Challenge 1, Day 10: Slowcooker Pulled Pork Chops

Another Slow Cooker recipe. This one is fairly simple but very delicious.  Served over rice, this delicious recipe was full of flavor.

You Need:
extra-virgin olive oil
4 pork chops, about 1-inch thick
Salt and pepper for seasoning
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water

Season your pork chops with salt and pepper to taste on each side.


Lightly brown each side your pork chops over medium heat in a large skillet for 2-3 minutes on each side.  Don't over cook, just brown the outsides.


When finished, move the pork chops to the slow cooker.  

With the drippings from the pork, lightly brown the finely minced garlic. Be sure not to burn the garlic as it will make it bitter.

Add the soy sauce, broth, red pepper flakes and sugar to skillet.

I only had regular soy sauce on hand and ended up using chicken stock instead of broth.  The sauce was very salty.  I would try and stick with the low-sodium unless you really love salt.  You can always add more broth if all you have is regular soy sauce or even a touch of water.

Also, I didn't worry so much about the measurements this time.  I am pretty sure I added the requirement of pepper flakes but I think I could have added more. You could barely tell they were in there in the end.  

Stir the soy, garlic mixture until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved.

Pour the sauce over the chops in the crock pot.

Cook on low for 6-7 hours.


I started this later in the day so didn't have 6-7 hours to cook.  So I cooked on low for 3 1/2 hours then put it on high for 1-2 more hours.  Once the pork is so tender that it falls apart as the fork touches it, you are ready to go.

Remove the chops from the cooker onto a shallow dish.

Mix the corn starch and water in a separate small bowl until well mixed and smooth.

Add the corn starch mix to the cooker with the simmered sauce

 Whisk until thoroughly mixed in.

Add the Pork chops back to the cooker and cook for another 30-45 minutes.

Remove the pork from the pot and pull apart the pork

Doesn't this look super yummy?  

[UPDATE July 5, 2013]  Be sure to add sauce from pit to pulled pork before serving.  I typically add a couple of spoonfulls right away and then a couple more after its been sitting. I add several more to any leftovers before storing in refrigerator.  Makes great sandwiches!  

Serve over rice in a bowl or on a dish.


This was fairly light and super flavorful.  Its very easy to make and cooks for up to 6 people.  You can refrigerate or freeze what you don't eat right away.  They make for great leftovers.


ENJOY.