Recipe

Savory Apple Sauce

A cozy, chef-y applesauce with onion, thyme, and butter that turns pork, chicken, and potatoes into a full situation. Smooth, glossy, and gently sweet with a savory backbone.

By Matt Campbell

•

4.8

A small white bowl filled with silky pale-golden savory applesauce, topped with a few thyme leaves, sitting on a wooden table with a spoon beside it

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Most applesauce is sweet and polite. This one is savory, silky, and just bold enough to make you drag a spoon through the pot for “quality control.” We build flavor the same way you would for a great pan sauce: soften onion in butter, let apples collapse into a glossy puree, then wake everything up with a little apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt.

It lands right in that sweet spot between condiment and side dish. Spoon it next to pork chops, roast chicken, sausages, or even a big bowl of mashed potatoes. It is also the easiest way to make a weeknight plate feel like you tried a little harder than you did.

A saucepan on a stove with sliced apples and onions simmering in butter, steam rising

Why It Works

Silky texture: A quick blend makes it smooth and glossy, not grainy.
Balanced flavor: Apples bring natural sweetness, onion and thyme bring savory depth, and vinegar keeps it bright.
Flexible: Make it chunky, ultra-smooth, more tangy, or more buttery depending on what it is pairing with.
Weeknight friendly: One pot, simple ingredients, and it holds well for leftovers.

Pairs Well With

Pork chops with crispy edges
Roast chicken thighs
Sausage and onions
Mashed potatoes

Storage Tips

Keep it fresh

Refrigerate: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
Freeze: Freeze in a zip-top bag laid flat or in small containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Warm gently in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring often. Add a splash of water, apple cider, or broth if it thickens.
Food safety note: Do not leave at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.

Common Questions

Can I make this without a blender?

Yes. For chunky applesauce, mash with a potato masher. For smoother results without blending, run it through a fine-mesh sieve once the apples are fully soft.

Which apples are best for savory applesauce?

Use apples that taste great on their own and soften nicely when simmered. I like McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan, or Jonagold when I want quick breakdown. Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp are also delicious, but they can hold their shape a bit more, so just give them a few extra minutes if needed. For extra tang, mix in one Granny Smith.

How do I fix applesauce that tastes flat?

Add one of these, a little at a time: a pinch more salt, an extra splash of apple cider vinegar, or a tiny spoon of Dijon mustard. Then taste again.

How do I make it thicker or thinner?

To thicken, simmer gently on low, uncovered, and stir often (thick puree can sputter). To thin, blend in a splash of water, broth, or apple cider until it is spoonable.

Is this the same as apple butter?

Not quite. Apple butter is cooked much longer until it gets darker, thicker, and more caramelized. This is a faster, brighter savory sauce with a smooth puree texture.

How do I keep it vegetarian?

Use water or vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Everything else stays the same.

Matt Campbell

I have always had a huge passion for the culinary arts, people, working as a team, and so on. I wanted to pursue my love for cooking initially at Virginia Commonwealth University with a culinary arts degree; however, I instead decided to apply myself and acquire more practical skills. My end goal is to eventually open my own restaurant or similar establishment.

Kitchen Essentials

Medium saucepan or small Dutch oven
Chef’s knife and cutting board
Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
Immersion blender or countertop blender
Fine-mesh sieve (optional, for extra silky texture)

I started making savory applesauce the way I make most good things: because I had apples that needed a plan and a pack of pork chops that deserved better than “salt and hope.” I softened onion in butter, tossed in apples, and the whole kitchen smelled like fall and dinner service at the same time. One spoonful later and I was sold. It tastes like comfort, but it behaves like a sauce. The kind that makes a basic plate feel intentional, even if you are cooking in sweatpants and pretending it is “meal prep.”

Savory Apple Sauce

(4.8 Reviews)

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings Makes about 2 cups (serves 4 to 6)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 pounds apples (about 5 to 6 medium), peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or water or vegetable broth)
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
1 small bay leaf (optional)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, plus more to taste
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional, for extra savory lift)
Pinch ground cinnamon or smoked paprika (optional, pick one)

Optional finish: 1 tablespoon olive oil or an extra tablespoon of butter for a glossier sauce.

Instructions

Sweat the onion. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and a small pinch of salt (this is just to help it soften). Cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. No browning required.
Add apples and aromatics. Add the chopped apples, broth, thyme, and bay leaf if using. Stir to coat.
Simmer until very tender. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the apples are very soft and easily smashed with a spoon. If you are using firmer apples, you might need a few extra minutes.
Season and brighten. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the apple cider vinegar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, Dijon if using, and the optional pinch of cinnamon or smoked paprika. Taste. If it feels sweet or sleepy, add another small splash of vinegar and a pinch of salt.
Blend until silky. Use an immersion blender right in the pot, or carefully transfer to a countertop blender. Blend until smooth. For ultra-smooth results, push the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve.
Adjust texture and finish. If it is too thick, blend in a splash of broth or water. If it is too thin, simmer gently on low, uncovered, and stir often. Thick purees can sputter, so keep the heat low and stay close. Finish with olive oil or extra butter if you want that glossy, restaurant-y feel.
Serve warm or chilled. Spoon next to pork, chicken, sausages, or roasted veggies. Or just eat it with a spoon. I support you.

A spoon lifting a glossy scoop of smooth savory applesauce from a saucepan

Nutrition information is estimated.

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