This recipe for Easy Crockpot Pork Chops and Apples features tender, juicy fall-off-the-bone pork chops covered with tart/sweet apple slices and smothered in brown sugar and cinnamon.
When pork and apples come together, something wonderful happens, and when you add brown sugar, cinnamon, and a slow cooker to the mix, you have a winning combination.
Tender and juicy bone-in center-cut pork chops and crisp, tart granny smith apples make this a recipe you will want to serve over and over again. Not only are these crockpot pork chops delicious, but the slow cooker does the work, and all you have to do is serve it to your hungry family!
Like my Slow Cooker Mediterranean Beef Roast, Crock Pot Pot Roast with Onion Soup Mix, Crock Pot Chicken and Potatoes, and this recipe for Baked Pork Chops and Sauerkraut, it’s an absolute family favorite and a great meal to serve on a busy weeknight. Yet, it’s impressive enough to serve guests.ย
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Ingredient notes:
You will only need a few ingredients to make this dish:
- Bone-in pork chops – tend to be more flavorful and will be juicier.
- Apples – I like to use crisp, tart Granny Smith, but any firm apple variety will work in this recipe, such as Jonagold, Braeburn, or Mitsu.
- Olive oil – is used to pan-fry the pork chops before they go in the crockpot.
- All-purpose flour – coats the pork chops before pan frying, helps them to caramelize and brown quickly, and helps to thicken the liquid. I have also used gluten-free one-for-one flour with good results.
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper – season the chops and enhance all of the flavors of the dish.
- Brown sugar and ground cinnamon – adds another layer of flavor to the apples and chops.
- Apple juice – adds more apple flavor and moisture to the dish. You can substitute apple cider or even, in a pinch, use plain water or chicken stock.
Step-by-step directions:
- Season the pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Dredge them in the flour and shake off any excess.
- Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops and pan-fry them for about two minutes on each side. Set aside.
- Place the pork chops in the crockpot. Add the apple slices and then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon over the top. Add the apple juice.
- Cover the crockpot, and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours. Optional, garnish with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Recipe FAQs:
This dish is a little rich, so I like to keep my sides simple. I usually serve it with Roasted Green Beans with Bacon and Lemon, House Salad, Easy Orzo Pilaf with Lemon and Chives, Southern Green Beans and New Potatoes, Potato and Broccoli Salad with Vinaigrette, or Easy Baked Fresh Tomato Casserole.ย ย
The length of cooking time depends mainly on how thick your pork chops are. In general, it will take about four hours on high or about six hours on high.
The USDA recommends that pork roasts or pork chops be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 ยฐF. To measure the temperature, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chop, not touching the bone.
While both use moist heat to cook food low and slow over a long period of time, they are not the same. A crockpot is a brand of slow cooker made by Rival, and slow cooker appliances can be made by many different manufacturers.
All crackpots are slow cookers, but not all slow cookers are crackpots. However, both use a ceramic bowl set inside a hearing unit that cycles off and on. Also, most have two cooking temperatures, high (300 ยฐF) and low (200 ยฐF).
For the best results, try to find thick bone-in porterhouse pork chops that are about an inch thick. They will have a characteristic t-bone, just like a t-bone steak. Blade chops or pork steaks also work well in this recipe.
Boneless chops are thinner and tend to be not as juicy or as flavorful as bone-in chops.
Sharon’s tips:
- Crockpots and slow cookers all cook a little differently depending on the model you have. The cooking time will also vary depending on the thickness of your chops. Be sure to check your meat often. It should be falling off the bone tender when done.
- The apples in this recipe will be very soft and have the consistency of applesauce after cooking. If you prefer your apples with a firmer texture, wait to add them to the crockpot during the last hour of cooking.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for up to four days. A single serving can be reheated in the microwave or if you have more, you can reheat covered in a 350 ยฐF oven.
More crockpot and slow cooker recipes:
If you need other dinner menu ideas or recipes, check out all of my main dish recipes here.
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Easy Crock-Pot Pork Chops and Apples
Equipment
- Crockpot or slow cooker
Ingredients
- 4 pork chops, bone-in center-cut, about 1-inch thick
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ยฝ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ยผ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 granny smith apples, unpeeled, cored and quartered
- ยฝ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ยฝ cup apple juice or apple cider
Instructions
- Season the chops on both sides with the salt and pepper.
- Dredge in flour and shake off any excess.
- Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops and pan-fry them for about two minutes on each side or until they are lightly browned. Remove from the pan.
- Place the pork chops in the crockpot. Add the apple slices and then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon over the top. Add the apple juice.
- Cover and cook on high for four hours or on low for six hours.
- Optional, garnish with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
*This recipe was originally published October 31, 2017.
Lorraine
Can you use boneless chops?
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Lorraine, yes, you should be able to substitute boneless pork chops.
All the best,
Sharon
Beth Jones
I didn’t have any apple juice or cider on hand so I used a cup of applesauce & 1\2 a cup of water instead & it was delicious! Would definitely make this again!
Joyce Barnes
It was very good. I loved the “apple sauce” as it made the dish even more flavorful. This is one I will do again and even for guests.
Amber
It says brown the pork chops and set aside, so I think there’s a missing instruction, like placing pork chops on top of the apples, then cooking it?
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Amber, after you add the pork chops, then you add the apple slices and sprinkle them with brown sugar and cinnamon, and add the apple juice.
I hope you enjoy them!
Sharon
Terry
I’m a bit confused. On the recipe card, step 4, it says to put the chops in the Crockpot, then top with the apples & brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, which is the exact opposite of the above comment. Which is correct, please? Thanks so much!
Sharon Rigsby
Please disregard the comment; the pork chops go in first, then the apples, sugar, etc. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
All the best,
Sharon
Eugenia Tsimis
Donโt have Apple juice or cider at the moment. Will it be ok if I use orange juice?
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Eugenia,
I can’t say for sure because I’ve never tried that, but I think it would be fine. If you decide to use the OJ, let me know what you think.
All the best,
Sharon
Jackie Trueblood
Would gala apples work as well as the green ones?
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Jackie,
Yes, you can use any type of apple you like.
Sharon
Lauren
Hi! I have this yummy meal in the crockpot now! What would you suggest to have with it? Thanks!!
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Lauren,
I hope I got back to you in time I’ve served the pork chops with mashed potatoes, orzo or rice. I’ve also served them with just a salad. I hope this helps and I hope you enjoy them!
Sharon