Hearty Slow Cooker Smothered Pork and Potatoes

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with our Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes! This incredible one-pot meal features incredibly tender, succulent pork chops and perfectly cooked, creamy, cheesy potatoes, all bathed in a rich, savory sauce. It’s an effortless dish that delivers maximum flavor with minimal cleanup, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights or a comforting family dinner.

A Hearty Slow Cooker Meal for Effortless Dinners

Imagine coming home to the enticing aroma of a home-cooked meal, ready to serve with hardly any effort. That’s the magic of this Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes recipe! It’s designed to be a complete meal in one pot, significantly cutting down on your prep and cleanup time. One of our most cherished recipes, Crock Pot Pork Chops and Gravy, inspired this creation. We wanted to elevate that classic comfort with a delicious vegetable component, transforming it into an even more satisfying all-in-one dish. The result is a symphony of flavors and textures that will quickly become a family favorite, perfect for those seeking an easy yet impressive dinner solution.

Creamy, Cheesy Au Gratin-Style Potatoes

The potatoes in this recipe are truly exceptional, reminiscent of classic au gratin potatoes with their tender texture and luxurious, creamy white sauce. We’ve carefully crafted the dish to ensure the pork chops are infused with rich flavors, while the potatoes absorb all the deliciousness from the sauce, becoming incredibly soft and cheesy. The moment you spoon out a serving, you’ll find an abundance of that luscious, savory sauce, perfect for smothering over every bite of pork and potato. This combination creates a truly indulgent and satisfying experience that will leave everyone craving more. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a depth of taste you simply can’t achieve with faster cooking methods.

Essential Ingredients for Your Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes:

Creating this delicious slow cooker meal starts with a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is important for achieving the best flavor and texture. For precise measurements, please refer to the complete recipe card provided below.

• Thick-Cut, Bone-In Pork Chops: This is a crucial element for the success of this recipe. Using thick-cut, bone-in pork chops prevents them from drying out prematurely while the potatoes cook to perfection. The bone also adds extra flavor and moisture to the overall dish, contributing to a more succulent result. If you opt for regular cut or boneless pork chops, be aware that they will cook faster and may become dry before the potatoes are tender. If using boneless, you might need to adjust the cooking time significantly or add them later in the cooking process.
• Salt and Pepper: These foundational seasonings are essential to bring out the natural flavors of the pork and potatoes. Feel free to customize with your favorite seasoning blend. Onion powder and garlic powder are excellent additions for extra savory depth, enhancing the overall profile of the dish. For a no-salt option, a Mrs. Dash seasoning blend works wonderfully without compromising on taste, allowing for dietary flexibility.
• Condensed Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup: This forms the rich, creamy base of our smothering sauce, providing a convenient and flavorful shortcut. The “with herbs” variety adds an extra layer of aromatic notes, but a regular cream of chicken soup or any other “cream of” soup (like mushroom or celery) can be substituted. Just ensure the chosen soup’s flavors complement pork and potatoes. For those who prefer homemade options, recipes for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup or Homemade Cream of Mushroom soup can be easily found and used here, offering a more personalized touch.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: To achieve that irresistible, velvety thickness and luxurious creaminess in your sauce, heavy whipping cream is key. It enriches the entire dish, transforming the sauce into a truly decadent and smooth experience that coats every ingredient beautifully.
• Fresh Garlic and Onion: These aromatic vegetables provide foundational flavor that is integral to many comfort food dishes. While jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch, fresh garlic offers a more vibrant, pungent, and intense flavor profile that truly elevates the dish. If you’re not a fan of onion, it can be easily omitted without detriment to the recipe’s success, as the other flavors are robust enough to stand on their own.
• Russet Potatoes: We highly recommend russet potatoes for their starchy texture, which breaks down beautifully to create a creamy, comforting base for this slow cooker meal. Their starchiness helps to naturally thicken the sauce as they cook. However, Yukon Gold or red potatoes could also be used; just be aware they might hold their shape slightly more and offer a slightly different, perhaps waxier, texture.
• Shredded Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese: This blend provides a delightful melt and mild, creamy flavor that complements the savory sauce and tender potatoes perfectly. It creates a gooey, comforting layer that is essential for the “smothered” effect. If you prefer, a good quality plain cheddar cheese works equally well, or any other melty cheese blend you enjoy, such as a sharp white cheddar for a tangier note.
• Sliced Green Onion: This ingredient is entirely optional but highly recommended for a finishing touch. Sprinkling fresh green onions on top before serving adds a burst of fresh, mild oniony flavor, a pleasant textural contrast, and a beautiful pop of vibrant green color, enhancing the dish’s overall appeal and presentation.

