For a truly exceptional and effortless dinner, master the art of making pressure cooker pork chops. This incredibly easy recipe for your Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi transforms ordinary pork chops into a tender, gravy-smothered comfort food classic in record time. Whether you’ve tried our highly-rated baked pork chops and are looking for an even faster alternative with a luscious gravy, or simply seeking a new weeknight staple, these instructions will guide you to culinary success.
Our site is a treasure trove of quick and convenient Instant Pot recipes, covering everything from complex meals to simple, comforting dishes. Sometimes, however, the most fundamental and universally loved recipes are overlooked in the pursuit of novelty. This recipe for pressure cooker pork chops is one such gem, a timeless dish that deserves a place in every home cook’s repertoire, and it’s finally here to claim its rightful spotlight!
Many home cooks, ourselves included, prefer to purchase meat in bulk, especially at the start of the year, ensuring a well-stocked freezer for various culinary adventures. Pork, in particular, offers an astounding versatility, with numerous cuts that can be prepared in countless delicious ways. While bacon is a universally adored and easily prepared pork product, larger cuts of pork can sometimes be daunting. But fear not, we’re here to provide you with all the answers and techniques to confidently cook any piece of pork to perfection.
I have extensively utilized my multi-cooker to prepare pork in a multitude of ways. For smaller cuts like these succulent pork chops, the pressure cooker requires very little time, ensuring they remain incredibly juicy and tender, preventing any dryness often associated with overcooking. Conversely, for larger cuts, such as our renowned Instant Pot pulled pork, the pressure cooker excels at tenderizing the meat in a mere fraction of the time typically required for slow-cooked methods, delivering fall-apart results every single time.
This versatile recipe can be prepared using any brand of electric pressure cooker that features both a sauté (or brown) function and a high-pressure cooking setting. Whether you own an Instant Pot, a Ninja Foodi (utilizing its dedicated pressure cooking lid), or a Crockpot Express, the fundamental principles remain the same. Having experimented with several different brands, I can confidently say that they all operate in a remarkably similar fashion, making this recipe universally applicable across various multi-cookers.
Essential Ingredient Notes for Perfect Pork Chops
Our recipe is designed to yield four perfectly cooked, medium-sized pork chops. We highly recommend using bone-in pork chops, ideally thin to 1 inch in thickness. Bone-in chops tend to retain moisture better and offer a richer flavor profile. If you opt for boneless pork chops, anticipate a slightly reduced cooking time, perhaps a minute less on high pressure, due to the absence of the bone. We generally advise against using 2-inch thick pork chops in this specific pressure cooker method, as they can overlap and make it challenging to ensure even cooking throughout. For an added layer of flavor, consider incorporating thinly sliced onions, though this remains an optional addition based on your preference.
A crucial element for pressure cooking any meat, especially pork chops, is the presence of sufficient liquid. This liquid generates the steam necessary for the pressure cooking process and infuses flavor into the meat. Therefore, whether you plan to create our delicious gravy or simply cook the chops, you will need chicken broth (or a similar stock) for steaming. While water can be used in a pinch, it will not contribute the same depth of flavor to the finished dish, making broth the superior choice for a truly savory meal.
Crafting the Irresistible Gravy
The hallmark of these pressure cooker pork chops is the luscious, warm gravy that envelops them, transforming a simple meal into an extraordinary culinary experience. To achieve a rich, thick, and incredibly flavorful sauce, we suggest the following key ingredients:
- Tomato paste: This concentrated ingredient adds a deep, umami-rich foundation and contributes significantly to the gravy’s body and color.
- Half and half: Essential for imparting a luxurious, creamy texture and a subtle richness that beautifully balances the savory notes.
- Cornstarch: A reliable thickening agent that ensures your gravy reaches the perfect consistency, preventing it from being too thin or watery.
- Worcestershire sauce: A secret weapon for adding a complex, savory, and slightly tangy depth of flavor that elevates the entire dish.
