Crock Pot Pork Chops

Let’s forget the rubbery, dry pork chops of our pasts. Here to restore pork chops to a level of culinary favor: moist Crock Pot Pork Chops. They’re tender, exceptionally easy, and blanketed in a luscious, comforting sauce that you won’t be able to get enough of.

Forget the hockey puck pork chops you’ve suffered in the past.

After perfecting Grilled Pork Chops, Air Fryer Pork Chops, and Stuffed Pork Chops, I have another recipe for tender, saucy chops.

Today, we’re talking about how to make crock pot pork chops.

We’ve all been there: dry pork chops are a meal we’ve all suffered through at least once.

It’s not easy to feign enjoyment when your chops require that you grind your knife across the tough, lackluster meat to score a bite.

This slow cooker pork chop recipe changes everything—they’re fork tender and will have everyone at your table polishing their plate (as will these Smothered Pork Chops).

two plates of slow cooker pork chops with green beans

5 Star Review

“This was amazing! Pork chops were moist, and the bbq sauce added great taste…..even as a gravy for mashed potatoes. Easy. I’ll be making this a lot!”
— Cindy —

Everything You Need to Know About Pork Chops in the Slow Cooker

Part of the reason pork chops often turn out dry and tough is that they are a leaner cut and thus easily prone to overcooking.

Unlike fattier cuts of beef or pork (like Crockpot Ribs or Slow Cooker Pulled Pork), you can’t leave pork chops to cook all day.

To cook them low and slow, choosing the right type of pork chops for the job is imperative.

Avoid Thin, Boneless Pork Chops

I made this mistake the first time I cooked this recipe. I grabbed thin-cut boneless chops thinking I could just cook them for less time and they’d be fine, right? WRONG.
By the time thin-cut pork chops are finished cooking in the crock pot, they will be dry, no matter how diligently you check them. The low-and-slow cooking method of the slow cooker demands thick-cut pork chops.
If you’d like to use thin-cut boneless pork chops, you are better off cooking them on the stovetop and topping them with BBQ sauce at the end.

Best Option: Thick-cut, Bone-In Pork Chops

Low-and-slow cooking works best with marbled cuts of meat, like bone-in pork chops.
Look for 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch thick chops with a good amount of marbling and fat for maximum tenderness.
To make this a healthy crock pot pork chops recipe, you may trim away some of the fat without sacrificing moisture. The bone will help insulate the meat and keep the slow cooker BBQ pork chops moist.

Back-up Option: Thick-Cut Boneless Pork Chops

If your store doesn’t carry thick, bone-in pork chops, you can prepare boneless pork chops in a crock pot. Just make sure you select THICK boneless chops to ensure they do not dry out.
Be aware that thick-cut boneless chops still cook quickly. In a crock pot, boneless pork chops cook in about 2 hours on LOW. If your slow cooker runs hot, check even earlier.

sliced juicy crockpot pork chops on a plate

How to Make Crock Pot Pork Chops

For a from-scratch, fork-tender easy crock pot pork chops recipe without mushroom soup, look no further.

Here’s how to prepare the best slow cooker pork chops you’ll ever try!

Crock Pot Pork Chop Cooking Times

How long to cook pork chops in the crock pot will vary based on your specific slow cooker, the thickness and fat content of your pork chops, and whether you are using bone-in or boneless chops.

Bone-In Pork Chops: Cook on LOW for 5 or 6 hours.
Boneless Pork Chops: Cook on LOW LOW for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.

For your first batch, I recommend doing it on a day when you are home and can check on the chops more frequently.

Consider this recipe a starting point and not concrete law.

The Ingredients

Pork Chops. If you’re looking for another lean, healthy, and flavorful protein to serve, look no further than pork chops. As mentioned before, THICK pork chops are key to making the best-ever crock pot pork chops.
Onions. I loved making these crock pot pork chops with onions. The onions melt into the sauce and give the tender pork chops extra flavor (like my favorite Baked Chicken Thighs).

Market Swap

Another yummy option is crock pot pork chops and potatoes. Add a few diced Yukon gold potatoes to the crock pot instead of (or along with) the onions.

If you don’t want to cook vegetables in the crockpot with the pork chops, Oven Roasted Potatoes or Brussels Sprouts Casserole are other tasty ways to incorporate veggies.

Barbecue Sauce. Sauce is one way to keep pork from drying out in a slow cooker. Since this recipe has so few ingredients (like Crockpot BBQ Chicken), every one of them matters, especially the BBQ sauce. Choose your favorite store bought sauce to keep this meal easy and breezy (no one will ever complain about crock pot pork chops with Sweet Baby Ray’s) or go all out with my favorite homemade Barbecue Sauce, which is ready in 15 minutes and worth the effort.
Garlic Powder + Onion Powder. Easy ways to season these tender chops.
Cornstarch. Thickens up the sauce before serving your tender, moist crock pot pork chops.

