Instant Pot Pork Chops
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Making tender, juicy, and outstanding Instant Pot boneless pork chops is so simple. It takes a fraction of the time it takes to cook them any other way with this easy method! You can even cook them directly from frozen!
Instant Pot Boneless Pork Chops
The Instant Pot has proven itself completely capable of delivering delicious meal time and time again. It’s why this is one of my favorite ways to cook pork chops, and why other recipes like BBQ Boston butt and classic Osso Buco are always a success using this method.
Oven baking and grilling are tasty options, too, but using an electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot is an absolute game changer. The meat is always so flavorful, tender, and juicy!
So, if you’ve got a busy week or simply need an easy dinner, make pork chops in the Instant Pot. The whole family will enjoy dinner, and it’s an easy meal prep item too! You can even make extra and store them. This way, you’ll have a meal or two extra for the week.
After you see how simple this recipe is, it’ll become one of your go-to dinners!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There is so much to love about this simple recipe. Juicy pork chops made in the Instant Pot are great because:
- Quick and easy. It only takes 10 minutes of cooking time and hardly any hands-on prep time. The recipe comes together quickly, and is a great way to get dinner on the table when you are busy.
- Fool-proof recipe. There are no difficult steps, so it is super forgiving, and great for both novice and expert Instant Pot users.
- A budget friendly meal. Pork chops are an easy-to-find and affordable cut of meat.
Ingredients
The perfect recipe doesn’t have to have a crazy amount of ingredients. With these minimal real food ingredients and simple seasoning, you can create maximum flavor. Here’s what you need to have on hand:
- boneless pork chops – You’ll need four thick chops (about 1 inch in thickness). The total weight will be somewhere around 1.5 pounds.
- soy sauce – This ingredient tends to have a lot of salt. So, if you’re watching your sodium intake, consider using low-sodium soy sauce.
- olive oil
- broth or stock – Beef, chicken and vegetable stock will provide the best flavor, but broth is fine, too.
- brown sugar – This ingredients adds a touch of sweetness to the pork.
- seasonings:
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- salt
- black pepper
- flour or cornstarch (optional, for gravy) – If you need a gluten free option, use tapioca flour or cornstarch.
Substitutions and Recipe Variations
You can use boneless or bone-in chops, and either fresh or frozen. I recommend using fresh boneless pork chops because they cook the quickest and tend to fit inside the Instant Pot more easily. Keep in mind, if you use frozen chops, they will require a couple of additional minutes of cooking time than fresh.
Cooking Oil: If you do not have olive oil or are avoiding it for dietary reasons, you can use another neutral flavor of oil, like avocado or canola.
Soy Sauce: You can swap the soy sauce out for coconut aminos if you prefer.
Easily change the flavor profile of pressure cooker pork chops by using a different seasoning blend, like BBQ, Greek or ranch. You could also marinate the pork chops before cooking them for extra flavorful, juicy chops!
How to Make Boneless Pork Chops in an Instant Pot
Follow this simple step by step guide to making one the best pork chop recipes ever! It’s so simple; here’s how to do it:
- Clean and season the meat.
Mix the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper together in a small bowl and set it aside.
To get a good sear, you’ll need to start with dry chops. Use paper towels to fully dry the pork chops on all sides. Then, sprinkle the chops generously with the seasonings, turning and patting to fully coat the chops on all sides.
- Sear the boneless pork chops to lock in the juices.
Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode. When it’s hot, add the olive oil and let it heat up, then add the pork chops.
Why Preheating Matters
The reason for waiting until the Instant Pot is hot before adding cooking oil may surprise you. If you add the oil right away, it can burn before the pressure cooker is hot enough to sear the meat.
Brown the chops for 3-4 minutes on each side and then remove them and set them aside on a plate.
- Deglaze the inner pot of the pressure cooker.
Pour the chicken broth and soy sauce into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Then, deglaze it by using a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits off of the bottom.
Did You Know?
The culinary term for the browned bits that accumulate while you are searing meat is “fond”. I am fond of fond because that’s where a lot of the flavor in the food you’re making comes from!
- Return the meat to the inner pot.
Once the mixture is simmering, add the seasoned boneless pork chops back into the Instant pot. You do not need to fully submerge them in the liquid.
- Cook and perform a natural pressure release.
Place the lid onto the pressure cooker and turn it on to high pressure. Allow to cook for the time needed, and then let it natural release for 10-15 minutes after cooking.
