Pork Chops in the Pressure Cooker
Today’s post is a guest post from a Pressure Cooker Today reader. Lisa loves her Fagor stove top pressure cooker. “We had it on our wedding registry, and almost 14 years later, it works perfectly.”
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A little about myself…hmm. I am originally from Massachusetts, and have lived in Salt Lake for 17 years. As far as cooking, baking is actually my first love. I do not do as much cooking or baking as I used to now that I have kids – 5 year old boy/girl twins. I am a working mom which keeps me pretty busy. When I do have down time, besides baking, I love to read.
Well, the name of this recipe is really how I have always referred to it. My Mom has been making this since I can remember. I grew up thinking a pressure cooker is a pretty cool way to cook food, and I made sure to register for one when I got married.
Instant Pot Pork Chops
I have not been using my pressure cooker as much over the last couple of years. Not sure why. That said, my goal is to start using it more often. I made this Instant Pot Pork Chops recipe a few weeks ago, when my parents were visiting, and was reminded of just how good it was.
I usually serve it with rolls or bread of some kind. Pick your favorite!! This recipe is quite versatile, and I have some notes at the end you may want to refer to.
Bone-In or Boneless Pork Chops?
This recipe is written for thick bone-in pork chops. If you’re using boneless or thin pork chops, reduce your cook time to 6 to 8 minutes.
Cooking The Potatoes At the Same Time in the Instant Pot
The longer cook time will result in very soft potatoes. If you prefer your potatoes more solid, wrap the potatoes in foil and cook them on top of the pork chops, or use small whole potatoes.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH PORK CHOPS?
Recipe Pairings for the Instant Pot Pork Chops:
- Creamy Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Pressure Cooker White Rice
- Quick Pressure Cooker Potato Salad
Making Pork Chops in an Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is one of the most popular brands of electric pressure cookers. They are easy to use and your Instant Pot can help you create these delicious Pork Chops!
Pork Chops in the Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 thick-cut, bone-in pork chops
- 1 green pepper, chopped*
- 1 onion, chopped*
- 6-8 carrots, peeled & coarsely chopped*
- 6-8 Russet potatoes, peeled & coarsely chopped*
- 1 small can of mushrooms, with liquid, or 1-2 cups of button mushrooms coarsely chopped (your preference)
- 1 small can of tomato sauce, or homemade tomato sauce or tomato soup (your preference)
Instructions
Brown pork chops in a bit of olive oil in the pressure cooker, remove excess oil,and put pork chops back in.
Add green pepper and onion, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms.
Mix tomato sauce/soup with water to equal 12 oz. Add to pressure cooking pot.
Secure lid of pressure cooker and bring up to pressure. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let the cooker come down from pressure on its own.
Notes
Notes: For the green pepper and onion, I usually chop these roughly. However I do not leave them in big pieces. This way, they dissolve a bit, and my kids cannot find them.
For the carrots, I leave them in 1 1/2 - 2 inch pieces, so they do not dissolve.
For the potatoes, Russet potatoes hold their shape best. In this version, I did use sweet potatoes. Even with keeping the pieces big, the potatoes still broke down once cooked.
Regarding the amount of carrots and potatoes to use: it really depends upon the size of the carrots and potatoes, and the size of your pressure cooker. I only used four potatoes, because they were so big.
That’s it. Pretty simple, right? This recipe is a hearty, warm dish for fall and winter. You could probably make it in the slow cooker, too.
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Thanks Lisa for sharing a little bit about yourself, and your family’s pork chop recipe. I had some boneless pork chops in the freezer, so I cooked the recipe this week. We were out of potatoes so I served the pork chops over noodles instead. Delicious!
MORE INSTANT POT PORK RECIPES:
- Pressure Cooker Kalua Pork
- Instant Pot Pork Sirloin Roast
- Easy Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
- All our Pressure Cooker Pork Recipes
Hi Barbara,
I’m sitting here trying to decide if I should brown the pork chops first with the air fryer lid, or after. I’ve got two boneless thick pork chops and I”m going to stuff them with stove top stuffing and then cook. What would you do?
Thanks,
Karen
Hi Karen – It will probably be easier to brown them before stuffing them because they’ll be flat, but either should work well.
Why didn’t pressure cooker come with instructions or cook book.
Hi Janet – what pressure cooker do you have? Most have manuals online you can print.
Didn’t have potatoes so, threw in hash Brown potatoes on top before adding the soup and water mix. Everyone really liked it. I think if made it again would try it by omitting the additional water due to the moisture in the frozen hash browns.
Barbara,
If the meat is frozen, how does that affect the cooking time(I have an electric cooker),
Hi Dan – it depends on the thickness of the meat. If it’s small cuts of meat, you don’t need to increase the cook time – it will take longer to come to pressure though. Larger cuts of meat, such as roasts, you will have to increase the cook time. How long depends on the thickness of the meat and whether it’s frozen solid or not.
Barbara.
Just trying an old adjustable pressure cooker (first time) that will be heated via electric stove top. Do you recommend a specific heat and pressure setting?
