By Becky Hardin
Updated Sep 1, 2025
These Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops are juicy, flavorful, and utterly comforting. The pork chops are first pan-seared to lock in their natural juices, then slow-cooked in a rich, savory onion gravy that makes every bite melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I love how effortless this recipe is—just a few simple steps and your Crock Pot does the rest—making it the perfect dinner for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend meal. Serve it with mashed potatoes or rice to soak up all that delicious gravy, and you’ve got a hearty, crowd-pleasing dinner that everyone will love.
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5-Star Review
“Yes, these pork chops are a must make. We love them and that sauce over them is so good!” – Erin
What I really love about this recipe is how easy it is thanks to the slow cooker. After just a few simple prep steps, I let it cook low and slow until the pork is perfectly tender and packed with flavor—making it one of my favorite go-to dinners.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 slices bacon cut into ½-inch slices
- ▢ 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ▢ 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- ▢ 2 bay leaves
- ▢ 1½ tbsp brown sugar divided
- ▢ 6 bone-in blade-cut, 1-inch thick pork chops about 8-oz. each, use pork steaks if blade-cut pork chops aren’t available.
- ▢ 3 yellow onions halved and sliced into ½-inch half-moons
- ▢ ¼ cup water plus 2 tbsp
- ▢ 1 tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 2 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
- ▢ 2 tbsp cider vinegar*
- ▢ 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
Video
Instructions
- Spray a slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray and set temperature to low.
- Add chicken broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and 1 tbsp brown sugar to the slow-cooker insert and cover with the lid. 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 2 bay leaves, 1½ tbsp brown sugar
- Pat pork chops dry with a paper towel and season with salt & pepper. 6 bone-in
- Place bacon in a medium-size, cold skillet set over medium heat. Cook the bacon just until it starts to crisp. Transfer bacon, leaving fat in the pan, to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. 4 slices bacon
- Place 3 chops in the pan that cooked the bacon and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to the slow-cooker and repeat the process with the remaining 3 pork chops.
- Add onions, 1½ tsp brown sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper to the skillet. Scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan and cook (stirring often) over medium heat until onions soften, about 6 minutes. 3 yellow onions, ¼ cup water plus 2 tbsp, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Add garlic and thyme and cook an additional 30 seconds. 3 cloves garlic, 2 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
- Pour the onion mixture over the pork-chops in the slow-cooker.
- Cover the slow-cooker and cook, on low, until the chops/pork steaks are very tender, about 6-8 hours (or on HIGH 3-4 hours).
- When ready to serve, transfer chops to a serving dish and cover loosely with foil. Let them rest 5 minutes.
- Discard bay leaves from the sauce and use a large spoon to skim the fat from the surface of the sauce.
- Add the vinegar and parsley, season with salt and pepper and stir well. 2 tbsp cider vinegar*, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
- Spoon 1 cup of sauce over the chops and sprinkle with the bacon. Ladle the remaining sauce into a serving bowl and serve with the chops. Enjoy!
Equipment
- Crockpot
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make This Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chop Recipe Step by Step
Get your crockpot ready: Spray a slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray and set the temperature to low.
Prepare the sauce : Place 2 cups of chicken broth, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 bay leaves, and 1 tbsp brown sugar in the slow-cooker, and cover it with the lid so it cooks on the low temperature.
Prepare the pork chops: Using a paper towel, pat the 6 pork chops dry and season them with salt & pepper.
Cook the bacon : Place 4 slices of bacon in a medium-size, cold skillet and set the temperature to medium heat. Cook the bacon just until it starts to crisp and then transfer it to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Leave the bacon fat in the pan.
Sear the pork: Place 3 of the 6 pork chops in the saucepan with the bacon fat and cook them until they turn golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer the 3 pork chops to the slow-cooker and repeat the process with the remaining 3 pork chops.
Cook the onions : Add 3 onions, 1½ tsp brown sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper to the skillet, and, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan, cook the onions over medium heat, stirring often until they begin to soften and brown slightly. This should take about 6 minutes.
Add 3 cloves of garlic and 2 tsp of thyme and cook for an additional 30 seconds so the garlic has time to soften.
Pour this onion mixture over the pork chops in the slow-cooker.
Cook the mixture: Cover the slow-cooker and cook the smothered pork chops on low until the chops are very tender. This should take about 6-8 hours. If you prefer, you can cook them on high for 3-4 hours.
Rest: When the cook time is up and you are getting ready to serve, transfer the pork chops to a serving dish, cover them loosely with tin foil, and let them rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.
Discard bay leaves from the sauce and use a large spoon the skim the fat from the surface.
Final seasoning : Add 2 tbsp of vinegar and 1 tbsp of chopped fresh parsley, season with salt and pepper, and give it a good stir.
Serve: Spoon 1 cup of the sauce over the chops and sprinkle with the cooked bacon. Ladle the remaining sauce into a serving bowl and serve on the side with the pork chops. Enjoy!
How to Store
Leftover pork chops will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or over the stove.
You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat.
Serving Suggestions
These Crock Pot smothered pork chops are delicious served with a variety of sides like crispy cheesy roasted broccoli or cheesy mashed cauliflower . I also like to make garlic cheesy cornbread drop biscuits to soak up all the delicious sauce, though it also spoons nicely over mashed potatoes .
more pork chop recipes we love
Apple Butter Pork Chops
Parmesan Pork Chops with Creamy Parmesan Garlic Sauce
Honey Pork Chops with Pears and Bourbon (Pan Fried Pork Chops)
Grilled Pork Chops Recipe
Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon cut into ½-inch slices
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- 1½ tbsp brown sugar divided
- 6 bone-in blade-cut, 1-inch thick pork chops about 8-oz. each, use pork steaks if blade-cut pork chops aren’t available.
- 3 yellow onions halved and sliced into ½-inch half-moons
- ¼ cup water plus 2 tbsp
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tbsp cider vinegar*
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Spray a slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray and set temperature to low.
- Add chicken broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and 1 tbsp brown sugar to the slow-cooker insert and cover with the lid. 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 2 bay leaves, 1½ tbsp brown sugar
- Pat pork chops dry with a paper towel and season with salt & pepper. 6 bone-in
- Place bacon in a medium-size, cold skillet set over medium heat. Cook the bacon just until it starts to crisp. Transfer bacon, leaving fat in the pan, to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. 4 slices bacon
- Place 3 chops in the pan that cooked the bacon and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to the slow-cooker and repeat the process with the remaining 3 pork chops.
- Add onions, 1½ tsp brown sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper to the skillet. Scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan and cook (stirring often) over medium heat until onions soften, about 6 minutes. 3 yellow onions, ¼ cup water plus 2 tbsp, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Add garlic and thyme and cook an additional 30 seconds. 3 cloves garlic, 2 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
- Pour the onion mixture over the pork-chops in the slow-cooker.
- Cover the slow-cooker and cook, on low, until the chops/pork steaks are very tender, about 6-8 hours (or on HIGH 3-4 hours).
- When ready to serve, transfer chops to a serving dish and cover loosely with foil. Let them rest 5 minutes.
- Discard bay leaves from the sauce and use a large spoon to skim the fat from the surface of the sauce.
- Add the vinegar and parsley, season with salt and pepper and stir well. 2 tbsp cider vinegar*, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
- Spoon 1 cup of sauce over the chops and sprinkle with the bacon. Ladle the remaining sauce into a serving bowl and serve with the chops. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