Then carefully open the lid and remove the cooked chops and serve!
- Optional step: Make gravy for the pork chops.
As an optional last step, you can make gravy with the cooking liquid. Just turn the Instant Pot to saute mode and bring the liquid to a simmer. Then slowly whisk in the flour or cornstarch. Simmer for a few minutes, whisking often, until thickened. Once thick and creamy, serve over a pork chop!
Instant Pot Cooking Times
- boneless pork chops (approximately 1 inch thick): 10 minutes at high pressure
- bone-in pork chops (approximately 1 inch thick): 14 minutes at high pressure
- thin cut boneless pork chops: 5 minutes at high pressure
- frozen pork chops: Skip the browning step (it doesn’t work well with frozen chops) and add 3 minutes to the cooking time.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. USDA recommendations for safe use and storage of pork products.
Reheating
It’s important to reheat boneless pork chops correctly so they don’t become too dry.
- In the microwave: Reheat individual servings with some of the cooking liquid spooned on top for 2-3 minutes, adding 30 seconds more at a time if necessary.
Important Tip
According to the USDA guidelines for safely reheating cooked foods, use an instant read, digital thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of your reheated pork chops is 165°F.
Good Sides for Boneless Pork Chops
The flavors in this pork chop dinner pair well with a lot of different side dishes.
Vegetables
Bacon wrapped asparagus and green beans are a favorite in my house! Or, make some honey roasted parsnips and carrots, or microwave broccoli.
If you want to keep things low carb, you could whip Instant Pot mashed cauliflower.
Starches
Mashed potatoes and roasted air fryer baby potatoes are two of my go to starchy sides for this meal.
Looking for a fun and different side dish? Make a creamy butternut squash pasta as your side!
Fruit
A classic, family favorite dinner at my house is pork chops with homemade unsweetened applesauce.
Tips for Success
This boneless pork chops recipe is easy to make, but here are a few tips to make your meal just that much better:
- Use paper toweling to fully dry the chops on all sides before seasoning them.
- Allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) for at least 10-15 minutes after cooking, before pressing or turning the steam release valve. This is important to keep the meat from seizing up and being tough.
- For super tender and juicy Instant Pot boneless pork chops: If you aren’t planning to make gravy, spoon some of the cooking liquid on top of the chops after cooking. And always store them with a little liquid or gravy so that they reheat well.
Instant Pot Pork Chop Recipe FAQ
Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes for boneless pork chops or 13 minutes for bone-in chops, then allow for a natural pressure release.
Overcooking tends to make pork chops tough and chewy. Next time, shorten the cooking time and stop the cooking process once as the chops reach a safe internal temperature of 145°F. Use an instant read meat thermometer for the quickest and most accurate read!
Pork chops do not need to be submerged or covered in liquid when cooking in the Instant Pot.
Other Easy Instant Pot Dinners
Perfect Instant Pot Boneless Pork Chops
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 – 1.75 lbs. pork chops about 1 inch thick, 3-4 chops
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1.25 cups chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar optional
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons flour or 1 Tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for gravy)
Video
Instructions
- Mix the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper together in a small dish.
- Pat the pork chops on all sides with a few paper towels to dry them. Sprinkle the chops generously with the seasonings, turning and patting to fully coat the chops on all sides.
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Heat the oil in the pot, then add the pork chops. Brown the chops for 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the pork chops and set them aside on a plate.
- Pour in the chicken broth and soy sauce. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Once the liquid is simmering, add the pork chops back into the pot.
- Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 10 minutes if using boneless pork chops. If using bone-in pork chops, set it for 13 minutes. Once the cooking time is done, allow for a natural pressure release for at least 10-15 minutes (simply wait for the pressure to release).Carefully open the lid, then remove the pork chops and serve. If you aren't making gravy, spoon some of the liquid from the pot on top of the pork chops for extra flavor and to help keep them moist.
- Make the Gravy (optional step): Turn the Instant Pot to Saute mode. Bring the liquid to a simmer, then slowly whisk in the flour or cornstarch. Simmer for a few minutes, whisking often, until thickened.
Notes
- You can use boneless or bone-in chops. I recommend boneless pork chops because they tend to fit inside the Instant Pot more easily.
- Fully dry the chops on all sides with a few paper towels before seasoning them.
- For the most flavor, use Saute mode to brown the pork chops before cooking using the Instant Pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA recommendations.
