One inch thick, juicy, tender and delicious boneless pork chops made in your Instant Pot. Quite simply the best boneless pork chops i’ve ever made.
I’ve tried several pork chop recipes in the Instant Pot but honestly, have only had mediocre results. So I set out to try and make pork chops how they really should be – browned on the outside, juicy and delicious on the inside. Sounds simple enough, right? Well after a dozen or so attempts, i’ve finally got down the perfect recipe.
I’ve found the best boneless pork chops for the Instant Pot
are one inch thick. Not only are they easy to come by at the grocery store, but they simply are the best thickness for pressure cooking.
Start with a simple seasoning on both sides of the pork chops of salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika and brown sugar. Then, with your Instant Pot setting on saute (high), melt a tablespoon of butter. When it’s good and hot, add the pork chops and brown each side for about 1-2 minutes. That brown sugar may char a bit, but that’s ok. Once the pork chops are a beautiful golden brown, remove from the pot and set on a plate. Press cancel to stop the saute mode and add 1 cup of chicken broth to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to “deglaze” the bottom of the pot. This step is simply scraping all the bits off the bottom. Then, add the Worcestershire sauce and Liquid Smoke. Add the pork chops directly to the liquid, secure the lid, close the seal and pressure cook for 7 minutes. When cycle is complete let naturally release for 12 minutes. Remove from pot and let rest for about 5 minutes.
Recipe
Best Damn Instant Pot Boneless Pork Chops
- Total Time: 17 mins
- Yield: 2
Description
One inch thick, juicy, tender and delicious boneless pork chops made in your Instant Pot. Quite simply the best boneless pork chops i’ve ever made.
Ingredients
- 2 pork chops, boneless 1″ thick
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tbs butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
Instructions
- Mix spices and brown sugar and rub into both sides of pork chops.
- Set Instant Pot on saute (high) and add tablespoon butter. Once hot, add pork chops and brown on both sides for 1-2 minutes each. Remove pork chops and set aside. Press cancel.
- Add 1 cup chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to deglaze the bits off the bottom of the pot. Add Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke and add pork chops directly to the pot in the liquid.
- Secure lid, make sure vent is set to “sealing” and pressure cook (manual) for 7 minutes. When done, allow pressure to naturally release for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, quick release the rest, remove lid and pork chops.
- Let pork chops rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For best results it is recommended to use brined pork chops. Packaging will usually indicate that the pork chops contain a solution (usually 12%) to maintain moisture and tenderness.
If your pork chops aren’t pre-brined as described above, it is highly recommended to use a simple brine: A solution of ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) salt to 1 quart (4 cups) of water. Lay the pork chops (or other thin cut) in a single layer in a shallow dish and then pour the brine over top. Let this sit for anywhere from ½ hour to 2 hours before cooking. (thanks to reader Jack P.)
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 7 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pressure cooker
- Cuisine: American
Kim says
I just made these tonight. This was my first time using my new Instant Pot. Thanks Bill Gee for your comment on using 8 chops! I brined my center cut pork loin chops for 45 min. I followed your advise: doubled spices and broth, setting it at 12 minutes manual. I did have to brown them in 2 groups, so I dded another tablespoon of butter for the second group. By the time they were done, some spots were starting to burn. They turned out great, though!They were really juicy, and I had a lot of juice leftover. My crew of 6 says this is a keeper! Yea! So excited on my first recipe try with my new Instant Pot.
RecipeTeacher says
Fantastic, Kim! I’m sure many more great IP meals to come. Thanks for the feedback!
Elaine says
Mine were delicious. My burn light came on so I stopped cooking. Didn’t ruin the result though. Should I have cooked it 7 minutes on high high or low pressure? I did high. Maybe that’s where I went wrong
Emily says
Excellent chops. I used four pre-brined (up to 12%) bone-in, thick-cut pork chops. Doubled the spices and added some garlic powder, but kept the liquid the same. I set it to 10 minutes on manual and did the natural pressure release for 10 minutes afterwards. They came out very tender and tasty. A family hit with a side of mashed potatoes and a green salad. I would definitely use this recipe again.
Jessica says
This was amazing. I ended up changing the cook times to 0 minutes at high pressure, and NPR-ing for ~7 minutes, and it was perfect.
10/10 this will be made again.
Bill Gee says
I used 8 x 1 inch centercut boneless pork chops
Doubled the spices and doubled the broth.
Brined for 2 hours.
Cooked high manual for 7 minutes and natural release. Rest for 5 minutes. Kinda tough. Threw it back on for 5 minutes high and 8 minute natural. Tender!! I would bring over night next time.
connie campbell-slak says
I bought the Kwik Trip small pork chops wrapped in bacon, they are cooking now!!! I will update!
Pamela says
Easy to make and tasty. We used 6 1 inch chops in our 8 quart and doubled the recipe but only added 2 more mins to the cook time. There was so much liquid left in the pot- could we somehow add rice to absorb the sauce?
