Juicy Maple Dijon Crock Pot Pork Chops are coated in the most delicious sweet and savory sauce, then cooked in the slow cooker until tender and bursting with flavor. This is my new favorite dinner recipe that’s super easy, but tastes and looks so impressive!

crock pot pork chops served with rice and garnished with orange slices

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Crock pot pork chops with maple Dijon sauce have become one of my go-to dinners! The slow cooker does all the work, infusing the meat with the perfect balance of sweet maple and tangy mustard flavors. Tender, flavorful and easy to make, this dish is sure to become a favorite!

Why you will love this recipe

  • Budget-friendly: Pork chops are super affordable. I love to keep some in the freezer for quick filling dinners.
  • Versatile: There’s so many ways to cook them — my absolute favorite way is a Nigella Lawson recipe that involves hard cider, a lot of cream and gnocchi on the side — but lately I’m all about easy dinners and using my slow cooker as much as possible. Try my baked pork chops recipe with butter, rosemary and honey next!
  • Quick and easy: I know, we all love those slow cooker recipes that just involve dumping everything in the Crock Pot and pushing cook, but please trust me – it makes a huge difference to sear the meat on the stove first! Only then, can you get that great caramelization that occurs. This dish can still be prepped in under ten minutes and it’s worth it to drag out one more pan, I promise.

I absolutely love this recipe for crock pot pork chops. I have made it several times and I never modify it. So delicious!

— Becky
pork chop sliced and topped with a maple dijon sauce

Ingredients needed

Just 5 key ingredients is all you need and you’re well on your way to an amazing dinner! Here’s everything you need to make this crock pot pork chops recipe:

  • Oil. You’ll need a tablespoon of avocado or olive oil to sear the pork chops and cook the onions and sauce before adding it all to the crockpot.
  • Pork chops. This recipe calls for 2 bone-in pork chops. You can use boneless, but bone-in tend to be juicier. The bone helps to insulate the meat and keep it moist. More on the best ones to use, below.
  • Yellow onion. For delicious savory flavor! You can omit, if you’re not a fan of onions.
  • Sauce. This sauce, guys, is amazing! It’s a simple mix of apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt and pepper. There’s plenty to drizzle over the meat, and also whatever side you pair with them. It’s so good over rice or mashed potatoes!

Best pork chops for the slow cooker

Pork chops are a leaner cut of meat, so if you’re not careful, they can easily dry out due to overcooking. Unlike fatty cuts of meat, you can’t leave them in the Crock Pot to slow cook all day, but follow these steps and this can be a great method.

Thick-cut

For this easy crockpot pork chops recipe you’ll want to use thick-cut pork chops. Mine were about 1 1/2 inches thick. I would not recommend cooking thin-cut pork chops in the slow cooker. The low-and-slow cooking method of the slow cooker really works best with thicker, more marbled cuts of meat.

If you’d like to use thin-cut boneless pork chops, you are better off cooking them on the stovetop, then topping them with the maple dijon sauce at the end.

Bone-in

Bone-in pork chops definitely work best for the low-and-slow cooking of a Crock Pot. Be aware that thick-cut boneless chops still cook quickly and will only take about 2-hours on low. If your slow cooker runs hot, check even earlier.

The more marbled and fatty your meat is, the more tender they will be. Also, the bone-in variety will help to insulate the meat and keep these nice and moist.

crock pot pork chops garnished with an orange slice and fresh sage

How to make this recipe

These slow cooker pork chops may look all elegant and fancy, but they’re really so easy to make. Here are the details, but for the full, printable recipe and video, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  1. Sear. Add pork chops to a hot pan and sear both sides for about 2 minutes per side over medium-high heat. Transfer to the Crock Pot.
  2. Sauté onion and cook gravy sauce. In the same pan, cook onion until it’s just beginning to soften, then add the apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk and cook for about 2 minutes and then pour onion mixture over pork chops in the bowl of the slow cooker.
  3. Slow cook ingredients. Cover and slow cook for about 5 to 6 hours on low or possibly less time, if they are boneless or thinner.
  4. Serve. Once cooked, plate with a generous amount of sauce and pair with your favorite sides. This dish goes exceptionally well with rice or mashed potatoes and veggies.

