Honey Pork Chops with Pears and Bourbon (Pan Fried Pork Chops)

By Becky Hardin

Updated Jul 7, 2026

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Honey Pork Chops with Pears and Bourbon are the ideal fall comfort food. For these pork chops, I rub them with fragrant herbs and then cook them with fresh sweet pears and a honey bourbon glaze for the perfect mix of savory and sweet. From start to finish, I can get these pork chops on the table in just under an hour, so they are great for a busy weeknight meal.

Sweet and Savory Pork Chops

It doesn’t get better than Honey Pork Chops for the fall! This pork chop recipe is both gorgeous and delicious. It comes together for a fun, festive dish to serve around the holidays.

I take seasoned pork chops, infuse them with rosemary and thyme, and cook them up in the skillet with fresh pears. I then create a sweet and sour glaze with honey, bourbon, and citrus juice that coats the pork chops and pears so they turn out tender, moist, and flavorful. This recipe comes together in just under an hour with 30 minutes of rest time, so I can tackle the other dishes on my menu.

This recipe makes a meal for one or two, but when I’m preparing this for guests, I’ll double or triple the recipe.

Tips for Beginners

• Let the pork chops rest before cooking. I like to pat them dry, sprinkle them with the salt and sugar, and let them sit and rest. This ensures you get moist, juicy pork chops.
• The internal temp for cooked pork chops should be 145°F. Check often so you don’t overcook them. You can remove the pork chops when they register between 135°F and 140°F, as they will continue to cook once removed from the pan.
• Use Bosc or Anjou pears. I find these hold their shape well after cooking.
• Instead of bourbon. For alcohol-free pork chops, use apple cider, apple juice, or chicken broth and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Recipe Card

Honey Pork Chops With Pears and Bourbon

Difficulty: Easy

4.75 from 39 votes

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Rest: 30 minutes mins

Total: 55 minutes mins

Servings: 2

Author: Becky Hardin

Print Rate

Honey Pork Chops with Pears and Bourbon are the ultimate fall comfort food with a fragrant herb seasoning, fresh pears, and a sweet and savory glaze made with a rich bourbon-honey combination.

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 pork chops 1 inch, bone in, boneless also works
• ▢ 1 tsp kosher salt
• ▢ 1 tsp granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 tsp + 2 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ ½ tsp black pepper freshly ground
• ▢ 2 tsp rosemary fresh minced
• ▢ 2 tsp thyme fresh minced
• ▢ 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• ▢ 2 firm pears pitted & halved, stems left on
• ▢ ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• ▢ ¼ cup honey
• ▢ ¼ cup bourbon
• ▢ juice from 1 lemon
• ▢ 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions 

• Pat the pork chops dry and sprinkle with salt, and granulated sugar. Set aside for 30 minutes.
  2 pork chops, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp granulated sugar
• Brush 1 tsp olive oil over both sides of the pork chops and sprinkle with black pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Rub the herbs into each side of each pork chop.
  2 tsp + 2 tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp black pepper, 2 tsp rosemary, 2 tsp thyme
• Heat 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp butter in a medium skillet (cast iron is best) until the oil/butter shimmers and a small piece of food sizzles when it hits the pan. Do NOT heat until you see wisps of smoke rising from the pan. (If you do, remove the pan from the heat to allow it to cool a bit.) Place the prepared pork chops across from each other in the pan. Place the prepared pears, flesh side down, between the pork chops. Cook 5 minutes or until the pork chops have seared and are golden brown on the bottom side. Flip the pork chops over and cook another 5 minutes or until the other side is golden brown.
  2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 firm pears
• Check the pears to make sure they aren’t burning; their color should be like dark honey. If they are cooked, transfer them to a plate. Test the temperature of the pork chops with a meat thermometer. When the thickest part of the pork chops registers 135°F, transfer the pork chops and pears to a plate.
• Turn the heat to low and add the orange juice, honey, bourbon, and lemon juice to the pan juices. Whisk together and add 1 tbsp butter. Whisk until the butter melts. Place the pork chops and pears back into the pan to cook until heated through. Serve with rice or roasted potatoes. Enjoy!
  ¼ cup fresh orange juice, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup bourbon, juice from 1 lemon, 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Becky’s Tips

•  Let the pork chops sit with the salt and sugar for about 30 minutes, so they turn out moist and juicy.
• Check the internal temperature of the pork chops so they don’t overcook. 
• Bosc or Anjou pears will hold their shape best.
• Use apple cider, apple juice, or chicken broth with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract instead of bourbon.
• Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days 

Serving: 1pork chopCalories: 718kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 30gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 1234mgPotassium: 816mgFiber: 6gSugar: 57gVitamin A: 738IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat

Reheat in a warm oven or microwave until heated through.

Freeze

If you want to freeze the pork chops, you can separate them from the pears and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating. You could try freezing the pears, too, but they may get mushy once thawed.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving these pork chops with these buttery and fluffy Instant Pot mashed potatoes or a side of these sweet and crispy air fryer sweet potato fries. I’ll add a side of air fryer broccoli for a touch of color and then serve fresh, tart lemon bars for dessert. This recipe makes enough for 2 people with one pork chop per person. If you want to serve more people, double or triple the recipe.  

More Pork Chop Recipes To Try

• Parmesan Pork Chops with Creamy Parmesan Garlic Sauce are delicious and tender and come together in one pan.
• These Apple Butter Pork Chops are juicy and flavorful, and also cook up in one pan.
• I cook these Crockpot Pork Chops in a rich, creamy, and savory gravy.

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