This Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Apples recipe is a set-it-and-forget-it dump and go dinner that is delicious served over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. Tender, fall-apart juicy pork chops are slow cooked with a combination of sweet and tart apples, brown sugar and warming spices to create an easy dinner recipe that is sure to be a family favorite.
It has a quick cooking time of just 3-5 hours, minimal prep time and uses simple ingredients. The highly seasoned flavor of the pork combined with sweet seasonal apples and zesty aromatic ingredients makes this crockpot meal a winner for an easy, delicious family dinner!
Making slow cooker pork chops and apples is also one of the best ways to use up an abundance of fresh picked orchard apples to make a delicious dinner during the fall and winter. While I love using apples in baked goods, like slow cooker apple pie filling and apple bread, this recipe is one of my favorite ways to use them for a more savory, hearty meal.
Table Of Contents
Ingredients
- Center cut boneless pork chops
- Apples: such as Granny Smith or Fuji, or a combination
- Onion and garlic
- Brown sugar
- Seasonings: cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme
- Chicken broth: or vegetable broth
- Worcestershire sauce
Can I Use Bone-in Pork Chops?
Yes! Cook for the same amount of time as you would if using boneless pork chops.
What Are The Best Types Of Apples To Use?
The best apples are those that balance sweetness and tartness while holding their shape well while cooking. These include Granny Smith apples, Honeycrisp apples, Jonagold, Cortland, Fuji, and Golden Delicious. I like to use a combination of apples known for their tart flavor, such as Granny Smith, and sweet flavor, such as Golden Delicious and Honey Crisp.
Do I Need To Peel The Apples?
Nope! You can keep the apple skins on.
Should I Brown The Pork Chops First?
While browning the pork chops before putting them in the slow cooker will sear in some of their juices and make them a little more flavorful, this is totally optional. I like to keep my crockpot meals as easy as possible so I opt to skip browning in most cases. If you'd prefer to sear, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then melt a little butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and sear on both sides for 2-3 minutes. Then add to the bottom of the slow cooker and follow the recipe as written.
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce. Mix and pour into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place pork chops in the slow cooker and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the apple slices, diced onions and minced garlic on top of the pork chops. Sprinkle brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and dried thyme on top of the apples.
- Set to LOW with a cooking time of 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. Check the internal temperature of the thickest pork chop with a digital thermometer at the 3 hour mark on LOW and the 90 minute mark on HIGH. If it has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit, they are done. If not, continue to cook checking internal temperature every so often.
- Remove pork chops from the slow cooker to serving plates. Serve warm with your favorite side dish (suggestions below).
Kristina's Tips
- To avoid overcooked pork chops, use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature of the thickest pork chop around the 3 hour mark.
- For best results and to suit your taste buds, use an apple variety that you love.
How To Store
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days for best quality. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven. This recipe is not freezer-friendly, as the apples will turn very mushy if frozen. However, you can freeze just the pork chops for up to 3 months and still have tender, slow cooked pork chops.
What To Serve With Pork Chop And Apples
Apple pork chops pair well with mashed garlic potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, egg noodles, grains like rice, farro and barley, roasted baby potatoes or a simple side salad. Homemade bread toasted and dipped into the sauce is another great side. White bread, a simple garlic bread, rye bread, Italian bread and honey wheat bread are great to try with this.
Recipe Variations
- Use different apples: Granny Smith apples and fuji apples are my favorite ones to use in this recipe, but you can (and should) use your favorite apples. See my notes in the "Recipe FAQs" below for some suggestions.
- Add maple syrup or honey: to make a sweeter version of this crock pot pork chops and apples, add about ¼ cup liquid thickener like pure maple syrup or organic honey.
- Vary the sauce: add about ¼ cup of apple cider or apple juice to the slow cooker to give the sauce even more of an apple flavor.
- Add cranberry: counter the sweet flavor by adding a handful of fresh cranberries or about ¼ cup cranberry juice.
Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Apples
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb center cut boneless pork chops or bone-in pork chops (cooking time remains the same)
- 1 lb apple slices
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup onions diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ⅛ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth and worcestershire sauce. Mix and pour into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place pork chops in the slow cooker and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the apple slices, diced onions and minced garlic on top of the pork chops. Sprinkle brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and dried thyme on top of the apples.
- Set to LOW with a cooking time of 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. Check the internal temperature of the thickest pork chop with a digital thermometer at the 3 hour mark on LOW and the 90 minute mark on HIGH. If it has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit, they are done. If not, continue to cook checking internal temperature every so often.
- Remove pork chops from the slow cooker to serving plates. Serve warm with your favorite side dish.
Notes
Nutrition
Nancy Nusbaum says
Absolutely THE BEST pork chops we’ve ever had! Simple ingredients, simple assembly, stunning results. I did substitute soy sauce for Worcestershire because I was out and I will always do so in the future because the outcome was so perfect. I used thick cut pork chops and seared them in a fry pan first. This is a winner!
Giangi Townsend says
It tastes so good and satisfying. The pork chop is so tender making it so easy to chew.