Crafting Your Delicious Crock Pot Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes

Preparing this comforting meal is straightforward, allowing your slow cooker to do most of the work. Follow these simple, detailed steps for a dish that’s rich in flavor and wonderfully tender, perfect for a cozy evening.

1. Begin by heating 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Browning the pork chops at this stage is absolutely key to developing a rich, caramelized flavor that will permeate the entire dish as it slow cooks. Season your thick-cut, bone-in pork chops generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Place them in the hot skillet and brown for approximately one minute per side, just until they develop a nice golden-brown crust. Remember, you’re not cooking them through at this point, only searing for enhanced flavor and appealing color. Once browned, carefully remove the pork chops from the skillet and set them aside. Chef’s Tip: If your slow cooker has a convenient sauté option, you can perform this browning step directly in the cooker insert, saving you from dirtying an extra pan!
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, prepare the rich and creamy smothering sauce that will bring all the flavors together. Whisk together the 10.5-ounce can of condensed cream of chicken with herbs soup, ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream, 1 cup of milk, and 2 cloves of freshly minced garlic until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined. Ensure there are no lumps for a silky sauce. This creamy concoction will be the flavorful foundation that envelops your pork chops and potatoes during the slow cooking process.
3. Next, prepare your vegetables for layering. Slice 3-4 large russet potatoes into uniform ½-inch thick rounds. Consistency in thickness is important here to ensure your potatoes cook evenly and achieve that desired fork-tender texture. Chop 1 small onion into a fine dice, which will soften and impart a sweet, savory flavor into the dish. Preparation Tip: For more bite-sized pieces that are easier to manage and eat, you can cut the potato rounds in half after slicing them lengthwise, creating a half-moon shape.
4. Spread the prepared sliced potatoes and diced onions evenly across the bottom of a 5-quart or larger oval slow cooker. This layer should cover the entire base. Season this initial vegetable layer lightly with an additional sprinkle of salt and pepper to ensure every component of the dish is flavorful from the start. This careful seasoning builds the flavor profile layer by layer.
5. Pour and spread half of the creamy sauce mixture directly over the seasoned potato and onion layer. Use a spoon or spatula to ensure the potatoes are well coated; this initial layer of sauce will begin to infuse the potatoes with wonderful flavors as they cook.
6. Sprinkle one cup of the shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the sauce-covered potatoes. This layer of cheese will melt down into the potatoes, creating that irresistible au gratin effect and adding extra richness to the base of the dish.
7. Carefully arrange the browned pork chops in a single layer on top of the cheesy potato mixture. Make sure they are nestled comfortably and not overcrowded, allowing them to cook evenly and absorb all the surrounding flavors from the sauce.
8. Now, spread the remaining half of the creamy sauce mixture evenly over the pork chops. This ensures both the meat and the top layer of ingredients get a generous coating of the flavorful sauce. Finally, cover the entire dish with the remaining cup of shredded cheese. This top layer will melt into a golden, bubbly crust, adding a final touch of cheesy goodness.
9. Cover your slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 4 to 6 hours. Cooking times can vary slightly depending on your specific slow cooker model and the thickness of your pork chops and potatoes. Always ensure the potatoes are fork-tender and the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) when checked with a meat thermometer. (In many slow cookers, around 4 hours on low is often sufficient for perfect results.)
10. Once the cooking is complete and the dish is perfectly tender, bubbly, and fragrant, sprinkle the top generously with ½ cup of freshly sliced green onion. This adds a wonderful burst of fresh flavor, a subtle oniony crunch, and a final touch of vibrant color to your beautiful meal.
11. Serve immediately and make sure to spoon plenty of that delicious, creamy sauce over each portion of succulent pork chop and cheesy potatoes. Enjoy this comforting, hassle-free one-pot dinner that’s sure to impress!

