Easy Southern Fried Apples Recipe

Better than Cracker Barrel home-style crisp apples cooked in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg. They make the perfect side for fried pork chops, honey-baked ham, or scrambled eggs with smoked sausage.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Southern

Keyword fried apples recipe, how to cook fried apple, how to make fried apples

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 249kcal

Author Beth Pierce

Ingredients

6 medium Granny Smith apples peeled cored and sliced (see notes)
1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter 1 stick
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg see notes

Instructions

In a large nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring continuously until the sugar is dissolved.
Add apples and cook just until the apple begins to break down and starts to become a little fork tender, stirring several times. This usually takes between 7-10 minutes.
Serve immediately.

Notes

The best apples for this recipe are Granny Smith apples, Honey Crisp apples, Braeburn apples, Golden Delicious apples, or Pink Lady apples. For best results, use a variety for the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
Peel and slice your apples in as uniform pieces as possible so they all cook at about the same rate. I use an apple slicer, and if, for some strange reason, a piece looks unusually thick, I slice it in half lengthwise to make a couple of thinner wedges.
If peeling and cutting your apples more than a few minutes prior to starting this recipe, then spritz the apple slices with a little lemon juice.
For optimal flavor, use real unsalted sweet cream butter. It really is the true Southern way.
If you don't like nutmeg (believe me, I have readers that do), try other spices like a couple pinches of ground cloves or apple pie spice to taste.
For more texture, top with chopped pecans or walnuts.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat leftover fried apples, simply place in a large skillet over low heat and warm, stirring gently several times. Or reheat in the microwave for short intervals at a reduced power.

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