Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops
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!
PIN the Salsa Pork Chops to try them later!
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 salsa 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. This is 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?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- pork loin sirloin chops
- ground Cumin (affiliate link)
- Garlic Powder (affiliate link)
- Vege-Sal (affiliate link) or salt
- fresh ground black pepper
- olive oil
- Pace Picante Sauce (affiliate link) or other low-sugar salsa
- fresh-squeezed lime juice, I used my fresh-frozen lime juice
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.
More Slow Cooker Pork You Might Like:
- Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Roast ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Slow Cooker Pork Chops ~ Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
- Slow Cooker Bavarian Pork Roast ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas ~ Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
- Green Chile Pork Taco Bowl ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
How to make Salsa Pork Chops in the slow cooker:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- I used pork loin sirloin chops and trimmed off the fat on the edges.
- 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.)
- For the simmering sauce, Pace Picante Sauce (or your favorite low-sugar salsa) with fresh-squeezed lime juice.
- 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.
- When pork chops are tender, remove from the slow cooker and arrange in baking dish. (Start preheating the broiler at this point.)
- 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.
- Spoon some sauce over the pork chops and top with grated Mexican blend cheese.
- 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.)
- Serve hot.
Make it a Low-Carb Meal:
These pork chops would be delicious with Spicy Mexican Slaw, Air Fryer Peppers and Onions, or Broccoli Gratin for a low-carb meal. Or you could serve with Pureed Cauliflower and put some of the sauce over the cauliflower mash.
More Favorite Recipes for Pork Chops:
- Pork Chops with Balsamic Glaze
- Creole Pork Chops with Tomato-Pepper Relish
- Grilled Ginger-Soy Pork Chops
Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops
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
- Trim desired amount of fat around the edges of pork chops and discard fat.
- Combine ground cumin, garlic powder, Vege-Sal or salt, and fresh ground black pepper in a small bowl.
- Then use the spice mixture to rub the trimmed pork chops on both sides.
- 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.)
- Spray sides and bottom of the slow cooker with olive oil or non-stick spray.
- 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.
- When pork chops are tender, remove from the slow cooker and arrange in baking dish. (Start preheating the broiler at this point.)
- 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.
- Spoon some sauce over the pork chops and top with grated Mexican blend cheese.
- 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.)
- 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:
6Serving Size:
1Amount 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.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
As long as you choose salsa that’s low in sugar, these salsa pork chops are great for low-carb or Keto Diets. With lean pork chops and the fat trimmed, this is a great recipe for any phase of the original South Beach Diet.
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. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for This Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2011; it was updated and improved January 2021, and was last updated with more information in 2023.
55 Comments on “Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops”
Hi Kayln, I want to make this reciepe but I have a question first, when reading your reciepe I noticed that you have 1T for Olive Oil and 3T for Lime, is this teaspoons (tsp.) or is it tablespoons (tbl.) ? I have never seen just T’s next to an amount before in any other recipe so I just want to make sure that I am adding the correct amount.
Thank you!
In all my recipes T = tablespoon and tsp. = teaspoon. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Pingback: Three Tasty Recipes for Salsa Pork Chops (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot) - Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
Pingback: Three Tasty Recipes for Salsa Pork (Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker) - Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
I love your recipes, Kalyn! Many of your recipes are now family favorites and staples. I love that they’re healthy, and my kids just like them because they’re yummy. Thanks for all the fabulous flavors over the years!
Any ideas why the Printer Friendly window doesn’t work anymore?
Hi Kelly,
So glad you are enjoying the recipes! When the site got moved from Blogger to WordPress last September a lot of the printer-friendly links got corrupted (WordPress didn’t recognize the link so it converted it to a link it recognized, the same as the post. So frustrating. At first I thought it was only a few but now I am realizing what a problem it is.
When someone tells me I will fix the link, I’ll fix this one! And this summer my niece and a couple of sisters are starting a project to convert recipes more quickly to the WordPress format (that has a print button in the recipe.) But each one has to be done by hand!
Thanks for telling me.
Hi
I was wondering if I can add pasta to this recipe to make one meal instead of cooking it separately. Any ideas on how I can do that. I'm a beginner at using a crock pot
I'm sorry but I couldn't give any advice on doing that without ever trying it. I haven't cooked pasta much in the slow cooker.
Kelly, hope you enjoy!
It's in the slow cooker right now! I can't wait to taste it. I'm thinking I'm going to try topping it with low fat cheese and a little Greek yogurt. Yummy!! Thanks for posting the recipe!
Samantha, so glad you've been enjoying it!
I love this recipe – so easy and so good! I do not follow South Beach, but I follow your blog since I like to cook healthy recipes. I make this regularly for my husband and I and serve over rice with a side salad.
Glad you liked it!
Just wanted to pop in and thank you for this recipe. Made it tonight and it was a big hit. My husband was very happy I doubled it and he has already packed it up for his lunch tomorrow 🙂
Thanks Karen. I've made these a couple of times; always a hit!
These pork chops look so yummy! I haven't made pork chops in the crockpot for a long time…now I know that I need to!
I really wouldn't be able to answer that since I haven't ever done it. But I'd guess you'd need more liquid to cook it on the stove.
