Crock Pot Pork Chops

This is a recipe for easy crock pot pork chops that are full of delicious flavor. They are so simple to throw together and produce the final result which are tender, juicy, and creamy pork chops. If you love a nice thick creamy gravy over your pork then this is the recipe for you.

We love to use our crock pots to come up with some one-dish, tasty meals that fit into our low carb/keto way of eating. Who doesn’t love to throw some ingredients together and have the pot do the rest of the work? 

This is especially important in our busy lives, between work, kids, errands, housework, and chores….to have the pot produce a meal with so much flavor and texture that your family will be thinking that you slaved over it all day. 

If you have already tried our Stuffed Pork Chops or Air Fryer Pork Chops, then you will love this crock pot recipe too. We have used the stove, oven, instant pot and air fryer to bring some tasty pork recipes to our readers and now we are sharing this delicious recipe using a slow cooker.

Why Make Pork Chops in the Crock Pot?

The crock pot (or slow cooker) is a good tool to have in your kitchen. Steph and I have 3 crock pots altogether and we use them for a lot of meals.  This is an especially good recipe to make because it’s a hearty one that is always great in the fall or winter months.

The crock pot allows you to put together the ingredients hours before you are ready to make dinner, which is so convenient when you have to work all day. Do the work in the morning, which doesn’t take too long, then reap the benefits at dinnertime. 

Your pork chops will be so tender and juicy and will be ready for you the minute you walk through your door and your family will be overwhelmed by the yummy aroma and wonder how you cooked this delicious meal while doing other things for the day.

What Ingredients are in Slow Cooker Pork Chops?

Here is a list of ingredients that we used in this recipe:

• Pork Chops – Thick, bone-in chops are used in this recipe, for more flavor.
• Garlic Powder – Garlic is one of the best flavors in any pork chop recipe. You could even use chopped garlic if you choose to.
• Onion Powder – Onion is also a main ingredient in pork recipes. Chopped dry onion flakes are also a good choice for good flavor.
• Salt – Any type of salt can be used, even though we usually use white sea salt, or pink Himalayan salt.
• Pepper – Black, ground pepper, finely or coarsely ground.
• Paprika – Regular paprika, not the smoked variety.
• Oregano – A mild-tasting green, Italian herb. 
• Onions – Any type of onion of your choice. I usually use the sweet Vidalia type, sliced.
• Mushrooms – Any type of your choice, sliced.
• Butter – Any type of butter will do. You can use the salted or unsalted type.
• Heavy Cream – This adds to the creamy texture of the gravy. Cut it in half with milk if you want to cut some calories. 
• Cream Cheese – This creamy dairy item should be full fat for a creamier texture but you could also use a low fat version to cut some calories. 
• Parmesan Cheese – The grated type but if you can’t find it in your store you can use a shredded one.

Boneless or Bone-In Pork Chops?

There are 2 types of pork chops that you can buy: bone-in and boneless. It can be confusing which one is better so let me share with you a few things so that you can decide which way to go.

Boneless:

• These chops can be leaner than the bone-in type because the butcher trims off most of the fat while taking the meat off the bone.
• They are also more expensive without the bones because it requires more work on the part of the butcher to prepare them this way.

Bone-in:

• These chops are less expensive because it does not require as much work on the part of the butcher to prepare them to sell.
• When you get meat that is still left on the bones, it is always a bit tastier because the meat and bones cook together. If you are anything like me I love the meat closest to the bone and I enjoy eating it after I eat the main part of the pork chop.
• When cooking pork chops on the bone they may take a little longer than the boneless type so allow an extra few minutes.

For this recipe, we choose to use thick-cut bone-in pork chops because they come out more tender than thin, boneless ones. However, any cut will do just fine so feel free to use boneless if you prefer.

Different Variations

If you are looking for an alternative to the mushroom cream sauce then here are a few other ideas:

• Tomato Sauce
• BBQ Sauce
• Garlic/Butter Sauce
• Chicken/Beef Broth with soy sauce, lemon, or mustard
• Ranch

What Can You Cook with Pork Chops in the Crock Pot?