Hi Matt – hip pressure cooking has a chart that I think you’ll find helpful http://www.hippressurecooking.com/how-to-use-the-pressure-cooker/
I can not get my pork chops to be tender in pc. This is my second time to turn them back on.
Hi Shel – for super tender pork chops, I like to cook them in a sauce for a longer time. https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/easy-pork-chops-in-mushroom-gravy/
I just purchased a electric pressure cooker and am anxious to try the pork chops
Great – have fun!
here’s my favorite chop recipe- using 4-5 bone in chops about 3/4 inch thick I season with salt and pepper – then select saute on pot and in a couple tablespoons of olive oil I brown them.Remove from pot add 12 oz. chicken broth and deglaze. Put chops back in and squeeze a little bbq sauce on top ( I like sweet baby rae’s). seal- select manual- 10 min. Natural release after 10 minutes. Remove and put on broiler pan. Brush on more sauce and put under broiler for 3 minutes.Very simple but very good!!
Thanks for sharing Robert. That does sound delicious.
Hi this is delicious. I also threw in some tomatoes and squash and some various spices. I knew this was going to throw the liquid measurements off so when it was done I added some thickeners like a little gravy mix powder while it sat on warm. Delicious!
Thanks Lee! Great idea to make it a one pot meal.
I did this meal tonight for my family. The four year old twins loved it and even the 8 1/2 month old loved it along with the adults. Quick and tasty! Thanks for sharing
Thanks Monica! So glad it was a hit. I have twins too – boys and they’re 20 now. Time goes by so fast. Have fun!
MY DAUGHTER JUST GIFTED ME WITH AN INSTA POT PRESSURE COOKER AND I AM ON THE LOOKOUT FOR GOOD SIMPLE RECIPES! THIS PORK CHOP RECIPE LOOKS PERFECT! THANK YOU.
Thanks Rebecca! Have fun with your fabulous new gift.
If I Marinated it in Asian Sauce Marinade what should I do after putting them in Pressure Cooker regarding the required liquid into the cooker??
Hi Chris – if the marinade doesn’t have thickeners in it, you can cook it in the marinade and a little water or chicken broth. I’ll want at least 1/2 cup in the electric pressure cooker – more if you have a stove top pressure cooker.
Why can’t I see the recipe?
Hi Adella – what device are you using? If you’re using my site on a mobile device, you may have to click the read more link to see the rest of the post and the recipe. Thanks!
Wonderful!
I added bay leaf, as my mom did in her stovetop pressure cooker. It was my favorite meal!
I’m sorry, I forgot to ask, is the recipe the same for an electric pressure cooker?
Yes, the cook time will work in both.
If you are using 8 pork chops, do you double the cooking time ?
Hi Lisa – no, you’ll only increase the pressure cooking time in a recipe if the meat is thicker. Thickness of the meat determines meat cook times not the volume. Enjoy!
What about using frozen boneless pork chops? I know some people use frozen chicken in the instantpot, but wasn’t sure if pork would work.
Boneless pork chops will cook more quickly than bone-in so I’d reduce the cook time a few minutes even if they’re frozen.
Boneless pork chops will take less time even if they’re frozen. I’d try an 8 minute cook time and if they need more time, it’s easy to lock the lid back in place and cook them for a minute or two more.
My wife and I love our pressure cooker! We’ve been looking for receipts for it. I just bought porkchops last night and found your receipt on Pinterest today, therefore, I know what we are having tonight to eat and How I am making it!!! Thank you!
Hi Ken – sounds like perfect timing. Enjoy!
A second, related question, Barbara. You indicate that the cooker should cool down on its own. Won’t that continue to cook the veggies? What would be the timing for a cold water cool down instead?. . .Paul
Hi Paul – yes, a natural pressure release continues to cook the ingredients, but meat can benefit from a slow release https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/quick-pressure-release-or-natural-pressure-release/. A cold water cool release is only done on stove top pressure cookers and is being discouraged.
Hi Barbara. . .The veggies will cook in 3 to 5 minutes. Can this be quick cooled 10 minutes or so in, the veggies added and the pressure restored for the final three to five minutes? Will that affect the flavors?. . .Paul
Yes, you could quick release the pressure, add the vegetables and pressure cook for the remaining time.
I was going to try this recipe because I have some boneless pork chops in the freezer. If I reduce the cooking time to 8-10 minutes will the carrots and the potatoes still be cooked enough?
Hi Lee – yes, I think that cook time would work for the carrots and potatoes as well.
Barbara, can I use two pork chops instead of four and keep the rest of the recipe as is. Will everything cook at the same rate. I am just feeding two adults. I am also wondering if this will work for other recipes…reducing number of steaks or chops as long as they are still the right size. I would always keep the rest of the ingredients the same.
Hi Sue – yes, you can definitely only use two pork chops without changing the recipe and it will cook at the same rate. The thickness of the meat determines the cook time in pressure cooking, more than the volume of the meat being cooked. You could reduce the sauce as well, just be sure and use at least 1 cup of liquid in a 6 qt. electric pressure cooker.
