Go Back

Apple Cider Pork With Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Apple cider pork with mashed sweet potatoes features pan-seared pork tenderloin with a reduced apple cider Dijon sauce. Serve it over velvety sweet potato mash for a warm, tender main dish with caramelized apple slices.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the pork
  • 1.5 lb pork tenderloin
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 apples cored and sliced
Mashed sweet potatoes
  • 2 lb sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 0.25 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt to taste

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Make mashed sweet potatoes
  1. Boil the sweet potatoes in salted water until very tender, about 15–20 minutes, then drain thoroughly and mash until smooth and velvety, with no visible lumps.
  2. Stir the mashed sweet potatoes with unsalted butter, heavy cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined and glossy, then cover to keep warm.
Cook the pork and apples
  1. Pat the pork tenderloin dry and season all over with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then sear the pork for 4–5 minutes per side until deeply golden.
  3. Remove the pork to a plate, then sauté the apple slices in the same pan for 2 minutes until lightly softened and glossy, and remove.
Make the apple cider Dijon pan sauce
  1. Deglaze the skillet with apple cider, scraping up the browned bits, then stir in Dijon mustard and simmer 3–4 minutes until reduced by about half.
  2. Swirl in unsalted butter until melted and silky, return the pork to the pan, and spoon sauce over while cooking until the thickest part reaches 145°F.
  3. Rest the pork for 5 minutes, then slice and serve over the sweet potato mash with the apples and pan sauce.

Notes

Pro tip: Keep the mash covered on low heat while you finish the pork so it stays creamy instead of drying out. Refrigerate leftovers in sealed containers up to 3 days; reheat gently. Freezing is not recommended for best mash texture. For a dairy-free swap, replace heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and use dairy-free butter.