Marianne Martinez
There are many ways to cook porterhouse pork loin chops in a crock pot, with most recipes resulting in tender, juicy, and flavourful meat. The crock pot is perfect for cooking pork chops as it requires very little prep time and hands-on cooking. Most recipes involve cooking the pork chops in some sort of liquid to maximise flavour and tenderness. This liquid can be a combination of broth or stock, cream of mushroom soup, and chicken soup. Some recipes also include onion soup mix, dry pork gravy mix, and Worcestershire sauce. The pork chops are then cooked in the crock pot for around 4-6 hours, with some recipes suggesting browning the meat in a skillet first. The final dish can be served with mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or a salad.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Pork Chops | Porterhouse, loin chops, boneless or bone-in |
| Thickness | Thicker chops are preferable to thin chops |
| Temperature | An internal temperature of 145°F is safe to eat |
| Cooking Time | 4-6 hours on low heat |
| Cooking Method | Slow cooker/Crock Pot |
| Ingredients | Pork chops, broth, garlic, onion, spices, cornstarch, water |
| Sides | Mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, vegetables |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cut of pork
Thickness and Fat Content: Opt for thicker bone-in pork chops as they tend to have more flavour and remain juicier during the longer cooking time. Leaner cuts may dry out, so look for chops with a bit of fat marbling throughout.
Cut Type: The best pork chops for the crockpot include blade chops, shoulder chops, sirloin chops, or tenderloin chops. These cuts have the right amount of fat and connective tissue, which breaks down during slow cooking, resulting in tender meat.
Cooking Time: Consider the cooking time you have available. Tougher cuts with more connective tissue, like shoulder chops, benefit from longer cooking times, transforming into tender, pull-apart meat. If you're short on time, opt for cuts that don't require extended cooking, such as loin chops or rib chops.
Personal Preference: Everyone's taste preferences are unique. Some people prefer bone-in chops for added flavour, while others opt for boneless chops for convenience. If you like a more well-done chop, go for thicker cuts that can withstand longer cooking times. For a pinker centre, choose thinner chops with shorter cooking times.
Availability and Cost: Choose cuts that are readily available and fit within your budget. Pork shoulder chops, also known as Boston butt, are often affordable and versatile for slow cooking.
Remember, when selecting pork chops for your crockpot meal, look for thicker cuts with some marbling of fat, and consider the cooking time and your personal preferences. By choosing the right cut of pork, you'll ensure a tasty and tender result.
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Preparing the crock pot
Once you have selected your pork chops, you can prepare the crock pot. If you want to sear the chops first, heat some oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops and cook for around 3 minutes on each side. Remove the chops from the pan and set aside. You can then add some onions to the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened. If you want to include other vegetables or fruits such as apples, carrots, or mushrooms, you can sauté them with the onions.
After removing the vegetables from the heat, add them to the base of your crock pot, forming a single layer. You can then place the pork chops on top of the vegetables, slightly overlapping them if needed. If you did not sear the chops, simply place them directly on top of the vegetables.
Next, prepare the liquid mixture that will flavour the pork chops. In a separate bowl, whisk together the liquid and spice ingredients. This can include chicken or beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, garlic, paprika, poultry seasoning, oregano, basil, and Worcestershire sauce. You can also add in some cornstarch and water at this stage to help thicken the gravy. Pour this mixture over the pork chops and vegetables in the crock pot.
Finally, cover the crock pot and set the temperature and timing. Most recipes recommend cooking the pork chops on high heat for about 1 hour and then reducing to low heat for an additional 2-3 hours, or until the chops are tender. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centre of the chops should read an internal temperature of at least 145°F to ensure they are safe to eat.
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Cooking the chops
To cook porterhouse pork loin chops in a crock pot, start by seasoning the meat. You can do this by cutting small slits in a diamond pattern on each chop and rubbing in a mixture of spices. A typical spice rub might include paprika, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, oregano, and basil. Alternatively, you can dredge each side of the chops in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, and thyme leaves.
Some recipes recommend searing the chops before adding them to the crock pot, as this adds flavour to the dish. To sear the meat, heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chops for around 3 minutes on each side.
Next, prepare the liquid that the chops will cook in. This could be a mixture of broth or stock, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and seasonings such as garlic, onion, and thyme. Whisk the ingredients together in the crock pot, or prepare the liquid in a separate bowl and pour it into the crock pot.
Place the chops into the crock pot. If you are cooking the chops with vegetables, add a layer of vegetables to the crock pot first and place the chops on top. It's okay to overlap the chops slightly, but don't stack them on top of each other.
Cover the crock pot and cook on high heat for around 1 hour to 1 hour and 40 minutes, basting periodically with sauce. Then, reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 2 to 3 hours, until the chops are tender. The chops are safe to eat when they reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
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Making the gravy
To make the gravy, you will need:
- 1 ounce packet onion soup mix
- 14 ounces of chicken broth (low sodium)
- 10.5 ounces of cream of chicken soup (low sodium)
- 1 ounce packet dry pork gravy mix
- 3 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons of cold water
First, whisk together the onion soup mix, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, and dry pork gravy mix in a 5-6 quart oval slow cooker. Season both sides of the pork chops with garlic powder and place them into the slow cooker, spreading them out and covering them with the gravy mixture. Cover and cook on low for about 4-6 hours.
Once the pork chops are almost done, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker and stir gently. Cover and switch the slow cooker to high, cooking for another 30 minutes until the gravy has thickened.
You can also make the gravy in the same pan after searing the meat, which adds good flavor to the dish. Simply remove the meat after searing and sauté some onions or other vegetables, deglazing the pan with the cooking liquid. Add this liquid to the slow cooker, along with the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, and dry pork gravy mix.
For a mushroom gravy, substitute one of the cans of cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom soup. You can also add sliced onions and mushrooms for extra flavor.
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Serving suggestions
Mashed potatoes are a popular side dish to serve with crock pot pork chops. You can make them from scratch or use a box or microwave option. They go well with the gravy that is often served with the pork chops.
Rice is another option, including steamed rice or egg noodles. You can also serve the pork chops over rice or noodles, which can be a great way to soak up the gravy.
Some people like to serve their pork chops with a salad or steamed vegetables, such as broccoli or mixed vegetables. Butter Swim Biscuits can also be a nice addition to the meal.
If you're looking for a more comforting dish, mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles can be a great base for the pork chops and gravy. You can also add some steamed vegetables or a salad on the side.
For a heartier meal, you can serve the pork chops with a side of green beans and rice, as the rice will go well with the gravy.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking times vary depending on the thickness of the chops and the temperature of the crock pot. Cooking on low heat for 3 to 6 hours is typical, but some recipes call for cooking on high heat for 1 hour and 40 minutes or even less than 2 hours.
You will need pork chops, broth or stock, and some spices or seasonings. Common spices and seasonings include garlic, paprika, oregano, basil, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Some recipes also call for onion, mushrooms, and Worcestershire sauce.
Bone-in pork chops are generally recommended over boneless chops because the bone helps to insulate the meat and slow down moisture loss. Blade, shoulder, sirloin, and rib chops are all good options. Thicker chops with a bit of fat throughout will also yield better results.
These chops can be served with mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, salad, steamed broccoli, or mixed vegetables. They are typically served with a gravy made from the cooking liquid, which can be thickened with a cornstarch slurry.
