Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops are tender, savory pork chops cooked in a sticky-sweet sauce made with honey, garlic, soy sauce, and a few simple seasonings. As the pork cooks, its juices mingle with the sauce and give it plenty of flavor without much hands-on work.

This is a good one for busy days when you want dinner mostly handled before the evening gets started. Once the pork chops and sauce are in the slow cooker, there’s very little left to do.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe There’s only a short amount of prep before the slow cooker takes over. You don’t need to constantly turn the pork or stand over a skillet making sauce.

The honey garlic sauce is simple but has a nice balance of sweet, salty, and savory flavors. Thickening it at the end gives it enough body to cling to the pork instead of running straight onto the plate.

It’s also an easy meal to pair with whatever you already have. Rice, mashed potatoes, or a simple vegetable are all you really need.

The honey brings sweetness, but the soy sauce and garlic keep the finished dish firmly on the savory side. At the end, the cooking liquid gets thickened into a glossy sauce that’s especially good spooned over rice.

I prefer thicker pork chops for slow cooking. They’re more forgiving than very thin chops and are less likely to dry out before dinner.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need a handful of familiar ingredients for the pork and honey garlic sauce:

• Thick-cut pork chops
• Honey
• Low-sodium soy sauce
• Garlic
• Ketchup
• Apple cider vinegar
• Cornstarch
• Water
• Black pepper

How To Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops

1. Step 1: Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and season them lightly with black pepper. Arrange them in the bottom of the slow cooker, overlapping only slightly if necessary.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar until the sauce looks smooth and evenly combined.
3. Step 3: Pour the honey garlic mixture over the pork chops, turning the chops briefly so both sides get some of the sauce.
4. Step 4: Cover and cook on LOW for about 4–5 hours, or until the pork is tender and reaches at least 145°F in the thickest portion. Cooking time can vary considerably depending on the thickness of the chops and your slow cooker, so begin checking early.
5. Step 5: Carefully transfer the cooked pork chops to a plate and cover loosely to keep them warm.
6. Step 6: Stir the cornstarch and cold water together until completely smooth. Whisk the mixture into the hot cooking liquid in the slow cooker.
7. Step 7: Cover and cook on HIGH for another 10–15 minutes, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Give it a good stir before returning the pork chops to the cooker.
8. Step 8: Spoon the thickened honey garlic sauce over the pork and let everything warm together for a few minutes before serving.

Honey Garlic Pork Chop Variations

Spicy Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Add a pinch of crushed red pepper or a little chili sauce to balance the honey with some heat.

Extra-Garlic Pork Chops

Add another clove or two of minced garlic if you want garlic to be more prominent.

Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin

The same flavor combination works well with pork tenderloin, although the cooking time will need to be adjusted for the different cut.

Ginger Honey Garlic Pork

Add a little freshly grated ginger to the sauce for a warm, aromatic note that pairs nicely with the soy and honey.

Less-Sweet Honey Garlic Pork

Reduce the honey slightly and add a little more vinegar for a sauce that leans more savory and tangy.

Storing Leftover Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Transfer leftover pork and sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate within two hours. They’ll keep for about 3–4 days.

Reheat the chops gently with plenty of sauce to help prevent them from drying out. If the refrigerated sauce becomes very thick, stir in a splash of water before reheating.

FAQ

Should I Use Bone-In Or Boneless Pork Chops?

Either will work, but thick bone-in chops are particularly forgiving in the slow cooker. If you use boneless chops, choose thicker pieces and begin checking them earlier.

Do I Need To Brown The Pork Chops First?

No. Browning is optional. A quick sear can add extra color and flavor, but you can put the pork directly into the slow cooker when you want to keep preparation simple.

Why Are My Pork Chops Dry?

They probably cooked longer than necessary. Pork chops are much leaner than slow-cooker cuts such as pork shoulder, so they don’t benefit from an excessively long cooking time.

Why Is My Honey Garlic Sauce Thin?

Slow cookers trap moisture, and the pork releases additional liquid as it cooks. The cornstarch slurry at the end turns that cooking liquid into a thicker sauce.

Can I Make The Sauce Ahead?

Yes. Whisk the honey garlic sauce together, cover it, and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook.

Can I Use Regular Soy Sauce?

Yes, but the finished sauce will be saltier. Low-sodium soy sauce gives you better control over the seasoning.

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops

I usually serve Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops over white or jasmine rice because the rice catches all that sticky sauce, but mashed potatoes are really good here too. For vegetables, steamed broccoli, green beans, roasted carrots, or snap peas all work nicely and keep the plate from feeling too heavy. If you want something especially simple, make a pot of rice and steam some broccoli while the sauce is thickening—the pork has enough flavor that dinner really doesn’t need much more.

Use thick pork chops if you can find them and start checking for doneness before the maximum cooking time. Slow cookers vary, and pork chops stay much juicier when they aren’t left cooking for hours after they’re ready.

And don’t skip thickening those cooking juices. Turning them into a glossy honey garlic sauce is what brings the whole dish together.

This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops are tender, juicy, and packed with sweet and savory flavor. Made with a simple honey garlic sauce, these pork chops come together easily in the slow cooker for a delicious, comforting dinner with minimal effort.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 thick-cut pork chops
• ⅓ cup honey
• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

Instructions

1. Arrange the pork chops in the slow cooker and season with black pepper.
2. Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar.
3. Pour the sauce over the pork chops.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours, checking early, until the pork reaches at least 145°F.
5. Transfer the pork chops to a plate.
6. Mix the cornstarch and cold water until smooth, then stir the slurry into the cooking liquid.
7. Cover and cook on HIGH for 10–15 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
8. Return the pork chops to the slow cooker and spoon the honey garlic sauce over them before serving.