Pork Chops and Asparagus

This pork chop and asparagus recipe has juicy and seasoned pork chops, tender asparagus, roasted potatoes and even sweet cinnamon apples—all cooked on a single sheet pan.

Each component is prepped and seasoned individually. Then, everything is tucked onto a foil-lined baking sheet (Here are our fave baking sheets). Lining the pan and using the same prep bowl makes clean up a snap. Between the simple cooking technique and quick clean up, this type of sheet pan dinner is ideal on those weeknights when you’re trying to squeeze dinner in between team practice and play rehearsal.

If you love this idea, check out our collection of easy sheet pan dinner recipes.

Ingredients for Pork Chops and Asparagus

• Olive oil: Use your favorite olive oil on the baking pan and for each vegetable component.
• Potatoes: Tuck diced potatoes onto the sheet pan to cook alongside asparagus and pork chops.
• Asparagus: Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces for easy roasting.
• Apple: Adding spiced apples to the sheet makes a built-in dessert that cooks alongside dinner.
• Brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger: Combine sugar and spices to coat the apples.
• Pork chops: Use boneless loin chops that are about 1 inch thick and 6 ounces each.
• Southwest seasoning: Your favorite Southwest-style seasoning blend spices up the protein. Look for a blend with subtle chile heat and cumin. You can also make your own Southwest blend.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare baking pan

Preheat oven to 425°F.  Line a sheet pan with foil and brush it with 2 teaspoons of olive oil.

Step 2: Season the vegetables

Using a large bowl, add the potatoes and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss to coat. Place then in one section of prepared baking pan. Repeat with the asparagus and sprinkle both with salt.

Step 3: Sweeten the apples

Use the same bowl and combine apples and 1 teaspoon olive oil. In a separate small bowl mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Sprinkle over apples and toss to coat. Add to the sheet pan.

Step 4: Prep pork chops and bake entire meal

Brush the remaining tablespoon of olive oil on pork chops and sprinkle with Southwest seasoning. Add it to remaining section of sheet pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until pork chops reach 145° and the potatoes and apples are tender. Let it sit for five minutes before serving.

Pork Chops and Asparagus Variations

• Switch proteins: Chicken breasts can be swapped in for pork chops. Just makes sure they reach the recommended cooking temperature of 165°.
• Try different starches and veg: Diced sweet potato or trimmed green beans would also work as components of this simple dinner.
• Swap seasoning blends: Don’t love a spicy kick? Simple salt and pepper would work on pork chops. An Italian blend or this blend made specifically for porkc, containing paprika, ground mustard and garlic would also be delicious.

How to Store Pork Chops and Asparagus

Store leftover pork chops and vegetables covered in the refrigerator for two to three days.

How do you reheat pork chops and asparagus?

Gently reheat stored meat and vegetables in an oven, skillet or microwave. Heat them gently and keep them covered to preserve moisture no matter which way you choose. Consider sprinkling a little water over the food before covering to create steam and keep things juicy.

Pork Chop and Asparagus Tips

What’s the best way to tell if meat is cooked properly?

An instant-read thermometer is the best way to check meat for proper cooking temperature. It’s easy to open the oven and test the pork chops to see if they’ve reached the ideal temperature so both flavor and food safety are maintained.

How do I make sure everything is cooked at the same time?

The directions recommend cooking the dish from 20 to 25 minutes, but oven temps can vary dramatically. It’s always a good idea to check for doneness early. If the meat reaches the temp before the potatoes are tender, simply move them to a plate and cover while the potatoes finish.

It’s important to follow the directions for preparing vegetables–diced potatoes cook a lot faster than large chunks. Also press down and spread all of the vegetables out to ensure they roast evenly.

Can I use bone-in pork chops?

If you prefer bone-in chops, just know they may take a few minutes longer to cook and reach the recommended safe cooking temperature of 145°.