Coming home to the smell of a dinner that’s been simmering for hours is an experience that’s hard to beat. These amazing, healthy slow-cooked pork chops will take your taste buds to the next level without requiring you to break a sweat. Everything is incredibly budget-friendly. In fact, you can even take cheap cuts of pork and, within a few hours, have meat that is fully tender and falls off the bone.
Ingredients
- 6 pork chops that have the bone in and are approximately 1 inch thick,
- 1 large, sliced onion,
- 3 cloves of garlic,
- 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth,
- 2 tbsp of olive oil,
- 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar,
- 1 tbsp of honey,
- 1 tsp dried thyme,
- 1 tsp dried rosemary,
- 1 tsp paprika,
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder,
- 1/2 tsp onion powder,
- Salt and black pepper to taste,
- 2 bay leaves,
- 1 tbsp of cornstarch, optional (for thickening)
Instructions
Preparation Step: 10 minutes
Cooking Step: 4 to 6 hours, Overall Time: 4 hours 10 minutes, Number of Servings: 4
Step 1
The first step is to use a paper towel and dry the pork chops completely.
Use salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika to season both sides.
Step 2
Use a large skillet and put olive oil in it. Spend 2 to 3 minutes on the warmer and then add the pork to the skillet.
You want to brown the meat on both sides, and while this step isn’t an absolute must to fill the recipe, it will add wonderful flavor.
Step 3
On the base of the slow cooker, put the sliced onions, then place the seasoned pork chops on the onions.
Step 4
In a separate bowl, beat together the chicken stock, apple cider vinegar, honey, the minced garlic, thyme, and the rosemary. Pour the mixture over the pork chops.
Step 5
Place bay leaves on top of the remaining liquid in the slow cooker.
Cover and set on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.
The pork chops should be tender and reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
Step 6
If a thicker sauce is desired, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 more of cold water and add it to the cooking liquid for 30 minutes of cooking time.
Step 7
Before serving, remove the bay leaves. Let the pork chops stand for 5 minutes, then serve. Spoon the cooking juices over the pork chops.
Tips For Success
- Pork chops with the bone still in are the best for flavor and tenderness. The bone keeps the meat moist during the long cooking time.
- Do not skip searing if you have the time. It creates a beautiful golden color and adds lots of flavor.
- Do not remove the lid during the cooking time. This releases heat and prolongs the cooking time.
- Add extra carrots, potatoes, or bell peppers for the last 2 hours of the cooking time.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Boneless, reduce cooking time to 3 to 4 hours on low or 1.5-2 hours on high.
- Instead of thyme and rosemary, sage, oregano, or Italian seasoning works.
- Instead of chicken broth, use either vegetable broth or white wine.
- Use maple syrup or brown sugar as a sweetener instead of honey.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne to the seasoning for heat.
Serving Suggestions
These tender pork chops go nicely with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad.
Serve over rice or quinoa to absorb the pan juices. For a complete meal, add steamed broccoli or roasted Brussels sprouts on the side.
Refrigerate leftover pork chops and cooking juices in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To reheat, use the microwave or stovetop with a splash of broth to prevent drying out.
These also freeze well for up to 3 months, simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
All of your Questions Answered
You can use frozen pork chops, but for the best results, you should thaw them before cooking them.
Thawing pork chops ensures proper cooking for a factor of safety.
If you must use them frozen, add another hour to the cooking time while making sure that the internal temperature of the pork chops is at least 145°F.
Pork chops are tough for the majority of people who do not know how to cook meat properly. Overcooked meat tends to be tough.
The trick to cooking meat properly is to stick to the recommended time frames and use proper cooking tools, like a meat thermometer.
Low and long cooking results are ideal for cooking meat tender.
Is it possible to replace the chicken broth with something that is chicken-broth-free?
Yes, as long as you do not use dairy-containing ingredients.
Do you use Apple Cider Vinegar?
You are free to replace it with either white wine vinegar or juice. Just know the taste will differ.
Is it possible to make this Recipe bigger or serve more?
Yes. Just use a bigger crock pot, as more time will not change cooking results.
Conclusion
The recipe for these pork chops has never failed.
Everyone is sure to enjoy the juicy, tender pork chops this recipe yields.
This is because the preparation steps for this recipe take the least amount of time of all the steps; you will not have to worry about the time it will take to prepare your family a full-flavored dinner.
Tender and Juicy Healthy Crock Pot Pork Chops
Coming home to the smell of a dinner that's been simmering for hours is an experience that's hard to beat. These amazing, healthy slow-cooked pork chops will take your taste buds to the next level without requiring you to break a sweat. Everything is incredibly budget-friendly.
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 6 pork chops that have the bone in and are approximately 1 inch thick,
- 1 large, sliced onion,
- 3 cloves of garlic,
- 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth,
- 2 tbsp of olive oil,
- 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar,
- 1 tbsp of honey,
- 1 tsp dried thyme,
- 1 tsp dried rosemary,
- 1 tsp paprika,
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder,
- 1/2 tsp onion powder,
- Salt and black pepper to taste,
- 2 bay leaves,
- 1 tbsp of cornstarch, optional (for thickening)
Instructions
Step 1
The first step is to use a paper towel and dry the pork chops completely.
Use salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika to season both sides.
Step 2
Use a large skillet and put olive oil in it. Spend 2 to 3 minutes on the warmer and then add the pork to the skillet.
You want to brown the meat on both sides, and while this step isn't an absolute must to fill the recipe, it will add wonderful flavor.
Step 3
On the base of the slow cooker, put the sliced onions, then place the seasoned pork chops on the onions.
Step 4
In a separate bowl, beat together the chicken stock, apple cider vinegar, honey, the minced garlic, thyme, and the rosemary. Pour the mixture over the pork chops.
Step 5
Place bay leaves on top of the remaining liquid in the slow cooker.
Cover and set on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.
The pork chops should be tender and reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
Step 6
If a thicker sauce is desired, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 more of cold water and add it to the cooking liquid for 30 minutes of cooking time.
Step 7
Before serving, remove the bay leaves. Let the pork chops stand for 5 minutes, then serve. Spoon the cooking juices over the pork chops.
Notes
Tips For Success
- Pork chops with the bone still in are the best for flavor and tenderness. The bone keeps the meat moist during the long cooking time.
- Do not skip searing if you have the time. It creates a beautiful golden color and adds lots of flavor.
- Do not remove the lid during the cooking time. This releases heat and prolongs the cooking time.
- Add extra carrots, potatoes, or bell peppers for the last 2 hours of the cooking time.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Boneless, reduce cooking time to 3-4 hours on low or 1.5-2 hours on high.
- Instead of thyme and rosemary, sage, oregano, or Italian seasoning works.
- Instead of chicken broth, use either vegetable broth or white wine.
- Use maple syrup or brown sugar as a sweetener instead of honey.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne to the seasoning for heat.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 485 kcal