About Crock Pot Ranch Pork Chops
Crock Pot Ranch Pork Chops have become the newest addition to our dinner rotation because they answer my three main requirements:
They’re easy (check!)
They’re delicious (check check!)
They make great leftovers (check x 3!)
And honestly, isn’t that what we all want in a meal? After a long, busy day, the last thing I want to do is feel trapped in the kitchen and making boneless pork chops in a crock pot (with cream of mushroom and ranch seasonings for that added dose of flavor) is my new way to find more relaxation time in my day.
Plus, it certainly doesn’t hurt that everyone in my house loves how they taste.
Should the pork be boneless or bone-in?
I chose to make boneless pork chops in a crock pot for this recipe, but ultimately, picking boneless or bone-in is totally up to you.
However, if you’re on the fence on which to choose, here are a few pros and cons:
- With boneless, there’s no need to worry about picking out the bones. They’re easier to serve and will be easier on your budget.
- With bone-in, you get the added flavor of cooking with the bone, which can sometimes make or break a recipe. However, crock pots will make the meat very tender and a hard bone can sometimes cause the meat to fall apart while serving.
Can you use a ranch packet instead?
Yes, you can use a ranch packet instead of the herbs (dried parsley, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, and black pepper) BUT if you do this you might also need to increase the white wine from 1/3 cup to 2/3 or 3/4 cup.
When mixing, start out adding 1/3 cup and do a taste test. Only add more white wine if you find the ranch flavor overpowering. If it is, add another 1/3 cup and see if it helps. Continue adding white wine until you find a balance you like. If needed, you can go up to a total of 1 whole cup of white wine help even out the flavor.
How long to cook pork chops in a crock pot?
For this recipe, the “standard” crock pot times apply:
If cooking on HIGH, cook for four hours.
If cooking on LOW, cook for eight hours.
As for my personal recommendation, I think the pork chops come out better when cooked on LOW. So if you have the time to spare, I highly recommend setting aside eight full hours for cooking.
What to serve with crock pot pork chops
You can serve these pork chops on a bed of pasta as pictured (I used spaghetti but you can also use linguine or angel hair) OR you can whip up some white or brown rice instead.
Notes & tips for making crock pot pork chops
- I recently upgraded my crock pot to one that comes with bowls for 2.5 Quart, 4 Quart, and 6 Quart and I highly recommend it! It’s so nice to have one unit that can make fabulous dinners and heat up party dips. You can pick one up here: Choose-A-Crock Programmable Slow Cooker, 6 quart/4 quart/2 x 1.5 quart.
Other great crock pot recipes
How to make ranch pork chops in a crock pot
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
The true beauty of a crock pot recipe is how easy they are to make, and cooking pork chops in a crock pot is a perfect example.
Step 1 – Mix up the creamy ranch by adding cream of mushroom, dried parsley, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, and black pepper to a small bowl and mixing together. I like to use a hand mixer on low to break up the cream cheese, but you can also use a spatula and some elbow grease.
Step 2 – Add your pork chops to your crock pot, arranging them in an even layer.
Step 3 – Spread the creamy ranch mixture on top of the pork chops. Only worry about covering the tops – as the pork chops bake, the sauce will melt and coat the sides of the pork.
Step 4 – Cover and cook.
Step 5 – Serve and enjoy!
This post first appeared on The Slow Roasted Italian website (where I am a monthly contributor) and has been syndicated here.
Watch the recipe video
Recipe Details
Crock Pot Ranch Pork Chops
Ultra creamy and tender, this easy recipe of crock pot ranch pork chops can make you fall in love with pork chops again (or give you a new way to love them!)
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add cream of mushroom, dried parsley, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, and black pepper. Use a hand mixer (or a spatula and some elbow grease) to mix the ingredients on LOW until only small clumps of cream cheese remain, about 2-4 minutes.
- Add white wine (or chicken broth) to bowl and gently fold in with the cream until absorbed, about another 2-4 minutes.
- Place pork chops in the bottom of a 6 quarts crock pot and arrange in an even layer. Pour ranch mixture on top and spread until the tops of the pork chops are covered.
- Cover crock pot and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Serve pork chops on a bed of rice or pasta and garnish with parsley (optional).
Nutrition
I found that bone in chops will actually splinter when cooked in a slow cooker. I had a terrible time getting the tiny fragments out of the pork.