Tips for Perfectly Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes

Achieving a truly outstanding slow cooker meal often comes down to a few key techniques and considerations. Here are some expert tips to ensure your Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes turn out incredibly delicious every time, maximizing flavor and tenderness:

• Don’t Skip the Browning: While it might seem like an extra step, searing the pork chops before adding them to the slow cooker is absolutely vital. This process creates a Maillard reaction, developing deep, complex, savory flavors and a beautiful crust that adds immense richness and texture to the final dish. This step locks in juices and dramatically improves the overall taste.
• Uniform Potato Slices: To ensure your potatoes cook evenly and become perfectly tender (avoiding the dreaded mushy in some spots and firm in others dilemma), it’s crucial to slice them into consistent ½-inch thick rounds. Using a mandoline slicer can help achieve this uniformity effortlessly, ensuring a harmonious texture throughout the dish.
• Layering Matters: The order of layering in your slow cooker is more important than you might think for optimal results. Placing potatoes and onions at the bottom allows them to simmer directly in the creamy sauce, ensuring they become wonderfully tender and absorb the flavors deeply. The pork chops on top cook gently in the moist environment, staying succulent and flavorful without drying out.
• Customize Your Seasoning: While salt and pepper are essential for any savory dish, don’t hesitate to experiment with other spices to suit your palate. A pinch of smoked paprika can add warmth and a beautiful reddish hue, a dash of dried thyme complements pork beautifully, and a hint of cayenne pepper can introduce a subtle, exciting kick. Taste as you go and adjust to your preference.
• Avoid Overfilling: Ensure your slow cooker isn’t packed too tightly with ingredients. Leave some room for the heat and steam to circulate effectively, allowing all ingredients to cook properly and for the sauce to bubble and thicken evenly. An overfilled slow cooker can lead to uneven cooking, a thinner sauce, and a longer cooking time.
• Check for Doneness: The ideal cooking time for this dish typically ranges from 4 to 6 hours on low. Always verify that the potatoes are truly fork-tender and the pork chops have reached an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) when checked with a reliable meat thermometer. This ensures both food safety and optimal tenderness, preventing dry pork.
• Fresh Aromatics for Best Flavor: Whenever possible, opt for fresh garlic and onions over their powdered or jarred counterparts. Fresh ingredients contribute a more vibrant, aromatic, and authentic flavor profile that truly makes a noticeable difference in the overall taste and quality of your comforting meal.

Perfect Serving Suggestions

This Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes is a robust and complete meal on its own, offering a fulfilling plate with minimal fuss. However, you can certainly enhance the dining experience and add balance with a few simple additions. Here are some ideas to complete your meal:

• Crusty Bread: A warm, crusty baguette, a rustic artisan loaf, or even simple dinner rolls are perfect for soaking up every last bit of that incredibly delicious and rich creamy sauce. It’s a must-have for comfort food!
• Simple Green Salad: A light, crisp green salad tossed with a bright vinaigrette dressing provides a refreshing counterpoint to the richness and heartiness of the pork and potatoes. The acidity and freshness cut through the creamy sauce beautifully.
• Steamed Green Vegetables: A side of vibrantly steamed green beans, tender broccoli florets, or delicate asparagus spears adds extra nutrients, a lovely pop of color, and a pleasant textural contrast to the soft potatoes and pork.
• Cornbread: For a more Southern-inspired comfort meal, serving with warm, moist cornbread is an excellent choice. Its slightly sweet and crumbly texture pairs wonderfully with the savory and creamy flavors of the smothered pork chops.
• Extra Herbs: A final, fresh sprinkle of finely chopped parsley, chives, or even a few sprigs of fresh thyme just before serving can brighten the flavors and add an elegant, professional touch to your homemade dish.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Have delicious leftovers of your Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes? This dish is often just as delightful, if not more so, the next day as the flavors continue to meld! Here’s how to store and reheat your meal to enjoy later with minimal effort:

• Storage: Allow the entire dish to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Properly stored, your leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, maintaining their delicious flavor and quality.
• Reheating (Microwave): For individual portions, spoon the desired amount into a microwave-safe dish. Cover loosely with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small vent. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the dish is thoroughly warmed to your liking. Adding a tablespoon of milk or broth can help restore moisture.
• Reheating (Oven): For larger portions or if you prefer to retain a crispier cheese topping, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the leftovers in an oven-safe dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil to prevent drying, and heat for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through. You can remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes to allow the cheese to crisp up a bit if desired.
• Freezing: While technically possible, freezing this dish is generally not recommended. The dairy-based creamy sauce may separate and become grainy or watery upon thawing and reheating, and the cooked potatoes can develop a mealy or mushy texture. For best results, it’s best enjoyed fresh or from refrigeration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are answers to some common questions you might have when preparing this delightful slow cooker recipe, helping you achieve the best possible results and adapt it to your needs:

