Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples

Published Aug 28, 2024 | Updated Aug 28, 2024 | By Laura

These 5-ingredient Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples are the perfect Fall dinner recipe that anyone can master successfully. Ideal for a busy weeknight or entertaining on a weekend, these pork chops are the ultimate comfort food that will taste like you spent hours cooking in the kitchen.

The good ole' slow cooker, it truly makes some of my family's favorite recipes like this Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples. Thick, bone-in pork chops are stewed with broth, tender cinnamon apples, and stuffing mix to make the ultimate easy comfort food recipe.

Better yet, it's just 5-ingredients, which keeps the prep time to a minimum and also makes it affordable! Does it get any better than that?

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We always recommend to sear the pork chops for extra flavor before placing them into the crock pot to ensure they're as delicious as possible. The low and slow cooking method of the slow cooker really guarantees that these chops are moist and juicy with every bite.

Love a slow cooker recipe? Well we definitely have you covered. Try our Slow Cooker Pork Roast, Country Style Pork Ribs, and Crock Pot Beef and Noodles. You won't be disappointed.

Slow cooker pork chops and apples on a plate with green beans.

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love this Recipe

5-Ingredient Comfort Food. Crock Pot Pork Chops and Apples is the perfect recipe for beginner cooks to try at home. This is truly foolproof and makes the most delicious, juicy pork chops.
Comfort Food at it's Finest. It's a heartwarming meal with Fall flavors in every bite.
Customize to your liking. Add fresh herbs, fresh apple slices, or dried cranberries for another delicious and easy twist on this recipe.

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

Pork Center Loin and Rib Chops: Make sure they're bone-in and a half-inch thick.
Seasoning Salt: Adds an extra boost of flavor to the pork. You can also just use salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Livia’s Seasoning Salt is my go-to blend.
Salted Butter: Gives a smooth richness to the sauce for an extra comforting flavor.
Chicken Broth: Adds that comforting broth flavor and is the base to the sauce. You can use low-sodium here if desired.
Apple Pie Filling: The secret ingredient for all that jammy apple goodness. You can also use fresh apples with brown sugar and cinnamon in the recipe too if you prefer not to use apple pie filling.
Chicken-flavored Stovetop Stuffing: You can use the regular or low sodium stuffing mix here. It's delicious as it soaks up all the pork and apple juices.

The ingredients to make slow cooker pork chops and apples.

Tools You'll Need

How to Make Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples

Sprinkle seasoning salt evenly over both sides of the pork chops.

Seasoning pork chops with seasoning salt.

In a large skillet, melt ½ tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, sear the pork chops 1 minute per side.

Pour ½ cup of the chicken broth into the bottom of a 8-quart slow cooker. Cube 1 ½ tablespoons of the butter and disperse in the broth.

Place the seared pork chops in the slow cooker.

Spoon the apple pie filling over the top of the pork chops, spreading it evenly.

Adding apples to the top of pork chops in a crockpot.

In a medium bowl, combine the stuffing mix, remaining chicken broth, and remaining butter that's been melted. Spread the mixture evenly over the top of the apple pie filling.

Adding stuffing to the top of pork chops in a crockpot.

Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until the pork chops are tender and cooked through.
Serve pork chops with a generous helping of the apple and stuffing mixture on top.

Expert Tips

When it comes to making this Crockpot Apple Pork Chops, we'll be the first to tell you that it's so simple. But there are ways to customize it to your liking and steps you shouldn't skip to maximize the flavor in each bite. Here are some of our tips:

Sear the pork chops before slow cooking. Searing the pork chops in advance gives an extra rich flavor to the recipe. It's definitely worth it.
Layer the ingredients according to the recipe. This ensures that everything cooks evenly and correctly, plus keeps the pork chops moist and juicy.
Add fresh apples as desired. You can add thinly sliced fresh apples during the second half of the cooking for a hint of more fresh apple flavor.
Customize with fresh herbs and spices. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or rosemary. You can add spices like nutmeg, coriander, or cinnamon too for more warm flavors in each bite.
Optional Add-Ins: Rehydrated dried cranberries mixed into the stuffing or thinly sliced sweet onion between the apples and stuffing layers are also great flavor and texture additions.
Homemade Stove Top Stuffing Alternative: If you prefer to make your stuffing mixture from scratch, you can combine these ingredients:
- 6 cups toasted bread cubes, 1 tablespoon parsley flakes, 3 chicken bouillon cubes or 1 tablespoon salt free chicken bouillon powder, ¼ cup dried onion flakes, ¼ cup dried celery flakes, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon sage, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt

Storage and Freezing

You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat on the stovetop in a pan over low heat or in the microwave for a few minutes until heated through.

Freezing the leftovers is a good option too, they can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature and reheat as instructed above.

What to Serve with Crock Pot Pork Chops and Apples

This slow cooker pork chops with apples could easily be a main course on it's own. But if you want to round it out with a couple of extra side dishes, we have some great ideas for you.

FAQs

Why are my pork chops tough in the slow cooker?

There isn't enough liquid in the slow cooker to keep the pork moist and juicy throughout the cooking process.

What is the secret to moist pork chops?

The key is to cook them at a lower temperature in the crockpot for a longer period of time so the meat doesn't become tough.

Do pork chops get more tender the longer you cook them?

This depends, you don't want to cook them for too long. When a meat thermometer registers 145ºF, you are good to go.

Is it better to cook pork chops low or slow?

Both for different reasons. A lower temperature, like 325ºF in the oven or in the slow cooker, will make sure the pork chops stay juicy and moist.

As a result, the lower temperature means a longer cooking time, so it may take a bit longer to cook them too.

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