Crockpot Pork Chops

Dinner is served! This EASY Crock Pot Pork Chops recipe is perfect for Sunday dinners with the family, freezer friendly and can be prepped ahead of time. Tender pork chops slow cooking in a delicious sauce with a 4 hour cook time.

angle view of crockpot pork chops with bbq sauce, cheese and bacon


 

You will love this Pork Chop Crock Pot Recipe

Family time is dinner time in our house, and there is never any complaining when these BBQ Slow Cooker Pork Chops are on the menu. These are always requested by my oldest, and there are rarely any leftovers. But I want an easy recipe the whole family will love and a flavorful pork chops fit the bill.

And the fact that it is a crock pot recipe makes it a great recipe in my book too. Although, I still make my smothered pork chops and they have a little more elbow work.

You can enjoy the thick pork chops plain right out of the crock pot, or dress them up with some crumbled bacon and cheese (drool!)

close up of slow cooker pork chops

Pork Chops in Crock Pot ingredients

While the list looks long, most of it is dry seasoning. Many of these can be omitted, swapped or increased based on preference and availability.

  • Thick Boneless Pork Chops– look for thick cut pork chops about 1 1/2 inches or more and boneless.
  • BBQ Sauce– Use your favorite here! Sometimes I like a sweet sauce like cola BBQ sauce and other times a sweet and smoky does the trick.
  • White Onion– sweet or red works too.
  • Brown Sugar– to balance the heat and add the sticky we know and love.
  • Kosher salt– or other coarse salt. If using a fine salt, reduce to 1/2 teaspoon. Do not use iodized, it has the tendency to taste metallic.
  • Seasonings– black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika (or regular), chili powder (or chile powder), cumin, dry mustard, celery seed.
  • Bacon– Optional and your preference, crumbled.
  • Cheese– Cheddar is fairly traditional, but smoked gouda or even a smoked mozzarella is a good choice. Cheese is also optional.

Other variations include adding a packet of ranch seasoning to the BBQ sauce, chopped jalapenos, a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce or a packet of onion soup mix.

How to make Crock Pot Pork Chops

  1. Combine all herbs and spices in a small bowl and stir to combine.
  2. Rub both sides of the pork chops with all of the dry rub and set aside. You want to really season the pork chops good, so they develop a great flavor and get tender. Don’t skimp on the spices people!
pork chop seasoning mix
  1. Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray and spread a thin layer of BBQ sauce over the bottom. For best results, place pork chops over the sauce, then half the BBQ sauce and sliced onions on top.
how to make pork chops in a crockpot
  1. Repeat with the remaining two pork chops and the remaining BBQ sauce and sliced onions. Cook the crock pot pork chops on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours or until internal temperature reads 145-155 degrees F.

Pro Tip: Don’t overcook! It is very important to monitor your pork chops so that they do not overcook and become shredded pulled pork. You want the chops to reach an internal temperature of 145-155 degrees F. After that they will start to break down into pulled pork. Don’t get me wrong it will be super yummy still, but we went to stick with a pork chop here.

  1. Once the BBQ pork chops are cooked through, remove from the slow cooker and top with BBQ sauce, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese and parsley.
pork chops in the crock pot

This step is optional but gives the pork chops that classic sticky BBQ feeling. If you are wanting your chops to have some sticky goodness to them you can broil them.

Once the pork chops have cooked in the slow cooker and are fork tender, remove them and add to a baking sheet. Pour over some of the BBQ sauce from the crockpot and broil the ribs for 5 minutes on high, or until the sauce is caramelized.

I like to top mine with a little chopped parsley for color, but is not necessary. This recipe can also be made with boneless skinless chicken breasts.

cheesy bacon pork chop with mashed potatoes

What to Eat Pork Chops With

Personally, my favorite side to enjoy with these slow cooker BBQ pork chops is mashed potatoes. I swear mashed potatoes make everything that much yummier.

Some other great side dish ideas include:

Pro Tip: I do not recommend using pork chops thinner than 1 1/2 inches thick. Thin pork chops will cook down to pretty much nothing and you will not be left with a tender chop. The thicker the better for this slow cooker recipe.

pork chop cut in half

How to serve Crockpot Pork Chops

Serve alongside mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables or corn on the cob for the perfect comfort food combination.