• Can I use boneless pork chops? While thick-cut, bone-in pork chops are recommended for optimal tenderness and to prevent them from drying out during the longer cooking time required for potatoes, you can use boneless pork chops. However, be aware that they will cook much faster. If using boneless, consider adding them to the slow cooker during the last 1.5-2 hours of cooking, after the potatoes have had a head start. This approach helps ensure the pork remains juicy and doesn’t overcook before the potatoes are tender.
• What kind of potatoes work best? Russet potatoes are ideal for this recipe because their high starch content helps create a wonderfully creamy and tender texture that blends seamlessly with the sauce, contributing to its luscious consistency. You could use Yukon Gold or red potatoes as alternatives, but they tend to hold their shape more and might result in a slightly firmer, waxier texture in the final dish.
• Can I make this dairy-free? Substituting dairy in a creamy, cheesy dish can be quite challenging, as dairy products are central to its texture and flavor. You might experiment with dairy-free condensed cream of mushroom soup alternatives, plant-based heavy cream (such as cashew or oat-based creams), and dairy-free shredded cheese. Be prepared that the final texture and flavor will likely differ significantly from the original recipe.
• How can I adjust the sauce consistency? If your sauce seems too thick after cooking, you can easily stir in a splash of warm milk or chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency. If, conversely, it’s too thin, you can try removing a portion of the sauce (about 1 cup) and simmering it separately on the stovetop with a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water) until it thickens, then stir it back into the slow cooker.
• Can I add other vegetables? Absolutely! This recipe is quite versatile. Feel free to experiment with adding other complementary vegetables like sliced carrots, mushrooms, or bell peppers. For harder vegetables like carrots, add them along with the potatoes at the beginning. Softer vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers should be added during the last hour of cooking to prevent them from becoming overly mushy.

Craving More Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes?

If you loved the ease and flavor of this one-pot wonder, you’ll surely want to explore more fantastic slow cooker recipes. Here are some of our other popular and comforting dishes perfect for your Crock Pot, offering convenience and incredible taste for any day of the week:

• Crock Pot Pork Chops & Potatoes For Two
• Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops
• Crock Pot Mississippi Pork Chops
• Crock Pot Angel Chicken
• Country Fried Pork Chops and Gravy
• Crock Pot Pork Loin
• Crock Pot Creamy Ranch Pork Chops
• Baked Pork Chops and Rice
• Air Fryer Ranch Pork Chops
• Smothered Pork Chops (Stovetop)
• Oven Roasted Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes

This Slow Cooker Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes recipe creates a comforting, all-in-one meal with tender pork chops and creamy, cheesy potatoes in a rich, flavorful sauce. Perfect for a hassle-free family dinner.

Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 55 Reviews

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

• 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 4 thick cut bone-in pork chops
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of chicken with herbs soup
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup milk
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3-4 large russet potatoes, sliced into ½” thickness
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cups shredded colby and monterey jack cheese (divided use)
• ½ cup sliced green onion, for topping

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Brown both sides of the pork chops for about a minute each, just to get them golden brown (do not fully cook.) Set aside pork chops. (If your slow cooker has a sauté function, you can do this step directly in the cooker to save on dishes.)
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup with the heavy cream, milk, and minced garlic to create the creamy sauce. Set aside.
3. Slice potatoes into ½” thickness and chop onions. For more bite-sized pieces, slice potatoes in half lengthwise after cutting into rounds to create a half-moon shape.
4. Spread the sliced potatoes and onions into the bottom of a 5-quart or larger oval slow cooker. Season this layer with salt & pepper.
5. Spread half of the prepared sauce mixture on top of the potatoes, ensuring even coverage.
6. Sprinkle one cup of shredded cheese (Colby and Monterey Jack or your preferred cheddar) on top of the sauce-covered potatoes.
7. Place the browned pork chops in a single layer on top of the cheese.
8. Spread the remaining sauce mixture evenly over the pork chops. Then, cover with the remaining cup of shredded cheese.
9. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours, or until the potatoes are fork-tender and the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). (Note: Cooking times can vary, but 4 hours on low is often sufficient for many slow cooker models.)
10. When done, sprinkle the top generously with ½ cup of sliced green onion for freshness and a burst of color.
11. Serve immediately, ensuring to spoon extra creamy sauce over each delicious portion of pork chop and cheesy potatoes!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 671kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 47g | Sodium: 634mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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