- Seasonings of your choice: Beyond the core ingredients, feel free to customize the gravy with your favorite herbs and spices to match your palate. Our pork dry rub, though named for chops, is incredibly versatile and works wonders on any cut of pork, and even on steaks when smoking them, yielding absolutely out-of-this-world delicious results.
As for serving suggestions, while I haven’t found a side dish that doesn’t pair wonderfully with these gravy-smothered pork chops, my go-to accompaniments are typically fluffy mashed potatoes or perfectly cooked white rice, which are ideal for soaking up every last drop of that savory gravy.
Cooking Boneless Pork Chops in Your Pressure Cooker
Should you choose boneless pork chops for this recipe, you’ll find the cooking process to be very similar, with a slight adjustment to the cooking time. Boneless chops, being less thick and uniform in density, will typically cook a bit faster than their bone-in counterparts. This is consistent with how long to cook thin pork chops, as there’s simply less mass for the heat to penetrate. The printable recipe card below provides specific guidance, but generally, a minute or two less under high pressure will suffice for boneless varieties, ensuring they remain tender and moist without drying out.
From Frozen to Fork-Tender: Pressure Cooking Frozen Pork Chops
We all have those moments of forgetfulness – myself included! If you find yourself with frozen pork chops and dinner approaching fast, don’t despair. Your pressure cooker is a true savior. The remarkable thing about cooking frozen pork chops in an Instant Pot is that the end result is virtually indistinguishable from chops cooked from fresh. Especially when bathed in our rich gravy, frozen chops emerge from the pressure cooker super tender, incredibly moist, and utterly delicious. This method is a game-changer for busy weeknights, ensuring a delicious meal is always within reach, even if you forget to defrost.
Expert Tips for Keeping Pork Chops Incredibly Moist and Tender
Achieving perfectly moist and fork-tender pork chops in a pressure cooker requires a few key techniques. By incorporating these hacks into your cooking process, you’ll consistently produce succulent results that impress:
- Brown First for Flavor: Starting by browning your pork chops for 1-2 minutes per side on the sauté mode is a fantastic way to develop a rich, caramelized crust and deepen the overall flavor profile of your dish. This initial searing locks in juices and creates a delicious foundation.
- Always Deglaze: After browning, it’s crucial to deglaze your pressure cooker pot. This involves pouring in a small amount of liquid (like broth) and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. This prevents the dreaded “BURN” notice and ensures all those flavorful drippings are incorporated into your sauce.
- Cook in a Flavorful Sauce: Utilize some form of liquid sauce (one that isn’t excessively thick before cooking) to cook your pork chops in. Not only does this infuse the chops with incredible flavor, but it also provides a moist environment, actively preventing them from drying out under high pressure.
- Opt for Broth Over Water: Whenever possible, choose chicken or beef broth instead of plain water. Broth adds a significant layer of savory depth to your dish. While water will still generate steam, broth will elevate the flavor of both the pork chops and the accompanying gravy.
- Cook on High Pressure: To achieve that desirable fork-tender texture, ensure your pressure cooker is set to high pressure. This intense cooking method rapidly breaks down muscle fibers, resulting in incredibly soft and succulent meat.
- Prioritize Natural Pressure Release: For the most tender and juicy pork chops imaginable, always allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) at the end of the cooking cycle for at least a few minutes, ideally around 5-10 minutes for thicker chops. This gradual release of pressure allows the internal temperature of the chops to stabilize, reabsorbing juices and resulting in exceptionally moist meat. A quick release can sometimes cause the meat to seize up and dry out.
- Transform Juices into Creamy Gravy: The flavorful liquid left in the pot after cooking is a goldmine! Easily transform these pan juices into a rich, creamy broth or gravy by switching to sauté mode and adding a slurry of cornstarch and half and half, whisking until thickened.
This particular recipe ingeniously incorporates a simple yet deliciously creamy sauce right from the start, ensuring that your pork chops emerge not only incredibly tender from the pressure cooking process but also infused with an added layer of undeniable yumminess. This method truly delivers on both texture and taste!
