How to make pork chops in a slow cooker

John Jasins

Contributing Writer

Pork chops and pears are a wonderful combination. Add some apple juice, butter and herbs and you have a great recipe for a slow cooker! This is a perfect dish to serve for dinner on a cold fall or winter night. Serve over mashed potatoes and you have a wonderful complete meal.

In this recipe, you have the option to first sear your pork chops in a pan. I like to do this because it creates a nice color and adds depth of flavor to the dish. If you want to talk science, the coloring of the protein when searing meat is called the Maillard reaction. This is a chemical reaction between the proteins and the natural sugars of the meat. This is why searing will give you a different flavor than if you had not. Fun fact right? But I digress...if you don't have time to sear or just want to go straight into the slow cooker, go for it! There is so much flavor in this dish that you can't lose. The pears and apple juice add a bit of sweetness while the vinegar add a bit of sour and the onions, garlic and herbs add an incredible savory flavor. So set it and forget it. Four hours later you'll have the most delicious pork chops!

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Slow cooker herb pear pork chops

10 minutes

4 hours

4 hours 10 minutes

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup apple juice

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 cup thinly sliced onions

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon

2 pears, sliced

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (optional)

2 pounds pork chops bone in or boneless

In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine everything from butter to salt. Submerge pork chops in slow cooker.

Set slow cooker to high and cook for 4 hours.

Optional Pro Tip: Searing your pork chops before adding to the slow cooker will add a deeper pork flavor and nice color to your pork chops. Set a skillet to medium high heat, add vegetable oil. When hot, sear pork chops, 2 minutes per side, or until they turn golden brown. Submerge in slow cooker and cook.

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