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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 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.)

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 Salsa Pork Chops process shots collage

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.)

  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 in baking dish with salsa and salt-pepper in background.

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:

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.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

© Kalyn Denny
Category: Slow Cooker
Square image for Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops shown in baking dish.

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.

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