How Long Do You Cook Pork Chops in a Pressure Cooker?
One of the most appealing aspects of using a pressure cooker is its incredible speed. For medium-thickness pork chops, the actual high-pressure cooking time is astonishingly short – often around 8-10 minutes. However, it’s important to factor in the time your pressure cooker needs to build up to pressure, which can add another 10-12 minutes depending on the quantity of liquid and ingredients. Even with this pressure build-up, the total time from start to finish is remarkably efficient, making it the perfect duration to prepare your accompanying vegetables and side dishes, ensuring a complete meal is ready almost simultaneously.
Pressure Cooker Pork Chops Recipe
Equipment
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1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 4 medium pork chops, bone in
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste, or I have used 2 tbsp. pureed tomatoes
- 1 cup mushrooms, fresh, sliced
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 cup broth, vegetable or beef
Instructions
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Turn the pressure cooker on to sauté mode, add oil and then brown the pork chops on both sides. Turn pot off. Remove meat and deglaze the pot with 1/4 c of your broth.
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Put meat back in. Whisk rest of broth and tomato sauce together in a bowl, pour into pot. Add in onion, mushrooms, worc. sauce.
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Close lid and steam valve and set to pressure high for 8 minutes. (timing depends on thickness of meat)
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Allow to naturally release steam for 2 minutes, then do a quick release. Set Instant Pot on saute again. Remove meat and set aside under foil to stay warm.
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In a small bowl mix together half and half and cornstarch and add into the pot allowing liquid to bubble and thicken. Add garlic salt if desired, whisk together. Turn pot off and serve meat and gravy over rice!
Nutrition
Calories: 308 kcal,
Carbohydrates: 8 g,
Protein: 31 g,
Fat: 16 g,
Saturated Fat: 5 g,
Cholesterol: 100 mg,
Sodium: 1053 mg,
Potassium: 760 mg,
Fiber: 1 g,
Sugar: 3 g,
Vitamin A: 390 IU,
Vitamin C: 5 mg,
Calcium: 54 mg,
Iron: 1.2 mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Once your pressure cooker pork chops are complete, you’ll be greeted with a dish that looks as delectable as it tastes. The meat, succulent and fork-tender, will be perfectly complemented by approximately 1/4 cup of the rich, thick gravy spooned generously over each serving. This culinary masterpiece is best enjoyed over a bed of creamy pressure cooker mashed potatoes or fluffy white rice, allowing the tender chops and savory gravy to truly shine as the star of your meal.
Other Easy Instant Pot and Multi-Cooker Pork Recipes You’ll Adore
If you’ve enjoyed the ease and deliciousness of these pressure cooker pork chops, you’re in for a treat! The world of Instant Pot and multi-cooker pork recipes is vast and varied, offering numerous options for quick, comforting, and incredibly flavorful meals:
- For those moments when you’ve forgotten to defrost, our Instant Pot frozen pork loin recipe comes to the rescue, ensuring a fast and delicious meal without any planning ahead.
- Looking for another tender and quick option? Our easy Instant Pot pork tenderloin is an excellent choice, known for its lean texture and ability to absorb flavors beautifully.
- If you’re a proud owner of a Ninja Foodi, you can elevate your weeknight meals by creating a complete one-pot wonder with our Ninja Foodi pork chops and rice recipe, where everything cooks together for ultimate convenience.
Beyond chops and tenderloins, we’ve also perfected the Instant Pot pork shoulder recipe, which consistently yields meat so tender it’s perfect for shredding into sandwiches or tacos. And for those all-too-common instances of forgetfulness, we’ve thoughtfully included detailed instructions for cooking frozen pork shoulder Instant Pot style. Both methods produce incredible results, so moist and flavorful that you’d be hard-pressed to tell which one started out as a rock-solid block of frozen meat.
Should you find yourself with a bit more time on your hands in the morning and prefer a set-it-and-forget-it approach, our classic slow cooker pork chops recipe is another fantastic option, allowing dinner to simmer to perfection while you go about your day.
