Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops

In this world of Instapots and mail order meals - I feel like slow cookers are becoming a thing of the past.  Even the name slow cooker seems somewhat counterproductive to our ultra fast paced society.  We crave take out meals that we can pick up from our favorite restaurants.  We want our groceries to be picked out and delivered to our cars or even our front porches within hours of shopping online. 

I'm not here to cast judgement.  I'm certainly guilty of picking up quick and easy, ready to eat foods more than I probably should lately.  (Rotisserie chicken is my vice.)  Maybe it's the time of year or because I did more cooking in the last 3 months of quarantine than I did in all of 2019.  😅 Either way, I have less of a desire to hang out in my kitchen all afternoon, rolling dozens of meatballs and chopping vegetables for soups.  

The growing popularity of the instapot has caught my attention recently.  As part of my food blogger title I feel somewhat of an obligation to check out the increasingly popular kitchen appliance.  Even though I'm drawn to the idea of cooking chicken in under 20 minutes, I'm hesitant to jump on the pressure cooker band wagon.  Call me outdated but I love a good old fashioned slow cooker meal.  There's something about the aroma of dinner lofting through the house all afternoon while I revel in the fact that dinner prep is done.  

I may not be in the mood for an all day cooking session right now but that doesn't necessarily mean that we have to order pizza every night.  I'm finding a new found appreciation for my slow cooker this summer.  Slow Cooker Smothered pork chops are perfect if you're looking for a home cooked meal but you're not excited about spending hours in a hot kitchen, preparing dinner.  

Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops
1 Tablespoon + 2 teaspoons Seasoned salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
6 thick bone in blade cut pork chops
1/2 cup oil
3 cups thinly sliced onions
1/2 cup flour
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar

Combine seasoned salt, paprika, onion powder, pepper and garlic.  

Pat chops dry with paper towels and sprinkle with 2 T. seasoning mixture.  Add to slow cooker.

Heat 2 T. oil in skillet and add onions.  Cook until softened.  

Scatter onions over pork chops in slow cooker. 

Whisk together flour and 6 T. oil in empty skillet.  Cook 3-5 minutes.

Whisk in remaining spice mixture. 

Whisk in water until gravy is smooth.  Bring to a boil.  

Pour gravy over chops and onions.   

Cover and cook on low 5 hours. ​Transfer chops to platter.  ​

Stir vinegar into gravy and season with salt and pepper. 

Pour gravy over chops to serve. 

​Blade cops are perfect for the slow cooker.  They have just the right amount of fat to keep them moist during the long, slow cooking process.  These slow cooker smothered pork chops are the most tender and flavorful pork chops that you've ever tasted.  

​Ciao!

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