Beckie says
How long to cook 4 small boneless pork chops and how much liquid.
RecipeTeacher says
Hi Beckie. Same amount of liquid and maybe try a couple of minutes less time.
Cindi Witt says
Great idea especially for instant pot newbies. Thanks for your recipes.
Kim Robinson says
Ok, so I tripled the recipe. The pork shops were so dry – they literally looked like saw dust when cutting them – not kidding. Horrible. So disappointed. This was the first time using the Instant Pot. I am thinking of taking it back if everything comes out like these. What could have gone wrong? Too much liquid?
RecipeTeacher says
I’m so sorry it didn’t turn out for you, Kim. Don’t give up on the Instant Pot just yet.
Rosemary says
I bought 2 packages of thin pork chops (maybe 12-16 total). What would the cooking time be for this many?
Linda Wordinger says
Hi Kim. I know how you feel. I bought an Instant Pot and wanted to try it thinking I would get Instant Pots for my family for Xmas. I was so disappointed because I just couldn’t get ANY recipe right. I figured that using an Instant Pot is learning how to cook in a new way. So, I returned the pots I had purchased for gifts, but kept mine with an attitude of perseverance and access to the internet! I’m trying this recipe for dinner tonight so I can’t tell you anything about the results, but I’m hopeful. I just wanted to echo what Rosemary has posted and encourage you not to give up on this newfangled cooking tool. I’m 63 and taking this challenge to learn something new to keep my mind energized! The recipes that have been successful give me a great sense of accomplishment 🙂 The internet is FULL of people, like Rosemary, that give us great recipes as our goal.
Sherry says
Don’t give up on your Instant Pot, ladies. I have YET to make anything that hasn’t turned out. It’s great for beans, bean soups, or you can adapt any of your slow-cooker recipes to it. If your pork chops were dry, I would guess that they were cooked too long. ???
Cindi Witt says
You state in your recipe ingredients to add 2 cups chicken broth. But in the instructions you only mentioned 1 cup. Is it suppose to be 1 or 2 cups you add to your Instant pot? I only used 1 cup, as I do with most liquids in the IP. Recipes I’ve tried so far. It turned out very delicious. Also, If Kim Robinson (comment above) tripled the recipe with 6 cups of chicken broth….might be the reason it over cooked the chops.
WS says
Perhaps you accidentally clicked on the “2X” scale (for 4 pork chops) at the top right of the recipe? That indicates 2 cups chicken broth in the ingredients. If you click back to “1X”, the recipe will indicate 1 cup chicken broth again. However, note that regardless of what scale you choose, the instructions will not change accordingly, and will always indicate “Add 1 cup chicken broth”.
Amy Houfek says
OMG I just noticed this too, using 2lbs of country ribs had just started!! Added a second cup, thank goodness for comments!!
WS says
Unlike regular recipes, you don’t double or triple the ingredients for the Instant Pot. If you add too much additional ingredients, the Instant Pot will take longer to heat up, causing the cooking time to increase, and probably accounts for your pork being too dry. I made 4 pork chops using the same amount of ingredients called for 2 chops, and it worked out great!
RecipeTeacher says
That “2x, 3X” part was an automatic function that was recently added to the theme. It didn’t take into effect that Instant Pot recipes don’t work that way so i’ve disabled that feature. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
Steve Turton says
Kim…I think the easiest meat in the IP is Ribs…they turn out perfect. I don’t know why chops are so hard…
Steve Turton says
Update…I followed this recipe…turned out perfect.
GCross says
I had same experience followed directions for 2 – inch thick chops. Very dry and not much flavor
Don’t understand what I did wrong other that not brining which I didn’t see on recipe until after I had made them:(
Brown says
This is a really good recipe to follow. I didn’t make any tweaks to it and my pork chops came out wonderfully. The coloring was beautiful and it was very tasty.
Pam says
Yummy! I’ve never brined and they always come out moist (didn’t see that note to brine or buy brine earlier). I do make sure to release after 5mins as recipe says. We use Costco pork chops and I sometime slice them in half. Usually use just a tad less liquid smoke since it adds a strong taste, but love this recipe.
This week before I put the lid on I put the egg Accessory over chops for stand and placed a steamer accessory full of cut up potatoes and cooked as recipe says (no foil over potatoes). Came out perfect to make mashed potatoes. Added a mix or cornstarch/water (2 tbd each) to liquid after removing pork chops to make gravy. This was a easy and really good!!
Pam says
I meant release after 12 mins and set for 5 as recipe says. Always moist.
Pam says
Correction. I let sit 5 mins after as recipe says and always moist.
Joanna says
Can I cook chops from frozen? If so, tips would be awesome. I never know when I’ll be home or what nights so would love recipes that can cook fairly quickly from frozen!