Maple Glazed Pork Chops and Sweet Potatoes
These pork chops with maple syrup glaze always impress everyone but I’ll let you in on a little secret – this dish is really so easy to make. This fall-inspired dinner recipe is ready from start to finish in 1 hour making it not only perfect for a family Sunday dinner, but for busy weeknights, too! There are a few steps and stages, but everything is very simple and straightforward, beginning by brining the pork chops. That’s just a fancy way of saying you need to soak them in salty water for a little bit and the reason for doing so is that this helps ensure that your pork chops turn out juicy, tender, moist, and perfect. After brining and pan-searing, you’re going to glaze these pork chops with the most flavorful fall-inspired glaze that includes maple syrup, brown sugar, jam, cinnamon, and a touch of bourbon for that extra special pizazz before baking off the chops. Glazes and sauces are always my favorite part of any meal, and this one is no exception! Additionally, there are roasted sweet potatoes that are also rubbed with a buttery, maple syrup, brown sugar, and cinnamon coating. The sweet potatoes roast away in the oven while you’re working on your pork chops. Your house will smell divine! The pairing of roasted sweet potatoes with tender, juicy maple, and bourbon glazed pork chops is magical. When it comes to seriously satisfying fall dinner recipes, it doesn’t get better than this!
Ingredients in Maple Glazed Pork Chops
This list of ingredients may not be short, but they’re all simple and affordable. In fact, you might already have most of these in your kitchen right now!
Brine
Pork chops (bone-in works best!) – I like to use a nice and thick chop, about 1 inch thick to make sure I’ve got enough to work with to avoid dry pork chops at all costs, which can happen with thinner cuts. You can certainly use boneless pork chops instead, but they usually don’t need as long to cook so keep your eye on them Warm water Kosher salt Black pepper
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes – Make sure to cube the sweet potatoes in 1-inch pieces so that they cook through in the indicated baking time. If they’re too large, they’ll drag on much longer to bake through which isn’t fun when the family is waiting for dinner staring at you Unsalted butter Maple syrup – I strongly recommend using real maple syrup and not imitation maple syrup, also known as “pancake syrup Light brown sugar Cinnamon Smoked paprika (or regular) Salt Pepper
Pork Chops
Olive oil Smoked paprika (or regular) Salt Pepper
Maple Glaze
Maple syrup Bourbon (or water; or orange, pineapple, or cranberry juice) – you can use a nice single barrel middle-of-the-road bourbon like Maker’s Mark. You don’t need to use your partner’s 10-year-old super fancy bourbon. However, don’t use the cheapest thing ever, either. Whiskey is fine in place of bourbon, noting the flavor of the glaze will be a bit sharper; not bad – just more intense. Good ‘ole Jim Beam calls itself “bourbon whiskey” after all Light brown sugar Raspberry jam (or another favorite jam) Lemon juice Garlic Cinnamon Ground ginger Salt Pepper Cayenne pepper, optional
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
Directions for How to Make Maple Pork Chops
This pork chops and sweet potato recipe requires a little bit of planning, but the process is simple. Here’s an overview of the recipe:
More Easy Pork Recipes:
Air Fryer Pork Chops – Coated in Parmesan cheese and a rich spice rub, these air fried pork chops are perfectly crispy on the outside while staying tender and moist on the inside! They’re EASY, ready in 15 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights, and a healthier way to enjoy “fried” food. Oven-baking and grilling instructions also provided. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Best Grilled Pork Chops —Learn how to make juicy and tender pork chops on a gas grill thanks to a super simple homemade marinade that provides the perfect amount of savory flavor! When combined with the natural smoky flavor you get from the grill, these marinated grilled pork chops are a FAST and EASY family favorite! Indoor cooking instructions also provided. Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork — Pork is slow cooked to perfection and has Hawaiian-inspired flavors from pineapple and teriyaki sauce! Sweet, tangy, tender, and juicy! It makes the best pulled pork sandwiches that everyone loves! Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin — Tender and juicy boneless pork tenderloin is slow cooked with hearty vegetables for a complete and EASY meal! Reminiscent of a hearty and rustic recipe, yet fancy enough for a special dinner or holiday entertaining! Tacos Al Pastor — Learn to make this staple Mexican recipe that includes thinly sliced pieces of pork marinated in a tangy, sweet pineapple sauce AT HOME! Juicy, flavorful, tender pork served in tortillas with onions, cilantro, lime juice, and salsa! You’ll want every night to be taco night! Orange Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin – An orange-scented teriyaki sauce keeps the pork so tender, juicy, and flavorful! Easy, one-skillet recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes and healthy! Under 250 calories with 25 grams of protein! Spicy Pork Lettuce Wraps — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, perfectly SPICY yet wonderfully fresh! Just enough heat to keep you going back for more! A new dinnertime WINNER! Asian Pork Noodles — An EASY comfort food stir fry that’s ready in 20 minutes with so many textures and flavors in every bite! Juicy pork, tender noodles, crisp-tender veggies in a bath of sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, and chili garlic sauce if you want to turn up the heat! Pork Belly Burnt Ends — Crispy, sticky, sweet-and-savory pieces of pork belly are grilled to burnt ends “perfection”! The pork is moist, tender, and everyone goes crazy for it so double the recipe! Perfect for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, game day parties, or as a special weeknight treat for your family!