How to store this Crock Pot Pork Chops Recipe

Store leftover crock pot pork chops in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Be sure to reheat the pork in the microwave, over or return to a slow cooker until warmed through. You can add a little chicken broth to the container to keep it moist, or even in the bottom of the slow cooker if you plan to have it stay on “keep warm” for very long.

You can freeze the uncooked pork chops for up to 3 months. Add all the ingredients to a large bag, then store flat in the freezer.

plated bbq pork chop with cheese and bacon

When ready to make the crock pot pork chops let the thaw in the fridge overnight then follow the recipe instructions. I love using this recipe as part of my freezer meal rotation and it is just as great after being frozen.

These slow cooker pork chops can also be prepped ahead of time. You can add the dry rub to pork chops and place them in a large bowl or zip-lock bag with the sliced onion and BBQ sauce and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

When ready to cook add the pork chops to the crockpot (don’t worry about layering) and cook according to recipe instructions.

Pork Chops in the Crock Pot FAQs

Can you put raw pork in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can place raw pork chops in the slow cooker, but we do not recommend placing frozen pork chops in the slow cooker. They won’t cook evenly when the outside starts to cook and the inside is still frozen.

Why are my pork chops tough in crock pot?

Tough pork chops are often a result of cooking too long, not being thick enough or not enough liquid. While the crock pot can make many cuts super tender, there is a tipping point and some cuts don’t have enough fat to really benefit from a low and slow cooking method.

Do you need liquid in a slow cooker for pork?

Yes, the slow cooker is basically a tabletop braiser and braising is defined by being low and slow cooking in liquid. Food will be dry if there isn’t enough moisture in the crock pot.

crock pot pork chops for pinterest

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overhead of bbq crockpot pork chops
bbq pork chop

Pork Chops in the Crock Pot

4.32 from 22 votes
These Crock Pot Pork Chops are the perfect family dinner. Super tender, cooked in BBQ sauce and a special spice rub, then smothered with bacon and cheese!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all herbs and spices in a small bowl and stir to combine. Rub both sides of the pork chops with all of the dry rub and set aside.
  • In a bowl, whisk together liquid (broth, water or beer). Set aside.
  • Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray. Add pork chops, then the liquid pour over BBQ sauce mix and finally the onions.
  • Cook pork chops on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 7 hours. Do your best to not overcook the pork chops or they will turn into pulled pork.
  • After pork chops are cooked, place on a baking sheet. Pour over some of the BBQ sauce from the crockpot and broil the ribs for 5 minutes on high, or until the sauce is caramelized.
  • Top with crumbled bacon, shredded cheese and parsley. Serve with veggies or mashed potatoes and enjoy!
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

Video

Notes

Sticky Chops: If you are wanting your chops to have some sticky-ness to them you can broil them.
Once the pork chops have cooked in the slow cooker, remove them and add to a baking sheet. Pour over some of the BBQ sauce from the slow cooker and broil the chops for 5 minutes until the sauce is caramelized.

Nutrition

Calories: 661 kcal, Carbohydrates: 51 g, Protein: 41 g, Fat: 32 g, Saturated Fat: 13 g, Cholesterol: 139 mg, Sodium: 2429 mg, Potassium: 908 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 39 g, Vitamin A: 1066 IU, Vitamin C: 2 mg, Calcium: 268 mg, Iron: 2 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 661
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crock pot pork chops, slow cooker pork chops
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
close up of crock pot pork chops
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.32 from 22 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

    1. You certainly can! It honestly shouldn’t change the cook time much- maybe by 20 minutes? The great thing with a slow cooker is that you can check the progress. Open it up and use a digital thermometer to get a read, aim for 135°F- after you broil them with the cheese and carry-over cooking, it will reach 145°.

  1. 5 stars
    How delicious! These pork chops were a real hit with our family. Loved the flavours,a nd how simple they were to prepare.

  2. 5 stars
    I love marination ingredients in meat recipes. Cant say about the taste. But looking really great and a party pleaser recipe.