Maple Glazed Pork Chops and Sweet Potatoes — 🍠😍🙌 The PERFECT fall-inspired dinner with juicy pork chops that are smothered with the most mouthwatering maple bourbon glaze and cinnamon-and-spiced roasted sweet potatoes on the side! This stunning comfort food recipe is great for family dinners and busy weeknights because it’s EASY to make!
Table of Contents
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:
- Brine the pork chops in a shallow bowl with water, salt, and pepper.
- In the meantime, arrange the potatoes on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle them with a mixture of spiced maple syrup and butter mixture, and roast until they’re fork-tender, flipping them over halfway through.
- Pat the pork chops dry, and sear them in a skillet. Simmer the maple glaze over medium-low heat.
- Reduce the oven temperature, and place the pork chops on top of the potatoes. Spoon about 1/3 of the glaze on top.
- Flip the chops, spoon more glaze on top, and continue to bake. Once fully cooked, serve the pork chops and potatoes with the extra glaze.
What to Serve with Glazed Pork Chops and Sweet Potatoes
Recipe FAQs
Letting the pork chops sit in the salty brining liquid is how to make the most moist, tender pork chops because the liquid seeps into the chops ensuring that when you cook them, they’ll be tender and juicy.
Don’t skip this step, friends! If you skip the brine entirely or don’t brine for long enough, you’ll likely end up with dry pork chops.
No, you don’t! While you should keep in mind that the alcohol essentially goes away as it cooks, you can swap the bourbon if needed. It can be replaced with orange, apple, or cranberry juice. In a pinch, it can even be swapped with water.
While you don’t want overcooked pork chops, you definitely don’t want them undercooked either. A digital meat thermometer is the solution to this balancing act.
Pork is fully cooked and safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. However, you can always remove pork from the oven when it reaches 140°F and after it rests for about 5 minutes, the internal temperature will rise to 145°F and you’re set to slice and serve.
Leftovers will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Reheat gently in the microwave or a very low oven, but I am team microwave for quickness and ease.
Yes, if you don’t love sweet potatoes, you don’t have to make this component of the recipe and can simply omit it. Make mashed potatoes or a BLT salad or any of the ideas I referenced in the above section.
Yes, you can certainly double this recipe as needed, but you shouldn’t need to double the cooking time!
Pin This Recipe
Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! 🆕
Go Ad Free
Maple Glazed Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- 1 Shallow Bowl
- 1 Baking Sheet
- 1 Small Saucepan
Ingredients
Brine
- 1 quart warm water
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 4 bone-in pork chops*
Sweet Potatoes
- 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar. packed
- ½ to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ to 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, or regular paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Pork Chops
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, or regular
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Maple Glaze
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup bourbon, or whiskey, orange/pineapple/cranberry juice, or water
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup raspberry jam, or another favorite jam such as strawberry or blackberry or jelly
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- pinch cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Brine – In a large shallow dish or bowl, add the water, salt, pepper, and stir to combine.
- Carefully add the pork chops, making sure to submerge them fully. Brine for at least 15 minutes, or up to 1 hour. While the pork chops brine, start roasting the sweet potatoes.
- Sweet Potatoes – Preheat oven to 400F.
- Dice the sweet potatoes and place on a foil-lined baking sheet (optional but really helps with cleanup and I highly recommend it); set aside.
- To a small bowl, combine the melted butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and stir to combine.
- Evenly drizzle over the sweet potatoes, toss to evenly coat, and bake for about 25 to 35 minutes, making sure to toss and flip them once or twice during baking to ensure even cooking. In the final 10 minutes of roasting, move onto searing the pork chops and making the maple glaze.
- Pork Chops – After the allotted brining time, remove the chops and pat dry.
- To a large skillet, add the oil, pork chops, and evenly season with smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and sear over high heat for 2 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet; set aside on a platter.
- Maple Glaze – To a small saucepan, add all ingredients, stir to combine, and simmer over medium-low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until thickened slightly.**
- Putting it All Together – Lower the oven temp to 375F.
- By this point the sweet potatoes should have been roasting for about 25 to 35 minutes. Flip and toss again. They should be nearly done at this point, meaning soft and fork tender.
- Place the pork chops directly over the sweet potatoes.
- Carefully spoon about a third of the glaze over the chops and bake for 5 minutes.
- Flip the chops over, spoon a third of the remaining glaze over the chops, and bake for another 4 minutes, or until the internal temp of the pork chops has reached 140F using a digital thermometer to be sure. Pork is fully cooked and safe to eat once it reaches 145°F. However, you can always remove pork from the oven when it reaches 140°F and after it rests for about 5 minutes, the internal temperature will rise to 145°F and you’re set. Make sure to let it the pork chops rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Serve with the remaining third of the glaze or whatever you have left.
- Leftovers will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Reheating gently in the microwave is my preferred method to reheat.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
©averiecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
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.
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!
Delicious! A bit of a putsy recipe, but each step worth the effort. The glaze was a great final touch. Will use less sugar/syrup the next time because it was a little too sweet for my taste. Family gave it a 10/10, and rarely get higher than 8/10๐
Delicious! A bit of a putsy recipe, but each step worth the effort. The glaze was a great final touch. Will use less sugar/syrup the next time because it was a little too sweet for my taste. Family gave it a 10/10, and rarely get higher than 8/10๐
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this got a 10/10 from your family who rarely gives higher than an 8/10! Awesome to hear! I agree, it’s a little putzy but glad it was worth it and yes cut back the sugar next time for the glaze.