Good basic recipe…. I used thin, boneless pork chops which brought my pressure cooking time down to 8 minutes. If I use this recipe again, I will drop it further – down to probably 6 minutes.
While I liked the overall taste, it seemed to lack something which would make it “pop”. Maybe some Cajun seasoning next time. I did salt and pepper as well as add some Italian seasoning (since I was using a tomato sauce) and still didn’t have what I was expecting.
Still, the recipe is a “Keeper”.
Thanks – definitely make it your own next time. 🙂
Finally, I have found a pressure cooker site. Thank you..
Thanks Sally Ann – so glad you found me too.
Made this last night and it was fantastic! Love the way you can taste the green pepper in the chops. I used a thinner chop and adjusted the cooking time to 10 minutes And they were moist. Thanks for the terrific recipe.
Without sounding ignorant, I see you have the tomato sauce poured over the pork chops, BUT don’t say when to put the sauce in the pressure cooker, or even if you wait till the end.
Hi Howard – you’re right that should be included as a step. I’ve updated the recipe. Enjoy.
This had no flavor. Watered down tomato sauce and a few veges does not make a good sauce. Where are the spices? Not even any salt or pepper.
Thanks for the feedback Mark. Pressure cooking is no different than cooking in a pot on the stove. As you’re cooking you should taste and adjust the recipe to your liking, especially salt and pepper. Did you brown your pork chops well? You can get a lot of flavor from browning. Also, if your pork chops were very lean and boneless, they tend to dry out and won’t add much flavor to the sauce. You could also stir in a favorite fresh herb at the end of the cooking time. There’s no need to eat a dish you don’t like, just change it up until you do.
Does your Fagor pressure cooker have two pressure settings? Mine does and you don’t mention which setting you use…
Mm. I cooked boneless pork chops in my Fagor today but my wife was disappointed in that, while cooked thoroughly, the middle of these chops were pretty dry. Not sure how to get around this, at least while cooking with the pressure cooker. Could be that pork chops aren’t the best match for a PCooker?
Hi Chris – sorry your pork chops were dry. They were probably cooked too long. Boneless chops that are very lean and thin will require less time under pressure.
This looks good. Going to try it tonight, Would you happen to know approximately how many calories per serving in this dish?
Hi Diana – here’s a link to a website I like to use to estimate calories http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php. Enjoy!
hi, i cook at a restaurant in a small town in indiana. Im new to cooking in a restaurant where prep has to be quick. we have a Pork Shank on our menu that is to die for BUT it takes so long to cook in the oven (approx 1/2 hour) which makes it difficult. its also unpredictable b/c the size varies from one to the next. Could I do them in the pressure cooker? and if so how long and do I add water?
thanks, Jill
Hi Jill – I haven’t cooked pork shank in the pressure cooker, but I’m sure it would be delicious. I don’t know what size pork shanks you’re cooking, but the recipes I checked call for cooking it in the pressure cooker for about 30 minutes. If you’re cooking just little portions, your cooking time would be reduced. You always need to use water, broth, or some other type of liquid when pressure cooking. Here’s a couple of links that might help. http://www.kitchenstories.eu/2012/11/pork-shank-in-pressure-cooker.html and http://www.hippressurecooking.com/pressure-cooking-times/ Could you precook the pork shank, refrigerate it, then finish it in the oven to crisp it up and add the sauce?
Hi I am new to cooking with a pressure cooker and Id like to know if I use a canned soup do I use an equal amount of water? Will I use the 1 to 1 ratio for all the soup or sauces I use?
Hi Sandi – if you’re using soup as a sauce, you’ll want it thicker than if you’re eating it as a soup. There’s very little evaporation in the pressure cooker, so don’t thin out your sauce as much as you would when using the oven or the stove. If after cooking, your sauce is still to thin, just use the saute/simmer setting and cook the sauce until it’s the consistency you want.
We have a lot of thin boneless pork chops. How long will they take?
Hi Nita – thin boneless pork chops would probably only take 5 minutes.
It would be helpful to have reviews of people who actually tried the recipe, not just people who thought the recipe looked good.
Hi Johanna – that would be great. I’d love for you to make them and leave some feedback. Thanks.
I’m confused. Is the picture at the top of the page the same recipe? Where are the potatoes, carrots, etc? It looks like an entirely different recipe…
Hi Lisa – I mentioned at the bottom of the post that I also made the recipe, but I made it without the veggies and served the pork chops over noodles. The first picture I took and the others are Lisa’s pictures. I really need to be better at including more veggies in my meals. Thanks for stopping by.
Boy does this look delicious. I usually shy away from pork chops and stick with roasts because chops tend to dry out so quickly. Not any more-the next time the grocery store has a sale on bone-in chops, I’m buying some to give this a try. I can’t wait!
I’m waving hello to you, Lisa, from MA! Thanks so much to you and Barbara for sharing your recipe,
Carol
Thanks Carol – you do have to to careful to not cook pork chops too long. You could even try shortening the cooking time if you’re concerning about it. It’s easy to pressure it back up for a minute or two if it’s needed.