Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops
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Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops are tender meat with rich bacon gravy. Make this recipe for a dinner of southern style pork chops and gravy!
Using a pressure cooker to cook any type of meat protein guarantees a meal with loads of flavor in a fraction of the time. It’s amazing when you realize that you can cook things like a 4 pound Instant Pot Mississippi roast in less time than it takes to make the side dishes to go with it. That’s the power of cooking under pressure!
There’s no denying that southern pork chops and gravy is an amazing meal, but when I make it on the stove top, there are a lot of pots and pans to wash when the meal is over. Not the case with this recipe for Instant Pot smothered pork chops, though. Everything cooks in the same pot; even the gravy!
Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops
Just a few simple ingredients is all you’ll need to make this comfort food meal.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Pork chops – For this recipe, you’ll want to use bone-in blade chops so they stay tender and juicy. It can help to make small cuts in the fat around the outside so the pork chops don’t curl when cooking.
- Bacon – Choose bacon without any additional flavoring or seasoning so it doesn’t compete with the flavors of the pork. Stick the bacon slices in the freezer for a few minutes to make slicing easier.
- Egg noodles – If you’d like, you can substitute this with any type of pasta, white or brown rice, or some roasted mashed potatoes.
- Chicken stock – Or substitute an equal amount of vegetable or chicken broth.
- Tabasco – Use whichever hot sauce is your favorite and adjust the amount based on how spicy you like your dishes to be.
Video: Making Instant Pot Pork Chops
To see how simple it is to make pork chops in a pressure cooker, watch the video located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
Instructions
- Cook the bacon and onion.
Using the saute function of your Instant Pot, cook the bacon first. You can cook it as crispy as you’d like. That will give you plenty of bacon fat to cook the onions and garlic in… loads of flavor!
- Pressure cook the pork and cook the noodles.
Be sure to season both sides of the pork chops.
Start the cooking on high power for 8 minutes. I use the manual setting for this. Once the timer goes off, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
While the pork chops are cooking, boil a pot of water and cook the noodles until al dente. Reserve some of the pasta water before draining, and do not rinse the noodles. You’ll use the pasta water to help thicken up the gravy.
- Make the gravy.
The true definition of smothered pork chops means the chops need to be covered with a rich, thick gravy. This is the best part of the meal because you make the gravy right in the Instant Pot!
- Transfer the cooked pork chops to a plate, then turn the pressure cooker back on, set to saute.
- Make a slurry with cornstarch and cold water and stir it into the pot with the pasta water and vinegar.
- Allow it to simmer until thickened, stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn on the bottom.
- Then, serve the Instant Pot smothered pork chops over egg noodles or whatever else you want to serve them on.
What to serve with Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops
As for what to serve with the meal, southern smothered pork chops are rich and hearty on their own, especially with a starchy side like noodles. However, feel free to add a side dish like roasted brussel sprouts or brown sugar sauteed carrots to round out the meal.
Recipe notes
- Storage – Keep the pasta in a separate container from the pork chops and gravy so the noodles don’t become soggy. Store in the refrigerator and use within 3 to 5 days.
- Freezing – Instant Pot smothered pork chops freeze well and are great for meal prep too! Freeze the entire batch or separate into individual portions and store for up to 3 months. Then, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Reheating – Microwave all together or simmer the pork chops with gravy on the stove until warmed all the way through.
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This post, originally published on Kevin is Cooking Sept. 28, 2020, was last updated with new content on Dec. 8, 2021.
Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops + Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs bone-in pork chops (See Note 1)
- 1 tsp salt divided
- 2 tsp black pepper divided
- 6 slices bacon cut into 1/2 inch pieces (See Note 2)
- 1 large white onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp fresh thyme chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp Tabasco or favorite hot sauce
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 3/4 lb egg noodles
Instructions
- Season both sides of each pork chop with half of the salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Using the Saute setting on the Instant Pot, render and cook the bacon until browned. Remove some for garnish if you like and set aside.
- Add onions to the bacon and cook for several minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and season with remaining half of the kosher salt and black pepper. Saute another 2 minutes until onions are translucent. Remove half of the bacon onion mixture, set aide..
- Lay several seasoned pork chops on top of half the bacon onion mixture, top with other half the bacon onion mixture and then remaining pork chops.
- Mix together the chicken stock, soy sauce and Tabasco. Pour over pork chops. Close Instant Pot lid and cook on Manual for 8 minutes and allow for 10 minutes on natural pressure release.
- Meanwhile, bring heavily salted water to the boil and cook pasta per package directions, about 7 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water for gravy.
- Remove pork chops from Instant Pot and tent with foil on a plate to keep warm. Turn to Saute setting. Mix together the cornstarch and water and pour into onion mixture with the reserved pasta water and apple cider vinegar. Stir to mix and cook for several minutes. Gravy will thicken.
- Transfer the drained, cooked pasta to a serving platter. Lay the pork chops on top of pasta and pour bacon onion gravy over all. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Get 6 bone-in, blade cut pork chops that are about 1/2 inch thick. If using thicker chops, make 1 or 2 slits in the fat on the outer side of each chop so they don’t curl when cooking.
- Place bacon in the freezer for 2-3 minutes to firm up and it will be easier to slice into strips.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Hello, I struggle to commit to another appliance in my kitchen. Do you have this recipe modified for a slow cooker?
Appreciate any tips!
Thanks
Dana
No problem Dana. Now with this recipe: a 10-12 minute warm up, 8 minute cook and 10 minute natural release thats 30 minutes in the IP. I’ve always read “If you’re converting meat from a slow cooker to an Instant Pot, follow this rule: if the meat dish cooks in 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high in the slow cooker, it will cook in 25-30 minutes in the Instant Pot. Make sure the Instant Pot setting reads “sealing” and not “venting” to ensure it’s cooked properly.”
So just do the opposite in converting from IP to Slow Cooker. Hope this helps.
I made these last night they were delicious will make them again
So glad you found this recipe! Thank you for sharing!
Love how tender these cook up in the instant pot! So delicious!
what is the “normal” setting, mentioned in the recipe? i don’t see a “normal” setting button anywhere on the display.
correction: “manual” setting.
nevermind. figured it out.
This is really ahh-mazing! Everyone at my house loved it.
I love using my instant pot! I can’t wait to try this easy dinner idea!
I haven’t made pork chops in an age…must remedy that with YOUR recipe!
Perfect for a week day dinner!
It really is!
Loved the video! I have a love-hate relationship with my instant pot so this was really helpful. Thank you!
These pork chops are so tender and delicious! Definitely an easy way to get a yummy dinner on the table that the whole family loves!
Hi there,
This looks like a recipe that I would love to try. Just wanted to point out that your recipe instructions may need to be corrected or proof read. As a seasoned cook, I’m certain I can figure it all out!!
Just wanted to let you know.
You’re a life saver Lori, thanks for that, not sure what glitch happened. Good thing I have videos as a back up to show you! Enjoy! 🙂
This was a delicious recipe Kevin. As always your recipes are fantastic!!