars and have them activate. Sorry)
Thank you, Denise! Looks like the stars worked. I appreciate your review, and I’m so glad you like the recipe! It’s my favorite!
I made it tonight with 2 pork chops. Came out great. I love the gravy have some left over can it be saved? Will definitely make again.
Great! Yes, you can freeze or keep the gravy in the fridge for a couple of days.
Would you be able to adjust this for the slow cook setting on the instant pot? I’m thinking for nights I might not have 45 mins but could start earlier in the day and maybe just then do the gravy at the end.
You can try the Slow Cook – More setting. That would give you a head start on the cooking. The slow cook function on the IP is notoriously weak. If it were me, I’d do a test run.
Holy guacamole this recipe was great! Our chops were 1″ bone-in and frozen, so I didn’t brown them and increased the cooking time by 5 minutes. Also, my electric pressure cooker (not an IP) requires at least 1/2 cup of liquid so I increased that with no noticeable issues. The apple gravy is amazing, I want it on everything!! This is my new favorite way to have pork chops. Thank you!
Oh my goodness, this was delicious!!! I’m fairly new to IP cooking. Your directions were easy to follow and that apple gravy deserves a much bigger superlative than delicious. I wanted to drink it! Will definitely make this again. Wouldn’t hesitate serving to guests.
I made this tonight. We had to light the candle to signify the gourmetness (yes, that’s a word now). I scaled it down to 1 porkchop (it’s what I had)… & gave it 5 mins/10 mins – making it perfect! So tender, so juicy! Ty for the recioe.
Oh my, this was so good! I don’t even like pork chops and I couldn’t get enough of this recipe. I agree with the others, I wanted to eat the gravy out of a bowl! Hope it gave this a 5 star rating, it doesn’t seem to be working for me. Thank you for a delicious dinner tonight, I will be making it again and again!