Cast-Iron Pork Chops with Apples, Onions and Mustard Cider Sauce
Season boneless pork chops, then sear them in a hot 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high coals or a camp stove, 4 to 5 minutes per side, until they hit 145°F. Rest the chops on a clean plate, cook sliced onions and apples in the same pan, then simmer with cider and mustard for a quick sauce. Return the chops to warm through. Total time is about 50 minutes.
This is a one-skillet dinner that tastes like a real meal. The pork gets a good crust, and the pan drippings flavor the onions and apples. A splash of cider and a spoonful of mustard turn it all into a sauce.
It works on a campfire grate or a single-burner stove. Mix the spice rub at home and keep the chops cold. Everything else is easy to pack. Serve with crusty bread to mop up the pan.
Cast-Iron Pork Chops with Apples, Onions and Mustard Cider Sauce
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium-high coals for searing, then medium
- Pack weight
- 4 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- One burner
- Low water
- A few dishes
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
Gear you'll need
- 12-inch cast-iron skillet
- Tongs
- Instant-read thermometer
- Heat-proof glove
- Cutting board and knife
- Clean plate for cooked pork
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- Campfire grate or single-burner stove
Steps
-
Season the chops
Pat the chops dry with a paper towel. Rub with the paprika, 1/2 tsp of the thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Wash your hands and the cutting board after handling raw pork.
-
Heat the skillet
Set a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high coals or a medium-high stove flame. Add the oil and heat 3 to 5 minutes, until it shimmers.
-
Sear the pork
Lay in the chops and leave them alone for 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook 4 to 5 minutes more, until an instant-read thermometer reads 145°F in the thickest part. Move the chops to a clean plate, not the one that held them raw.
-
Soften the onions
Lower the heat to medium. Add the butter and onions with a pinch of salt and cook 7 to 8 minutes, stirring and scraping up the browned bits, until soft and golden.
-
Add the apples
Stir in the apple wedges and the remaining 1/2 tsp thyme. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, until the edges start to brown but the apples still hold their shape.
-
Build the sauce
Pour in the cider and vinegar, then stir in the mustard and brown sugar. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes, until the liquid is slightly thick and glossy.
-
Warm the chops
Nestle the chops back into the pan with any juices from the plate. Spoon sauce over them and heat 1 to 2 minutes. Check that they read 145°F again.
-
Rest and serve
Pull the skillet off the heat and let it sit 3 minutes. Serve the chops with apples, onions and sauce, plus bread for the pan juices.
Trail Notes
Mix the paprika, thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bag at home. Pack the mustard, vinegar and brown sugar in small leakproof containers.
Keep the chops at 40°F or below in a cooler with plenty of ice. Freeze them solid at home and use them within the first 1 to 2 days. Cook thawed pork the same day.
Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of pork. Cook them to 165°F, which takes about 6 to 7 minutes per side.
Wipe the skillet with a paper towel and pack out the grease and scraps. Strain dishwater and scatter it at least 200 feet from water, or follow local rules. Pack out the apple cores.
Campers ask
What temperature should pork chops be cooked to at camp?
Cook pork chops to 145°F in the thickest part, then rest 3 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer, because a campfire makes it hard to judge by eye.
How do I keep a campfire from burning the chops in cast iron?
Cook over a bed of hot coals instead of tall flames, and set the grate 3 to 4 inches above them. If the pan smokes hard or the crust darkens too fast, slide it to a cooler part of the grate.
Can I cook pork chops in cast iron on a camp stove?
Yes. Use medium-high heat to sear, then drop to medium for the onions and apples. A 12-inch skillet fits most single-burner stoves, but check that it sits stable.
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