Two of my favorite additions  to any crock pot recipe are:

Onions – You can get a good flavor using any type of onions that you have in your house. My favorite is sweet Vidalia onions but any variety will work well for extra added flavor. You can either chop them up or leave them whole.

Potatoes – Any type of potatoes that are your favorite will work well in the crock pot. If you can eat carbs then you can add a bunch of potatoes so that everyone can enjoy them as a side dish for their pork chops. 

My suggestion would be to keep them in large size pieces, even leaving them whole or in half, depending on the size of them, and leave the skin on which will help them to retain their shape. 

Other ideas would be:

• String Beans
• Mushrooms
• Cauliflower 
• Broccoli

How Long Does it Take to Cook Pork Chops in the Crock Pot?

You can’t really pinpoint an exact time it takes to cook your pork chops because it depends on how thick your pork chops are and whether or not they are bone-in or boneless. 

The best thickness for pork chops in the crock pot is about 1-1 ¼ inch thick. The general rule of thumb is that the pork chops will cook for 3-4 hours on high and 6-8 hours on low in the crock pot. 

The best way to check to see if your pork chops are done is to check them using a meat thermometer.

Pork Chops Temperature

The best temperature to cook your pork chops to is 145 degrees, which will prevent them from overcooking and as a result drying out. Let’s face it, NO ONE likes a dried-out pork chop so don’t overcook them.

How to Make Crock Pot Pork Chops (Step-by-Step)

Now we will share with you step-by-step instructions on how to make crock pot pork chops.

STEP 1: The first step is to mix up the spices all together in your small bowl.

Next, coat the meat on all sides thoroughly with your mixture. Put aside.

STEP 2: Now let’s start preparing the cream sauce. Get your cream cheese and start to smash it up. We like to use an old-fashioned masher but you can use your hands if you want to.

Blend it with your heavy cream and then your parmesan cheese until well blended. Set aside.

STEP 3: Melt your butter in a nonstick pan on the stove and place the chops in the pan and sear on both sides watching that you crisp them up but do not burn them.

STEP 4: Take the pork chops out of the pan and transfer them into the crock pot. Then add the sliced onions and mushrooms.

STEP 5: Take your thick dairy mixture and spread it evenly over the top of the pork chops.

STEP 6: Now set the temperature and timer to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. It would be a good idea to stir it halfway through if you can to make sure that the sauce is blending well.

STEP 7: When the pork chops are cooked, use your thermometer to make sure the temperature is 145 degrees. Serve with your favorite side dish or veggies.

FAQs & Best Tips

Now we will answer some common questions that may be running through your mind while preparing to make this recipe. We will also share some helpful tips that we have learned along the way.

• The best pork chops to use for this recipe are thick cut bone-in. They will give you the best flavor.
• Thin pork chops, no matter how long you cook them will be dry.
• A fattier pork chop will always be more tender than one that has little or no fat.
• DO NOT OVERCOOK them. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature.
• If you are not in a hurry the best way to cook your pork chops in the crock pot are low and slow.
• If you are not a mushroom fan then leave them out.
• If you want to thin out your cream sauce a little add some chicken broth.

How do you Keep Pork Chops from Drying Out in a Crock Pot?

In order to end up with a tender pork chop, cook them low and slow and always test the internal temperature with a thermometer and complete the cooking process when the temperature reaches 145 Fahrenheit at the most.

Adding some broth to your crock pot will also add some extra moisture to the meat once the lid goes on.

Should I Use Thick or Thin Pork Chops?

I do not recommend using thin pork chops in the crock pot as they won’t come out as tender. They tend to be very dry and as a result not full of flavor. Using thick pork chops in the crock pot is the way to go.

Do I Have to Sear the Pork Chops First?

In many of our pork recipes, we do use the searing step which traps in the moisture and supplies some added flavor. In this recipe, we seared the pork chops in some butter in a nonstick frying pan on the stove. 

