Farm Fresh Recipes / March 5, 2021

Sweet and Savory Pork Tenderloin with Apples

Every time I ask my little boy what he would like for dinner, he says “those pork chops with apples that I like!” Sweet and savory pork tenderloin with apples it is, son.

Pork Tenderloin or Pork Chops…Either is Fine!

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This meal seriously makes the house smell like a mixture of delicious meat and spices with a yummy sweetness that is downright irresistible. For this particular night I took photos for this post, I had a pork tenderloin that I used. But I also use pork chops with the same directions.

The Secret to Moist and Tender

The pork tenderloin was so perfectly moist! And the apples were soft, but not too mushy.

The secret to getting the pork tenderloin to be so moist is to sear it first, then add the liquid, cover with a lid, and cook in the oven.

I have made this recipe many, many times on the skillet. While it is absolutely delicious…if I overcook my pork, it tends to become dry.

The Dutch oven process certainly retains the moisture, while not turning the apples to mush.

Apples for Sweetness

I used Fuji apples in this recipe. I suppose any apple that is good for cooking would hold up for this recipe. It’s not cooked to death…so experiment with your favorite apple to see if it works for you.

three red apples on wooden surface — Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Herb de Provence for Savory

Have you tried herb de Provence? The first time I used it I thought to myself that if Cracker Barrel and a lavender field somehow crossed…it would smell like this. I loved it. Cracker Barrel always smells amazing to me, you all!

I literally fell in love with this herb blend, and now it is one of my favorites. Really, I look for any excuse to use it. In the blend you have thyme, savory, rosemary, lavender, fennel, and really sometimes it varies depending on the brand. It is fantastic with meats, fried apples, and even beef roast with garlic and onions. So amazing.

Surely I’ve convinced you to find this spice. It is usually pretty easy to find at a regular old grocery store, but if you can’t find it, here is an Amazon link for it: Frontier Co-Op Herb de Provence (This post contains affiliate links. Which means that if you choose to shop through my link, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! Thank you!)

What You Need for This Pork Tenderloin Recipe

You will need a Dutch oven to cook everything in. That’s it! I use one like this: Enameled Dutch oven

You will also need a 2-4 lb pork tenderloin, depending on the size of your family, or how much you want to cook. This recipe is flexible, in my opinion. If you use pork chops, go with 3-4 lbs, or anywhere up to 6 chops.

Find a good cooking apple, like Fuji or Gala. I’ve used both with great results. These are typically the kind I buy from the store.

You will also need:

Olive oil and butter

salt

pepper

Herb de provence

Apple cider vinegar

Water or chicken broth

Maple syrup (optional, but delicious)

How to Prepare Sweet and Savory Pork

First, heat the oil and butter in the dutch oven on the stove top.

(Preheat oven to 350 degrees.)

Sprinkle the pork with salt and pepper on both sides, then when the oils are heated, sear the pork on both sides.

After both sides are browned a little, chop up your apples. I use an apple corer and slicer, then cut the apple slices in half.

Add the apples to the pot, then pour in the apple cider vinegar, water or broth, and add the herb de Provence.

Finally, drizzle the maple syrup all over.

Stir just a little bit to coat everything well, then cover with the lid and place in the oven.

Mine was cooked perfectly right at an hour. Keep an eye on it, though, if you want to check for doneness at 45 minutes.

Bon Appetit!

I felt fancy since I am using such a wonderful spice blend as the herb de Provence.

I truly hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. It’s what’s for dinner about once a month…and everyone from the smallest boy to the largest devours it!