These slow cooker 4-ingredient apple butter pork chops are exactly the kind of dinner I lean on when life gets busy but I still want something that tastes like I put in real effort. My sister-in-law shared this with me last fall, and it immediately earned a spot in the cold-weather rotation because the apple butter turns into a glossy, sweet-savory sauce that feels cozy and a little special with almost no prep at all. It has that classic Midwest comfort-food vibe, especially when apples and warm spices start showing up everywhere in autumn.
Serve these pork chops with mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or simple rice to catch every bit of the sauce. For vegetables, roasted green beans, glazed carrots, or a crisp salad with walnuts and dried cranberries all work really well. If you want to lean into the fall flavor, a side of roasted sweet potatoes or baked acorn squash makes this dinner feel extra seasonal.
Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Apple Butter Pork Chops
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 bone-in pork chops, about 1 inch thick
1 cup apple butter
1 packet onion soup mix, about 1 ounce
1/4 cup chicken broth
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray if desired. Arrange the pork chops in the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer, overlapping slightly only if needed.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the apple butter, onion soup mix, and chicken broth until smooth and well combined.
3. Pour the apple butter mixture over the pork chops, making sure the tops are well coated. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, until the pork is tender and cooked through.
4. Once done, spoon some of the sauce over the pork chops before serving. If you want a slightly thicker sauce, leave the lid off for 10 to 15 minutes on warm before serving.
Variations & Tips
Use boneless pork chops: Boneless chops work too, but they can cook a little faster and may not stay quite as juicy as bone-in. Start checking them early so they do not overcook.
Add a little tang: If you like a sweeter sauce balanced with more savory flavor, stir in 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or a splash of apple cider vinegar with the sauce mixture. It gives the final dish a little more contrast.
Make it meal-prep friendly: You can mix the sauce the night before and keep it in the fridge, then assemble everything in the slow cooker insert in the morning. That makes this one especially helpful on busy weekdays.
Thicken the sauce for serving: If you want the glaze to feel more like a spoonable gravy, transfer the cooking liquid to a small saucepan and simmer it for a few minutes after the pork chops are done. It concentrates the flavor nicely.
Choose the right apple butter: Since there are only a few ingredients here, the flavor of the apple butter really matters. Pick one you already enjoy, preferably with warm spice notes, because it shapes the whole sauce.