Air Fryer Apple Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
Air Fryer Apple Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops are an easy dinner with a delicious combination of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. Bone-in pork chops are stuffed with a mixture of crisp bacon, Honeycrisp apples, onion, celery, and white cheddar cheese, then air fried until juicy and golden.
A simple maple Dijon glaze brushed over the pork chops during cooking adds the perfect finishing touch. The air fryer cooks the pork quickly while helping the outside get beautifully browned and the inside stay tender and juicy. It’s a restaurant-worthy dinner that’s easy enough for a weeknight!
How To Make Air Fryer Apple Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)
- Make the apple bacon stuffing.
Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it is about halfway cooked.
Add the diced onion and celery along with the salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add the butter and sliced apples. Cook for about 2 minutes, just until the apples begin to soften.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it cool for a few minutes. Once slightly cooled, stir in the shredded white cheddar cheese.
- Season the pork chops.
In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, dried sage, garlic powder, and paprika.
Use a sharp knife to carefully cut a pocket into the side of each pork chop. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
Season the outside of the pork chops as well as the inside of the pockets. - Stuff the pork chops.
Divide the apple bacon stuffing evenly between the two pork chops. Carefully spoon the stuffing into the pockets, being careful not to overfill them.
- Make the Maple Glaze.
In a small bowl, stir together the Dijon mustard and maple syrup.
- Air fry the pork chops.
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.
Place the stuffed pork chops in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t overlapping. Air fry for 10 minutes.
Open the air fryer and brush the tops of the pork chops with the maple Dijon glaze. Flip the pork chops over and brush the other side with the glaze. Continue air frying for 6 to 10 minutes.
What Type of Apple To Use?
Honeycrisp apples are especially good in this recipe because they have a nice balance of sweetness and acidity and don’t turn completely mushy when cooked. You can also use Granny Smith, Fuji, Pink Lady, Gala, or Braeburn.
For a more tart stuffing, use Granny Smith apples. For a sweeter stuffing, Honeycrisp or Fuji are great choices.
Recipe Tips
- Secure the pockets if needed. A couple of toothpicks can help keep the stuffing contained. Just remember to remove them before serving.
- Check the temperature. Air fryers and pork chops vary in size, so cooking time can vary. The safest way to tell when they’re done is to use a meat thermometer. Pork should reach 145°F.
- Don’t overcook. Stop air frying the pork as soon as it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Pork that is overcooked is dry and chewy.
- Let the pork rest. Give the cooked pork chops a few minutes to rest before cutting into them. This helps keep the juices inside the meat.
Variations
- Try pecans: Add a couple tablespoons of finely chopped toasted pecans to the stuffing for crunch.
- Add dried cranberries: A small handful of dried cranberries adds another layer of sweet-tart flavor.
- Make it extra savory: Add a little fresh thyme or rosemary to the apple stuffing.
Can I Make These Ahead?
You can prepare the apple bacon stuffing a few hours ahead and refrigerate it until you’re ready to cook the pork chops.
You can also cut the pockets in the pork chops and season as well as stuff them ahead of time. Keep the pork refrigerated until you’re ready to and cook it.
What to Serve with Apple Stuffed Pork Chops
These stuffed pork chops are hearty enough to be the centerpiece of a meal. Serve them with simple sides that complement the sweet and savory flavors.
Try them with:
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat them gently in the air fryer at 350°F until heated through. Be careful not to overcook them, as reheating can dry out pork.
More Air Fryer Pork Recipes
- Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Honey Mesquite Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Southern Pork Chops
Because they’re cooked in the air fryer, you can have a flavorful stuffed pork chop dinner on the table without spending a long time in the kitchen. It’s the perfect recipe for a cozy fall dinner, Sunday supper, or anytime you’re craving something a little different for dinner.
Air Fryer Apple Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops
Equipment
Materials
Apple Stuffing
- 2 slices bacon chopped
- ½ cup finely diced onion
- ¼ cup finely diced celery
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ tablespoon butter
- ½ medium Honeycrisp apple thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup shredded white cheddar cheese
Pork Chops
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 2 bone-in, center cut loin pork chops
Glaze
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Make the apple stuffing. Cook bacon over medium heat in a skillet until halfway cooked.Then add onion and celery, salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Cook 3 to 4 minutes to soften.
- Add butter and apples and cook for 2 minutes to soften the apples. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Then mix in shredded cheddar cheese.
- Mix together seasonings for pork chops in a small bowl.Cut a pocket in each pork chop. Sprinkle the seasonings on the outsides and inside the pockets.
- Stuff the pockets with apple stuffing and secure with pork chops.Mix together the glaze in a small bowl and set aside.
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees.Add pork chops and air fry for 10 minutes. Open air fryer. Brush tops of pork chops with glaze. Flip over and brush the other side with glaze. Air fry another 6 to 10 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
- Serve.
