There are some Sunday dinners that stay with you, and this is one of them. My sister set these slow cooker raspberry chipotle pork chops on the table like it was nothing at all, and before long everybody was reaching for another spoonful of that glossy sauce. It is the kind of recipe Midwestern home cooks have always treasured: simple pantry ingredients, very little fuss, and a supper that tastes like you worked half the day. The raspberry brings a gentle sweetness, the chipotle adds just enough smoky warmth, and the slow cooker does the steady work of turning pork chops tender and flavorful.
These pork chops are mighty good with mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or plain white rice to catch every bit of that sweet-smoky sauce. For vegetables, I like green beans, roasted carrots, or simple corn on the cob, and if you are feeding a crowd, a crisp coleslaw or a plain salad gives the meal a nice fresh balance.
Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Raspberry Chipotle Pork Chops
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 bone-in or boneless pork chops, about 1 inch thick
1 cup raspberry preserves
2 to 3 chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
1 packet dry onion soup mix
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or a thin film of oil if you like easier cleanup. Arrange the pork chops in the bottom in as even a layer as you can.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the raspberry preserves, chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and dry onion soup mix until well combined.
3. Spoon the sauce over the pork chops, turning them a little if needed so they are well coated.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the pork chops are tender and cooked through.
5. Carefully spoon some of the sauce over the chops before serving. Set them out hot with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles, and plenty of extra sauce from the cooker.
Variations & Tips
Milder Version: If your family prefers less heat, use just 1 chipotle pepper plus a little adobo sauce. You will still get that smoky flavor without too much spice.
Use Boneless or Bone-In: Either style works nicely here. Bone-in chops tend to stay a touch juicier, while boneless chops are easy to serve and slice.
Watch the Cooking Time: Pork chops are lean, so do not let them go too long in the slow cooker or they may start to dry out. Check them at the early end of the cooking range if your slow cooker runs hot.
Make the Sauce Stretch: If you want more sauce for potatoes or rice, stir in a few tablespoons of water or chicken broth before cooking. That gives you more spoonable goodness without thinning the flavor too much.
Try It with Chicken: This same sweet-smoky sauce also works well with boneless chicken thighs. The flavor stays cozy and familiar, just with a different supper on the plate.