Hi! If I made this on the stove or oven how long do you think I should cook it and at what heat?
So glad you enjoyed them!
Thanks! I ended up making them in the slow cooker anyway, and they turned out great. Amazing how much flavor such a simple recipe has!
Yes, I think you could make this in the oven in a heavy pan with a tight fitting lid, or probably even on top of the stove on very low heat.
Do you think these would be good in an oven? I was hoping to cook this on a weeknight.
Cee Jay, so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Very good, Kalyn! The addition of the cumin and lime was spot on. I served this with black beans and rice, and the sauce was fantastic over that.
Peyton so glad you liked them. BTW, I have a great-niece named Peyton, love the name!
I made these on low for 6-8 hours last time and they were amazing! I am making them again tonight. My husband loves them. Great recipe – thank you!
It was so delicious… I did it to my hubby and he was so thankful for this recipe 🙂
Reluctant Carnivore, that sounds pretty cool. Will look for that type of crockpot.
Regarding brown when using a crock pot: I have the greatest crock pot I got from my grandparents when I graduated from high school. I can brown in the non-stick coated crock pot on the stove and then return it to the base to braise. I love this feature as it allows me to brown and heat first thing in the morning, then cook all day while I'm at work.
Truthfully I am not sure, but I think 6-8 hours might be too long unless the pork chops are pretty thick.
One quick question, please…
Do you think that this would be as good if it was cooked on low for 6 to 8 hours instead of high for 2 – 3 hours?
Thank you!
Michelle, so glad to hear the pork chops were a hit!
Hi Kalyn ~
I made these pork chops last night and my husband LOVED them! Well I did too – they were delicious! I love your site and love your recipes! Thank you!! 🙂
Michelle*
Debbi, thanks, you are sweet! I just think the plate of food looks awfully messy in the top photo, lol! My friend Bonnie always tells me I'm too hard on myself.
This looks excellent! I'm going to try this for sure, thanks! I think your photos are beautiful! 🙂
Nuts About Food, so true. I love those times when it all comes together, but it certainly doesn't happen every time.
TW, so true! I am still going to try one more time with this one, but only because the recipe is so good!
Ha! Meat is so difficult to photograph, which is why I often stick to veggies and cake!
I couldn't agree more, food blogging is not just about cooking a recipe. Sometimes a recipe turns out to be a real disappointment, other times it is the picture. Some days you just have writer's block and cannot get a single word out….the worst is the winter, when I get home late from the office have to cook quickly and then the light is so bad, I can't even get one decent picture.
I've done a similar recipe with chicken breast, but in the regular oven. I am inspired to try each in the crockpot–thanks for the ideas!
Hope you enjoy it!
This looks delicious! I"m always looking for a new way to dress up pork for my family. Looking forward to trying this tonight! Thank you.
Karen, as long as you like salsa, you'll love it! (And who doesn't like salsa?)
Hmmm…we have pork chops on the menu for Saturday night but hadn't decided how we were going to cook them. I might just have to make this!
Shirley, I must have been replying to others at the same time you were writing! Thanks for the nice thoughts about the recipe; hope you try it.
Joanne, thanks. I'll definitely cook this and try again but if the third time is not the charm I will just admit my inadequacies as a photographer and move on, lol!
Ellie, hope you will try it. This is a great recipe to get started with the slow cooker.
I find that saucy dishes just don't photograph as well, but one can't stress too much over it … especially when everything else is "there." 😉 I know we'd love these pork chops at our house, Kalyn. Will be making them soon for sure!
Shirley
Kalyn, this looks fantastic! Ever since I was gifted a slowe cooker last year, I've been at a bit of a loss as to what to do with it, but this looks like a great idea! Especially since Autumn has just rolled around to Australia and I'm beginning to crave real comfort food…
Some foods are just hard to photograph. And sometimes there is just no way around it. However, I trust you enough to know that if you say this is amazingly delicious….then damn it, it is DEFINITELY amazingly delicious!
Nisrine, thanks! And I have to say it, definitely *was* seriously delicious
Lydia, good to know I guess, although I don't wish the lack of photo mojo on anyone else, that's for sure.
Oh, yes, the curse of the disappearing photo mojo — or is the disappearing cooking mojo — it's a good day when both of my mojos are present, but it doesn't happen as often as I'd like it to. You are not alone!
Kalyn, this recipe is brilliant because it can be assembled in no time. Based on the ingredients used, I can tell it's seriously delicious.
Pam I guess I'm glad to hear I'm not the only food blogger who struggles with that sometimes. Some days the light is just wrong, or for whatever reason I just don't get a good shot! (Your photos are never bad so I'll look tomorrow to see what you mean, lol!)
My post tomorrow is about the same thing…a fabulous recipe, not-so-fabulous photo.
Thanks, CJ! I liked it a lot, even if I found it to be not particularly photogenic!
I'm simmering pork blade steaks as I read this. Had thought about a southwestern twist too. I love pork in all of it's forms. I'm am particularly fond of sirloin.
Your recipe is not only South Beach friendly, but requires easy ingredients on readily on hand, is a snap to put together and then practically takes care of itself with a crock pot. Perfect for busy families or folks like you and I. And it's definitley company worthy. ;o)