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–+ servings
Cherry Balsamic Pork Chops garnished with fresh thyme sprig next to a spring salad.

Cherry Balsamic Pork Chops {Paleo, Gluten Free}

Katie AdamsKatie Adams
Tender pork chops are pan seared to golden perfection, coated in a rich, sweet cherry balsamic sauce, and ready in only 25 minutes!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 5
Calories 247 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 12" skillet
  • 1 kitchen tongs
  • 1 wooden spatula or spoon
  • measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients
  

For the Pork

  • 1¼-1½ lb pork chops I used boneless pork loin chops* and had 5 total
  • 1 scant tsp salt
  • several dashes black pepper

For the Sauce

  • ⅓ cup vegetable broth
  • ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup fresh cherries chopped
  • 3 tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ⅕ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Season pork all over with a scant teaspoon of salt and several dashes of black pepper.
  • Coat a 12" skillet with cooking spray (or 1½ tablespoon of neutral oil) and warm over MEDIUM heat.
  • When skillet is very hot add pork chops and cook undisturbed 4-5 minutes. Flip. (Meat should release easily when ready to flip.) Cook an additional 3-4 minutes until center is no longer pink and internal temperature reads 155℉.
    Pork chops cooking in a skillet.
  • Remove to a plate and cover with foil to allow the pork to begin to rest while making the sauce.
  • Using the same skillet, reduce heat to MEDIUM-LOW. Add thyme and salt. Sauté stirring frequently until fragrant about 30 seconds.
    Thyme and salt cooking in a cast iron skillet.
  • Deglaze the pan by add vegetable broth, balsamic vinegar, fresh cherries, and honey. Stir to combine. While pan sizzles and liquid starts to evaporate all the cooked on bits will loosen. Scrape them up while stirring to combine the sauce.** Bring to a simmer and cook stirring often for about 5 minutes. The cherries will also release juice during this time making it even more saucy! Remove from heat.
  • Add pork and accumulated juices back into the skillet. Stir in juice, spoon sauce over top of each pork chop. Cover with a lid and allow to rest 5 additional minutes. Enjoy!
    Cherry Balsamic Pork Chops in a cast iron skillet.

Notes

*This recipe also works well with bone-in pork chops.
**Resist any temptation to wash the pan between browning the pork chops and making the sauce. All those browned pieces of food are actually caramelized bits called fond that add flavor to these Cherry Balsamic Pork Chops! Make sure you follow the process of deglazing these flavor packed bits from the pan to have a phenomenally seasoned sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 25gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 292mgPotassium: 511mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 59IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
Keyword pork recipes, stove stop, under 30 minutes
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