Slow-Cooker Smothered Pork Chops with Onion Gravy

Ingredients

Optional: ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream or ¼ cup sour cream for a creamier gravy.

Instructions

1. Prepare the pork

   • Pat the pork chops thoroughly dry.

   • Season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and thyme.

   • Let them sit for about 10–15 minutes while you prepare the onions.

2. Brown the chops

   • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

   • Sear the pork chops for 2–3 minutes per side, just until nicely browned.

   • They do not need to be cooked through.

   • Transfer them to the slow cooker.

3. Cook the onions

   • Reduce the skillet to medium heat and add the butter.

   • Add the sliced onions and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden.

   • Add garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds.

4. Make the gravy mixture

   • Add broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard and brown sugar.

   • Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet—they add a lot of flavor.

   • Pour the onion mixture and liquid over the pork chops in the slow cooker.

5. Slow cook

   • Cover and cook on:

     • LOW: 5–6 hours, or

     • HIGH: 2½–3½ hours

   • Pork is safely cooked when the center reaches 145°F / 63°C, followed by a 3-minute rest. For very tender, fall-apart chops, longer slow cooking will produce a softer texture, although lean pork can become dry if overcooked.

6. Thicken the gravy

   • Remove the pork chops and keep them covered.

   • Mix cornstarch with cold water until completely smooth.

   • Stir it into the hot liquid in the slow cooker.

   • Cover and cook on HIGH for approximately 10–15 minutes, until thickened.

   • Return the pork chops to the gravy.

7. Finish

   • Taste the gravy and adjust salt and pepper.

   • For a richer version, stir in the optional cream or sour cream after reducing the heat, so it doesn’t separate.

Serving suggestions

Serve the chops with the onion gravy over:

• Mashed potatoes

• White or brown rice

• Egg noodles

• Polenta

• Steamed vegetables

• Crusty bread for soaking up the gravy

Approximate nutrition

For 1 pork chop with gravy, assuming four chops and the standard recipe:

• Calories: ~500–550 kcal

• Protein: ~45–50 g

• Fat: ~28–32 g

• Carbohydrates: ~14–17 g

• Fiber: ~2 g

• Sugar: ~6–7 g

• Sodium: ~900–1,100 mg

Nutrition will vary substantially with the size/fat content of the pork chops and the amount of salt, soy sauce and broth used.