Substitution Tip

If you don’t have cornstarch, you can thicken the sauce with arrowroot powder.

Green Onions. An optional garnish that adds a final flourish of color and zip to the finished dish.

The Directions

seasoning pork chops before cooking in a crockpot

Season the pork chops on all sides.

a crockpot with thinly sliced onions on the bottom

Spread a thin layer of BBQ sauce in the bottom of a lightly greased crockpot and top with the onions.

bone-in pork chops in crock pot with onions and sauce

Place pork chops in the slow cooker.

Spread the remaining sauce over the chops, then cover and cook until tender and juicy.

a platter of juicy crockpot pork chops without canned soup

Let the pork rest.

juicy bbq crockpot pork chops ready to serve

Add a slurry of cornstarch and water to the slow cooker with the remaining sauce. Whisk, cover, and set to HIGH. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.

Serve the chops topped with the thickened sauce and a sprinkle of green onion. ENJOY!

TIP!

To thicken the sauce faster, pour the bbq mixture into a medium saucepan or large skillet and thicken it on the stovetop.

Whisk in the slurry, then cook on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring often until the sauce thickens.

Knowing When Crock Pot Pork Chops are Done

The FDA says that pork chops should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Because the temperature of meat rises as it rests, I recommend removing pork chops from the slow cooker when they reach 140 degrees F; cover them with foil, and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The carryover cooking finishes the job, and you will have much juicier results (I use this same tip with my Stuffed Pork Tenderloin and Crockpot Pork Roast).
An instant-read thermometer is a serious help when cooking any kind of meat or seafood. It’s the best way to know when your food is ready and safe to serve.

Storage Tips

To Store. Crockpot pork chops may be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To Reheat. Very, very gently rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave.
To Freeze. Freeze pork chops in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Meal Prep Tip

If you’re going to use a homemade barbecue sauce, you can prepare it up to 1 day in advance. Refrigerate the sauce until you’re ready to start the recipe.

a plate of easy crockpot pork chops sliced to show juicy meat

Leftover Ideas

Serve leftover crock pot pork chops on buns for a tasty barbecue pork sandwich, over a bed of greens for a BBQ pork salad, as a Pork Quesadilla, or over egg noodles for a hearty meal.

What to Serve with Crock Pot Pork Chops

Casserole. Broccoli Rice Casserole or Corn Casserole would pair well with these pork chops.
Vegetables. Roasted Green Beans and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are wonderful with this recipe.
Mac and Cheese. Pair Instant Pot Mac and Cheese or Pumpkin Mac and Cheese with crock pot pork chops.
Salad. Arugula Salad or Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad would be ideal for a light, healthy side.

a plate of moist and juicy easy crockpot pork chops on a plate with green beans

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Programmable Slow Cooker. My all-time favorite slow cooker with a programmable timer.
Chef’s Knife. For slicing onions evenly and thinly.
Cutting Board. This extra-large cutting board is perfect for all your kitchen prep needs.

Are there any recipes you didn’t love as a kid (hello, Homemade Hamburger Helper and Turkey Meatloaf) that you’ve been wanting to retry?

I’m excited that thanks to these crock pot pork chops, we have one more recipe we can put back on our “YES” list!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Put Frozen Pork Chops in a Crock Pot?

No. Do not put frozen meat of any kind in a slow cooker. Since crock pots cook low and slow, frozen meat will take longer to cook than meat that is fully thawed. This fact is less about timing than it is about food safety. Frozen meat in a slow cooker may linger at an unsafe food temperature for too long during cooking allowing harmful bacteria to possibly grow. Always thaw your meat completely before adding it to a slow cooker.

Can Crock Pot Pork Chops Be Made in the Oven?

I’ve never tried making this pork chop recipe in the oven, so it would be an experiment. If you decide to play around with it, I’d love to hear how it goes! (If you’re looking for a great oven pork recipe, try this Baked Pork Tenderloin.)

Is It Better to Cook Pork in a Crock Pot on High or Low?

For tender, juicy chops, cooking on LOW heat is best for pork. You can overcook pork chops in the slow cooker, so it’s important to use LOW heat. Even if you check early, with the way heat is distributed, if you cook the chops on HIGH they are likely to be dry.

Why Are My Crock Pot Pork Chops Tough?

No matter what, pork chops made in the slow cooker, while still fork tender, will be a little chewy. It’s because unlike Carnitas, which are made with a fattier cut of meat (usually pork shoulder), pork chops are lean.
My honest advice: adjust your expectations. As long as you don’t overcook them, these crock pot BBQ pork chops are deliciously tender, easy to cut, and a great option for an easy, filling meal.

However, if your slow cooked pork is dry and tough, it is likely because it is overcooked. Pork chops do not get more tender the longer you cook them in a crock pot. Make sure to remove the chops when they reach the proper internal temperature.

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