There’s something incredibly satisfying about a meal that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor. These slow cooker honey garlic pork chops are the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tender, making them an irresistible dinner option. With just a few simple ingredients, you can transform ordinary pork chops into a mouthwatering dish that practically melts in your mouth.
Cooking pork chops in a slow cooker allows them to soak up all the flavors of the rich, garlicky honey sauce. The combination of soy sauce, honey, and garlic creates a beautiful glaze that enhances the natural juiciness of the pork. A hint of apple cider vinegar adds a touch of acidity, balancing the sweetness and making each bite incredibly flavorful.
This dish is also wonderfully versatile. Serve it over a bed of fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or alongside steamed vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight dinner or a cozy weekend meal, this recipe is a foolproof way to impress your family with minimal effort.
Plus, with the option to adjust the spice level and experiment with different ingredients, this dish can easily be customized to suit your taste. So, grab your slow cooker and let’s make these irresistibly tender honey garlic pork chops!
Servings and Timing
Serves: 4
Cook Time: 4-6 hours
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in or boneless pork chops
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Chopped green onions & sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sear the Pork Chops (Optional): Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Sear the pork chops for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. This step helps to lock in flavor.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, mix together honey, soy sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar, ginger, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Slow Cook: Place the pork chops in the slow cooker and pour the sauce over them. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until tender.
- Thicken the Sauce: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, mix the cornstarch with water and stir it into the slow cooker. Let the sauce thicken into a glossy glaze.
- Serve & Enjoy: Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
Variations
- Spicy Kick: Add extra red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha for more heat.
- Tangy Twist: Swap apple cider vinegar with balsamic vinegar for a richer depth of flavor.
- Asian Fusion: Stir in a teaspoon of sesame oil and a splash of hoisin sauce for extra umami.
- Pineapple Flavor: Add pineapple chunks for a tropical sweetness that pairs well with the sauce.
Tips
- Searing the pork chops before slow cooking enhances the texture and flavor, but you can skip this step if you’re short on time.
- For extra tenderness, use bone-in pork chops as they retain more moisture than boneless ones.
- Adjust the sweetness by reducing or increasing the honey based on your preference.
- Leftovers? Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently to maintain tenderness.
These slow cooker honey garlic pork chops are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. With their sticky, flavorful glaze and melt-in-your-mouth texture, this dish is bound to become a household favorite. Enjoy!
