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Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops are seasoned with cumin, garlic, lime, and low-sugar salsa and they cook while you’re busy doing other things! And these pork chops are great for a low-carb meal!

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Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops finished dish in serving dish topped with melted cheese

Even though this recipe for Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops is a close relative of the popular Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken recipe on my site, it took me years to realize that the pork chops would be even more delicious if I served them smothered with cheese like I did for the slow cooker salsa chicken recipe! So recently I made these pork chops again with that improvement, and even though that adds a step to the recipe, I promise this is an easy slow cooker meal that will make you happy.

I adapted this recipe from Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Recipes for Two (affiliate link), a book with recipes designed for small slow cookers and that serve two people. But I made this into a family sized recipe that makes six servings, and the leftover pork chops are great reheated, if you’re lucky enough to have any left over! And if you prefer using the Instant Pot, check out the recipe for Instant Pot Salsa Pork Chops!

What Ingredients do you need for this recipe?

What Size Slow Cooker Did I Use?

I would use at least a 5-Quart Slow Cooker (affiliate link) for this recipe, and a six quart oval slow cooker will work if that’s the type you have.

Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops process shots collage

How to make Salsa Pork Chops in the slow cooker:

(Scroll down for complete recipe, including nutritional information.)

  1. I used pork loin sirloin chops and trimmed off the fat on the edges. 
  2. Mix  ground cumin (affiliate link), garlic powder, Vege-Sal (or salt), and black pepper and rub on both sides of pork chops. Then heat oil in a large frying pan and brown the chops on both sides. (I wouldn’t skip the browning step, which adds a lot of flavor.)
  3. For the simmering sauce, Pace Picante Sauce (or your favorite low-sugar salsa) with fresh-squeezed lime juice.
  4. Put the browned pork chops in the bottom of the slow cooked and pour the sauce over, then cook for about 3 hours on high.
  5. When pork chops are tender, remove from the slow cooker and arrange in baking dish. (Start preheating the broiler at this point.)
  6. Put the sauce from the slow cooker in a saucepan and simmer 5-10 minutes at medium-high heat to reduce and thicken the sauce. 
  7. Spoon some sauce over the pork chops and top with grated Mexican blend cheese.
  8. Put under the broiler and cook until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling hot (about 5 minutes for us with the shelf about six inches away from the broiler.)
  9. Serve hot.

Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops square image of finished recipe

Make it a Meal:

These pork chops would be delicious with Spicy Mexican Slaw for a low-carb meal. Or you could serve with Pureed Cauliflower and put some of the sauce over the cauliflower mash.

More Recipes for Pork Chops:

Pork Chops with Balsamic Glaze from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Pork Chops with Garlic-Lime Sauce from Dine and Dish
Braised Pork Chops with Cabbage from French Kitchen in America
Pork Chops with Simple Mushroom Gravy from Green Lite Bites
Grilled Ginger-Soy Pork Chops from Kalyn’s Kitchen

Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops finished dish in serving dish topped with melted cheese
Yield: 4 servings

Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes

Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops with Cumin, Garlic, and Lime are perfect to make on a day that  you’re busy doing other things!

Ingredients

  • 6 pork loin sirloin chops with fat trimmed
  • 3/4 tsp. ground cumin
  • 3/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Vege-Sal (see notes)
  • 1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 1/4 cups Pace Picante Sauce (see notes)
  • 3 T fresh-squeezed lime juice

Instructions

  1. Trim desired amount of fat around the edges of pork chops and discard fat.
  2. Combine ground cumin, garlic powder, Vege-Sal or salt, and fresh ground black pepper in a small bowl.
  3. Then use the spice mixture to rub the trimmed pork chops on both sides.
  4. Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan, add pork chops and cook over medium heat until well-browned, about 5 minutes per side. (The pork chops don’t need to be done clear though, but they should be nicely browned.)
  5. Spray sides and bottom of the slow cooker with olive oil or non-stick spray.
  6. Put browned pork chops into the slow cooker, pour over salsa-lime mixture, and cook on high for about 3 hours, or until the pork chops are tender when pierced with a fork.
  7. When pork chops are tender, remove from the slow cooker and arrange in baking dish. (Start preheating the broiler at this point.)
  8. Put the sauce from the slow cooker in a saucepan and simmer 5-10 minutes at medium-high heat to reduce and thicken the sauce. 
  9. Spoon some sauce over the pork chops and top with grated Mexican blend cheese.
  10. Put under the broiler and cook until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling hot (about 5 minutes for us with the shelf about six inches away from the broiler.)
  11. Serve hot.

Notes

I used Pace Picante Sauce (affiliate link) medium heat, but choose the level of hotness and brand of low-sugar salsa you like. If you don't have Vege-Sal (affiliate link), just use a smaller amount of regular salt.

Recipe adapted from Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Recipes for Two (affiliate link).

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 464mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 26g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

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© Kalyn Denny
Category: Slow Cooker

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
As long as you choose lean pork chops and trim the fat on the edges plus pick a salsa that’s low in sugar, this is a great recipe for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. You need low-sugar salsa to make this for South Beach or any low-carb diet plan, but other low-carb plans wouldn’t be worried about fat.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. Use Slow Cooker Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Click here for Slow Cooker / Pressure Cooker Recipes on my other site!

Historical Notes for This Recipe:
This recipe was first post in 2011; it was updated and improved January 2021.

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