My mother-in-law, Marlene, passed this slow cooker pork chop recipe to me one busy May afternoon when I was fretting over what to feed everyone before Memorial Day weekend kicked off. She just smiled, handed me a slip of paper with four ingredients scribbled on it, and said, “Let the crock do the work.” The chops come out so tender you can pull them apart with a fork, bathed in a sticky honey-garlic glaze that tastes like you fussed all day when you really didn’t. It’s the kind of practical, no-fail, Midwestern comfort meal that lets you spend time with family instead of hovering over the stove.
Handwritten recipe card beside pantry ingredients on a farmhouse counter
Handwritten recipe card beside pantry ingredients on a farmhouse counter
These honey garlic pork chops are lovely served over fluffy mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles so they can soak up all those dark, caramel-colored juices. Add a simple side of green beans, sweet corn, or a crisp lettuce salad to keep things easy. Warm dinner rolls or a slice of soft white bread are right at home on the table for sopping up the extra sauce.
For a pre–Memorial Day spread, you can pair the pork with coleslaw and potato salad, then finish with fresh berries or a simple dessert to keep the meal relaxed and backyard-ready.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 thick-cut bone-in pork chops (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds total, at least 1-inch thick)
1 cup honey
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
4 large cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tablespoon jarred minced garlic)
Directions
Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and trim any very thick pieces of fat from the edges, leaving a little for flavor. This helps the glaze cling to the meat and keeps the juices from getting too greasy.
Raw pork chops on a cutting board with paper towels and garlic nearby
Raw pork chops on a cutting board with paper towels and garlic nearby
In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic until the honey is fully blended and the mixture looks smooth and glossy.
Lay the pork chops in a single layer in the bottom of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. If they overlap slightly, that is fine, but avoid stacking them directly on top of each other if you can.
Honey garlic sauce being whisked in a glass measuring cup
Honey garlic sauce being whisked in a glass measuring cup
Pour the honey garlic mixture evenly over the pork chops, turning each chop once with tongs to lightly coat both sides. Make sure some of the minced garlic lands on top of each chop for extra flavor.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or until the pork chops are very tender and easily pull apart with a fork. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking so the heat stays consistent and the meat becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender.
