Teriyaki pork is a real crowd-pleaser. The meaty, salty sweetness seems to have enormous appeal for pretty much anyone who tries it, and so it's a great family dish to satisfy the appetites of all ages. The sauce in this recipe is probably just enough for thinner, smaller pork chops, so if your chops are more substantial, then simply double the sauce ingredients.
Bone-in chops will have the best flavor. Don't be tempted to cut off the fat, as pork fat adds a great-tasting depth to the overall dish. The soy sauce and sugar cut through the richness, and you're rewarded with a beautifully balanced dish that takes minutes to put together.
Teriyaki pork chops
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours, 5 minutes
Serves: 3-6
Ingredients:2-lbs bone-in pork chops (about 3 large or 4 medium chops)
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce
1/3 cup (80 ml) chicken broth
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger)
Directions1. Place the pork chops at the bottom of the slow cooker and combine the remaining ingredients (soy sauce, broth, vinegar, garlic, ginger and sugar) in a bowl.
2. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the pork chops and cook on low for 5 hours before removing the pork and serving on a bed of white rice.
Pro tip: Those sweet and salty juices in the slow cooker are too good to waste, so pour them through a sieve into a small pan and reduce a little to serve alongside the finished dish. Pork chops cooked in a slow cooker also tend to be dry, even while falling apart with a fork. You'll want to get back some of that moisture with the juices.
Sweet potatoes or peppery green leaves are good accompaniments. Or, serve the teriyaki chops with egg noodles for a change. Teriyaki? Teri-yummy!
Variations & TipsMarinate the Pork Chops: For deeper flavor, marinate the pork chops in half of the teriyaki sauce mixture for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator. Use the remaining sauce for cooking as directed. This step will infuse the meat with more flavor.
Sear the Pork Chops Before Slow Cooking: Quickly sear the pork chops in a hot pan with a little oil until they are golden brown on both sides before placing them in the slow cooker. This will add a rich flavor and improve the texture of the meat.
Freshen Up the Sauce: Add a tablespoon of freshly grated ginger to the sauce mixture for a brighter flavor. Ginger complements the sweetness of the sugar and the saltiness of the soy sauce beautifully.
Thicken the Sauce: After reducing the sauce, if you find it too thin, mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water and add it to the sauce. Simmer until it reaches your desired thickness. This will give you a more glaze-like consistency that clings to the pork chops better.
Garnish for Extra Flair: Before serving, sprinkle the pork chops with toasted sesame seeds and finely sliced green onions. This will not only add a pop of color but also texture and freshness to the dish.