Pro tip: According to the FDA, pork chops should be cooked to at least 145ºF to be safe. But can be cooked all the way to 160ºF for well done. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. I pull mine out of the slow cooker when they are at 140ºF, then cover them with foil and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This is my top tip for maximum flavor and juiciness!

pork chops on a plate with an orange garnish

Expert tips

Even though this recipe is really quite simple, here are a few tips for best results:

  • To avoid dry pork chops, do NOT use the lean, boneless cut. Also, be sure to check them early, especially if it is your first time making them in the slow cooker. For your first batch, I recommend doing it on a day when you are home and can check on the meat more frequently. When in doubt, check it early to ensure it stays nice and tender.
  • This recipe feeds about 2 adults and maybe 1 small child. If you are feeding more people, you can easily double the recipe.
  • Recommended cooking tools. If you’re in the market for a new slow cooker, this is my favorite Crock-Pot. And this is a great thermometer to use when cooking.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to cook pork chops in a slow cooker?

For tender pork chops, use the thick, bone-in variety, and cook in the slow cooker on low for 5 to 6 hours. Thinner cuts may only take 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The center should be 140ºF to 145ºF as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source, with a three-minute rest time before slicing and enjoying. (See temperature & resting tip above.)

Why do pork chops get tough in crock pot?

If the meat is still tough, it’s because the collagen has not fully broken down. Extend the cook time, but check often to see if the meat is fork-tender.

Should you sear pork chops before putting in slow cooker?

Searing them before adding them to the slow cooker is optional, but HIGHLY recommended. It helps them retain moisture and brings a lot of extra flavor to the meat. It’s well worth the extra time!

Serving suggestions

These pair perfectly with so many different sides! We love this dish served with a side that can really soak up any of that amazing sauce that might be left on the plate! Potatoes, mashed cauliflower, egg noodles, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, rice or cauliflower rice are all tasty choices.

Storage recommendations

  • Storing leftovers. Place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheating. Gently rewarm in the air fryer or oven at 350 degrees F, in the microwave, or in a skillet on the stove.
  • Leftover tip. Cut up leftovers into small pieces and use the meat in quesadillas, over nachos or mixed with black beans and rice to create tasty wraps.
crock pot pork chops sliced and served with rice

These juicy pork chops make for a fabulous dinner that can be on the table with very little effort. Your whole family will approve of this one!

More slow cooker recipes

If you love using the Crock Pot as much as I do, be sure to give some of our other favorite slow cooker recipes a try!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

Crock pot pork chops served with rice and garnished with orange slices.
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Maple Dijon Crock Pot Pork Chops

Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
Juicy Maple Dijon Crock Pot Pork Chops are coated in the most delicious sweet and savory sauce, then cooked in the slow cooker until tender and bursting with flavor. This is my new favorite dinner recipe that's super easy, but tastes and looks so impressive!
Author: Kim

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
  • 2 large thick-cut bone-in pork chops, about 1 1/2-inch thick
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions 

  • Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. When hot, add the pork chops and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Sear both sides of pork chops over high heat (about 2 minutes per side) then transfer to your Crock Pot.
    Raw pork chops seasoned with salt and pepper.
  • Lower the heat on the stove to medium-low and add the chopped onion. Cook until onions are just starting to soften, then add the apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes and then pour the onion mixture over pork chops in the slow cooker.
    Adding cooked onions over pork chops.
  • Cover and cook on LOW (this recipe does not work well on high) for 5 to 6 hours. (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours LOW for boneless chops.)* Pork chops can dry out easily, so be sure to check them early, especially if it is your first time making pork chops in the slow cooker. Once cooked, plate pork chops and top with a generous amount of maple dijon sauce. These are great served over mashed potatoes or rice or alongside your favorite vegetable sides.
    Pork chops garnished with sage served on a white plate with white rice.

Notes

*Cook time can vary greatly depending on your slow cooker and the cut of pork used. Mine were thick-cut and cooked for 6 hours on low. If your pork is thinner it may only take 4 hours on low. According to the FDA, pork chops should be cooked to at least 145ºF to be safe. But can be cooked all the way to 160ºF for well done. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. I pull my pork chops out of the slow cooker when they are at 140ºF, then cover them with foil and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This is my top tip for maximum flavor and juiciness!
**This served 2 adults and 1 small child. Feel free to double the recipe for 4 adult-sized servings.
photos by krista of in krista's kitchen
Author: Kim
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Serving: 1pork chop with sauce, Calories: 470kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 561mg, Potassium: 773mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 23IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 89mg, Iron: 2mg

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