Beginner Stuffed Pork Chops

This is one of my favorite pork dishes; my dad taught me to make it for the first dinner I cooked when I was 11. I like to serve this with some kind of sweet potato or garlic mashed potatoes and a vegetable.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 52 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 12 mins
• Calories: 461 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup apple juice
• 6 slices bacon, diced
• ½ cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend
• 4 toothpicks, or as needed
• 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided, or more as needed
• 3 Granny Smith apples, diced
• 4 (6 ounce) boneless pork chops, 3/4-inch thick

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet over medium heat; add bacon and stir until starting to soften and still underdone, about 3 minutes. Mix apples and brown sugar together in a bowl. Add to skillet; cook and stir filling until glazed, about 2 minutes.

Step 3

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet over high heat; fry pork chops, about 45 seconds per side.

Step 4

Transfer each pork chop to a flat work surface; lay flat. Use the tip of a sharp boning or paring knife to create a pocket by making a slit in the side; repeat with remaining pork chops.

Step 5

Stuff pork chops with filling and secure closed with toothpicks. Pour apple juice into a 9x13-inch baking pan; add pork chops. Sprinkle Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese on top.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until pork chops are no longer pink in the center, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).