These slow cooker 3-ingredient Amish cranberry pork chops are my go-to when I want something cozy, a little tangy, and absolutely no-fuss after a busy workday. The recipe came from my cousin, who picked it up from an Amish community cookbook on a family trip, and it’s become one of those homestyle secrets I keep coming back to. You get thick, juicy bone-in chops that simmer all day in a sweet-tart cranberry glaze, then finish under the broiler so the edges get sticky and caramelized. It’s the kind of comforting, hands-off meal that feels special enough for Sunday but easy enough for a random Tuesday.
These chops are perfect with buttery mashed potatoes or egg noodles to soak up that tangy cranberry glaze. I like to add a simple green veggie—steamed green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, or a tossed salad—to balance the richness. Warm dinner rolls or crusty bread are great for swiping the extra sauce off the foil-lined pan. If you’re planning ahead for a busy week, pair leftovers with rice and a bag of frozen mixed veggies for an easy heat-and-eat lunch.
Slow Cooker Amish Cranberry Pork ChopsServings: 4
Ingredients
4 thick bone-in pork chops (about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds total, 3/4 to 1 inch thick)
1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 packet (about 1 ounce) dry onion soup mix
Directions
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set it aside for later. This will be for finishing the chops under the broiler and for easy cleanup when the glaze gets sticky and caramelized.
In a medium bowl, stir together the whole-berry cranberry sauce and the dry onion soup mix until the soup mix is evenly distributed and no big dry clumps remain. The mixture will be thick and ruby red with visible whole cranberries.
Place the bone-in pork chops in a single layer in the bottom of your slow cooker. If they overlap a little, that’s fine, but try to keep them mostly flat so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
Pour the cranberry-onion mixture over the pork chops, using a spatula to spread it so each chop is well coated. Spoon some of the cranberries directly onto the tops of the chops so you’ll get that pretty, dotted look later.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the pork chops are very tender but still hold together when lifted with a spatula. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking so they stay moist.
About 10 minutes before serving, preheat your oven broiler to high and position an oven rack 6 to 8 inches from the heat source. Transfer the foil-lined baking sheet next to your slow cooker to make moving the chops easier.
Carefully remove the pork chops from the slow cooker and place them on the foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer. They will be very tender, so slide a spatula under each chop to keep them from falling apart. Spoon some of the thick cranberry sauce and whole cranberries from the slow cooker over the tops of the chops to create a generous, glossy coating.
Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 3 to 5 minutes, watching closely, until the cranberry glaze is bubbling, glossy, and just starting to caramelize around the edges of the chops. You’re looking for sticky, slightly darkened spots on the edges, not burnt.
Remove the chops from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. The glaze will thicken slightly as it cools, clinging to the meat and giving you that juicy, tangy finish. Serve the pork chops warm with extra cranberry glaze from the foil-lined pan spooned over the top.
Variations & Tips
For a slightly sweeter, more kid-friendly version, stir 1 to 2 tablespoons of brown sugar into the cranberry-onion mixture before pouring it over the chops. If you like extra tang, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the mixture for a brighter, more Amish-style sweet-and-sour profile without adding more ingredients. You can also swap in boneless pork loin chops; just check them a bit earlier so they don’t overcook and dry out—boneless tends to finish faster than bone-in. If your chops are very thick (over 1 inch), plan on the longer end of the cooking time or use a meat thermometer and aim for at least 145°F, then let them rest. For freezer prep, assemble the raw pork chops and cranberry-onion mixture in a labeled freezer bag, lay it flat, and freeze; thaw overnight in the fridge and dump straight into the slow cooker in the morning. Leftovers reheat well in the microwave with a splash of water or chicken broth, and the glazed pork is great shredded over rice, tucked into sandwiches, or served with roasted veggies for easy lunches.