When you do sear the meat it also helps to hold the spices in place. So in my opinion it is the best way to do your chops.

If you don’t want to sear them or don’t have the time to do so, then just add all of the ingredients to the crock pot, stir it all together and cook. 

By using the thick, bone-in pork chops, with some fat on them, the slow cooking process, and the creamy sauce and spices you will still have a good-tasting dinner.

What Can I Substitute for Campbell’s Soup? (or Cream of Mushroom Soup)

In this recipe, we are actually making our own cream of mushroom soup that tastes so much better than the Campbell’s version that we have all grown up with, which contains preservatives and additives in it. 

If you still want to use canned condensed soup there are a few.  Simple Truth at Krogers,  Pacific, and Amy’s all are alternatives to Campbells without as many fake ingredients but there are still a bunch of unwanted carbs if you are looking for a low carb recipe. 

This recipe shows you how to make your own creamy sauce, with only a little bit of effort with a lot of great flavors, better than any canned product can offer.

Can You Put Raw Pork in a Slow Cooker?

Putting raw pork in a crock pot is definitely an acceptable thing to do. You do not have to partially cook the pork chops before adding them to the crock pot. 

I think this is one of the things I like about a recipe like this one…if you don’t want to sear the meat first, then just take all of the ingredients and place them in the crock pot…easy, peasy.

If you are worried about making sure that your pork is cooked through and through, it will be, not a problem.

Can You Cook Frozen Pork Chops in the Crock Pot?

Another benefit of making pork chops in the crock pot is that you can even cook frozen meat if you forget to thaw it out ahead of time. Just add a little extra time to your cooking process and don’t forget to use your meat thermometer to make sure your chops achieve the right temperature.

The only thing that you will not be able to do if the pork chops are still frozen, will be seasoning the meat itself and then searing it. This is especially true if they are frozen in one big clump.

If this is the case then just stir your spices into your creamy sauce before starting up your crockpot.

Can You Stack Pork in a Slow Cooker?

In some recipes, it may not be advantageous to stack your meat, but in this recipe with our creamy sauce, you can certainly stack the pork chops. Especially if you are making more than 2 or 3 chops, you will have no choice but to stack them. 

Just make sure that you blend the sauce in between all of the chops. If you can lift the lid halfway into the cooking process then you can give it a stir to make sure the sauce is covering everything evenly.

Does Pork Get More Tender the Longer You Cook It?

If you use a lean cut of pork it WILL NOT get more tender the longer that you cook it. Instead, it will get dried out.

If you use a fattier cut of pork it WILL get more tender when it cooks longer because of the fat which eventually breaks down.

How Long Can You Leave Pork Chops in a Slow Cooker?

You may wonder if you can cook your pork chops longer or even if you can leave them on warm overnight. Once the food is cooked until it’s done, you can switch the setting of the crock pot to warm. I like to use this setting to keep the food warm until I am ready to serve it.

Theoretically, you can leave it on warm for many hours. You can even leave it on overnight but I wonder why anyone would need to do that. Once the food is cooked and dinner is served just put the food away in the refrigerator.

Modern-day crock pots claim to be able to stay on warm for many hours but check your manufacturer instructions before doing so. Personally, I would not leave the crock pot running all night long. I just don’t trust it to be good while I am sleeping.

Can I Cook Pork Chops on High in a Crock Pot?

You can cook your pork chops on low or high depending on the amount of time that you have to complete the cooking process. Usually, a good rule of thumb when deciding on whether you should cook your food on high or low is to double the time for low.

For instance, you would do 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low, or 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

But one word of caution, if your pork chops are too lean they may dry out more on high. If they have a higher fat content then they are ok on high.

Do I Need to Add Other Liquid?

When you use a crock pot you do need some liquid so that your food will remain moist. But you do not need to make your recipe wet as if you were making soup. 

