Creamy Brandy Apple Pork Tenderloin

This easy creamy brandy apple pork tenderloin recipe has a rich apple and brandy cream sauce and tender pork! It has very few ingredients yet tastes restaurant quality.

Ingredients · Servings 4

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 Granny Smith apple (peeled & chopped)
1/2 medium onion (chopped)
1 pound pork tenderloin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper (to taste)
1/3 cup brandy
1 cup heavy/whipping cream

Method · 35 min

Add the olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned (about 12-15 minutes).
Meanwhile, trim any fat from the pork tenderloin and then cut it into 1/2" medallions. Season the pork with the garlic powder and some salt & pepper.
Once the apples and onions are cooked, transfer them to a plate.
If the pan is looking really dry, add another small splash of olive oil. Add the pork to the pan and cook on each side for about a minute, then transfer it to the same plate as the apples and onions.
Increase the heat to medium-high and add the brandy to the skillet. Let it bubble until reduced by half (about 1-2 minutes), scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Stir in the cream, then add the pork, apples, and onions back into the pan.
Cook for another five minutes or until the pork is cooked through and the sauce has thickened up a bit (reduce the heat as needed so it's bubbling but not boiling furiously).
Season with extra salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately.

Try my Easy Pork Chops and Apples or Apple Slaw Recipe next if you’ve got apples to use up.

Why you’ll love it

Pork tenderloin medallions are smothered in a comforting creamy sauce in this pork with apples recipe. Apples and pork go so well together since they bring out the natural sweetness of the meat! This simple 35-minute dish is a weeknight treat.

Every fall, I look forward to making this brandy pork recipe since it’s the perfect seasonal meal. The creamy sauce is super easy to make, and it’s so elegant with sweet and smooth undertones from the brandy. Juicy bites of apple top it all off.

Do you taste the alcohol?

Nope! If you’ve never cooked with brandy, it mellows out in the apple cream sauce and gives a hint of sweetness, complexity, and depth of flavor that sort of tastes caramelized. The alcohol cooks off, so you don’t get the strong taste.

What you’ll need

Olive oil – for sautéing
Apple – I use Granny Smith, which is a great cooking apple since it’s a little bit tart to add overall balance.
Onion – my go-to is Vidalia onions.
Pork – we’re using pork tenderloin. Note that this is not the same as pork loin. They’re two totally different cuts of meat and not interchangeable.

Pro tip

Don’t rush through the step of browning the apple and onions. The light browning imparts tons of flavor in this dish!

How to make brandy pork tenderloin

Heat up the oil in a skillet, and cook the onions and apples until softened and lightly browned, transferring to a plate when done. Cut the pork into medallions, and season them with salt & pepper and garlic powder. Cook the pork for a minute/side, then transfer to the plate.

Increase the heat, then add the brandy. Let it reduce by half, scraping up the browned bits from the pan. Pour in the cream, and return the pork, onions, and apples. Simmer until the pork is fully cooked (145F) and the sauce has thickened. Season with extra salt & pepper if needed.

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

An instant read meat thermometer ensures pork is that perfect 145F (a little pink in the middle is totally fine!) and not overcooked.
Using a sharp chef’s knife makes the chopping go smoothly.
This is the 10.25″ cast iron skillet I use for this one.
A good melamine cooking spoon won’t scratch your cookware.

Substitutions and variations

I wouldn’t recommend substituting the cream for something with a lower fat content. The sauce won’t be as velvety or tasty, and we can’t predict the results (e.g., it may curdle).
Thyme would be a great addition to this dish, or feel free to add whatever fresh herbs you’ve got from the garden to use up!
We’ve only tested with Granny Smith, but you could experiment with a different variety of apple.

Leftovers and storage

Store leftovers of this pork and apples in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat slowly and over a low heat in a saucepan so that the meat doesn’t dry out.
I don’t recommend freezing this one.

Creamy Brandy Apple Pork Tenderloin

creamy brandy apple pork tenderloin recipe has a rich apple and brandy cream sauce and tender pork! It has very few ingredients yet tastes restaurant quality.