Sweet and Sour Pork Chops

This recipe is ideal for a quick and satisfying dinner. These sweet and sour pork chops are delicious and covered in a glaze made out of brown sugar, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. In 30 minutes you can have a hearty meal on the table. This dish pairs well with fluffy white rice, buttery noodles or a seasonal vegetable.

Sweet and Sour Pork Chop Ingredients

• Pork: We sear these boneless pork loin chops and then cover them in a sweet and sour sauce.
• Sweet and sour sauce: For the sauce, we combine the water, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. To thicken it up we add a pinch of cornstarch.

Directions

Step 1: Sear the pork

Sprinkle the pork with pepper. Heat a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add the pork to the pan and cook until it turns slightly brown, about four to six minutes on each side. Then remove the pork from the pan and keep it warm.

Step 2: Cook the pork in the sauce

Combine the water, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Add it to the skillet. Use a spoon to stir the pan to loosen the browned bits. Bring this sauce to a boil. Mix the cornstarch with cold water until smooth and then add it into the skillet and stir until the sauce thickens—about two minutes.

Return the pork chops to the pan. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°F, which will take about four to five minutes.

Sweet and Sour Pork Chop Variations

• Kick up the heat: If you like fiery bites, add spicy peppers to the sauce. You can toss in serranos or jalapeños.
• Make it garlicky: Mix some fresh garlic into the sauce to give these pork chops an umami flavor.
• Finish with fresh herbs: Garnish these pork chops with fresh parsley or scallions to give them an aromatic finish.

How to Store Sweet and Sour Pork Chops

First, let your pork chops cool down and reach room temperature. Then, store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days.

Can you make sweet and sour pork chops ahead of time?

These sweet and sour pork chops are ideal for meal prep. After following the recipe, you can let them cool and store them in your fridge for three to four days until you’re ready to reheat and eat.

Can you freeze sweet and sour pork chops?

These sweet and sour pork chops can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for two to three months. Then, defrost them when you are ready to reheat and eat.

How long do sweet and sour pork chops last?

Sweet and sour pork chops can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to four days or in the freezer for two to three months.

Sweet and Sour Pork Chops Tips

Can I use a different protein for this recipe?

While we recommend searing pork chops, you can try this recipe with steak, chicken or mushrooms if you’d like to go a vegan route.

Can you use bone-in pork chops?

Yes you can use bone-in pork chops. But know that they will take longer to cook. Bone-in pork chops tend to be thicker than boneless pork chops and the bone acts as an insulator to slow down the heat transfer to the center of the pork chop.

What can you serve with pork chops?

The sauce created by this one-pot pork chop recipe is full-flavored and rich. We like serving these pork chops with grains that will complement the tangy flavors. Rice, quinoa or noodles all work well here. So do simple vegetable sides like steamed broccoli or colorful stir-fried vegetables.