In this pork chop recipe, the moisture that you get from the heavy cream and cream cheese is enough liquid to achieve our desired results.

Can I Substitute the Pork for Chicken?

Chicken would certainly be a good option for this recipe in the crock pot and can be made exactly the same way as the pork chops. 

If I were making it with chicken I would add some chicken broth to it to give an extra chicken flavor. I would also recommend using dark meat which is moister than white meat which tends to be drier. The dark meat also has more flavor.

Can I Make This Recipe in an Instant Pot?

If you prefer to use your instant pot instead of a crock pot, you certainly can feel free to do so. 

We have several instant pot recipes on our website including instant pot pork chops and even chicken that will work very well with our list of ingredients in this recipe. They all are especially helpful when our time is short for putting dinner on the table.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Pork Chops?

There are so many side dishes that go well with our slow cooker pork chops and here are a few suggestions:

• Roasted Broccoli
• Roasted Green Beans
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Fried Cabbage w/Bacon
• Zoodles
• Tossed Green salad
• Almond Flour Biscuits 
• Keto Dinner Rolls

Make Ahead & Storing Options

MEAL PREP: The crock pot recipes like this one are always good to meal-prep ahead of time or to make ahead of time to serve the next night for dinner.

What I like about using my crock pot for a recipe like this one is that you can remove the ceramic bowl, put all of the ingredients inside of it and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. 

STORING: After you cook your pork chops then they can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

How to Reheat

These crock pot pork chops are easy to heat up. Here are several ways to do it:

• In a saucepan or non-stick frying pan on the stove, just heat them for 5-10 minutes on medium heat so that they will not stick or burn.
• In the microwave just put your pork chops in a bowl or container and loosely cover it and heat for 1-2 minutes.
• In a baking pan in the oven. loosely covered with a piece of aluminum foil and heat at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, until steaming.

Can You Freeze Crock Pot Pork Chops?

Our crock pot pork chops will freeze beautifully. Just make sure to wrap them properly in an airtight container and then into a Ziploc freezer bag for added protection, and they will stay fresh for about 3 months.

It’s always nice when the meals that we make can be frozen for future use, especially to serve for dinner on a night that you really don’t have time to cook dinner!

To thaw them out properly, take them out the night before you plan to use them so that they will thaw slowly in the refrigerator.

Tools to Use

• Bowl – A small one to blend all of your spices together in.
• Spoon – A small one to mix up the spices.
• Frying Pan – Non-stick to sear the pork chops.
• Tongs – To flip the pork chops in the frying pan and to pull them out with.
• Crock Pot – The main tool that you need to make this recipe.
• Large Spoon – To stir the sauce and remove the chops when they are done cooking.

Best Slow Cooker?

There are many good brands of crock pots, but I haven’t seen a bad one yet. We have 3 of them and they are all different brands. 

The biggest thing to keep in mind is to buy one that is a good size so that you can fit a large portion of food in. All of ours are 6 quarts.

If you are a single person and you make small meals, then by all means a small 3-4 quart-sized one is ok for you. 

However, if you are cooking for 2 or more people then you will need to use a large one. I would not buy one that is smaller than 6 quarts, and they even make ones that are 7-quart size.

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Keto/Low Carb – These pork chops in the crockpot are a perfect keto recipe to make. 
• Nut-free – A perfect recipe for a person who has a nut allergy. We do not have to add nuts or nut flour to these pork chops.
• Sugar-free – There is no added sugar in this pork chop recipe when you make your own cream sauce. Do not use condensed soup because it has added sugar.
• Gluten-free – There is no gluten in these crock pot pork chops.

Other Delicious Pork Recipes

If you are looking for another good dinner idea try one of our other easy pork recipes:

• Oven-Baked Pork Chops
• Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy
• Pan-Fried Pork Chops with Garlic Butter
• Instant Pot Pork Roast
• Instant Pot Pork Loin
• Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
• Instant Pot Pulled Pork
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

All of them are easy-to-make dinners and will have your friends raving!

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