Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

Pork and apples are a classic pairing, and figs and sweet anise seed, orange juice and red wine vinegar, all add an exciting depth of flavor. Give this Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples a try next time you're using your slow cooker.

Course Main Course Pork

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 7

Total Time 7 20

Servings

Calories 744kcal

Author Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

2 pork chops bone in, thick cut, about 1 1/2 pounds
1 teaspoon aniseed
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Granny Smith apples sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 yellow onion thick sliced
12 Mission figs cut them in half
1 large clove garlic minced
1/2 cup orange juice
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

Heat a large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add butter and oil. Once butter is bubbly and melted, add the pork chops. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook on one side for 4 minutes. Don't turn, just let the one side of the chop sear nice and brown.
Turn the pork chops over, and sprinkle the browned side with salt and pepper and the anise seeds. With the back of a fork, press the anise seeds into the browned side of the pork chops, slightly crushing the anise seed.
Cook the pork chop for four minutes. Both sides should be nice and seared.
Spray your Crock Pot with non-stick spray and sprinkle in the apples.
Place browned pork chops on top of the apples.
Next layer in the slices of onions and the figs. Sprinkle the garlic over the mixture and add orange juice and red wine vinegar.
Cook on low 6 - 7 hours.

Notes

Once the pork chops are tender, fish them out of the slow cooker to a platter. Using a large serving spoon, drench the pork chops with the liquid from the slow cooker. Then spoon the onions, apples and figs over the pork chops.

Polenta or mashed potatoes make a wonderful side dish, as well as roasted sliced Delicata squash.

If you can't find fresh Mission figs, just omit them from the recipe.

You can substitute thick cut boneless butterfly pork chops for the bone-in chops called for in this recipe. If you must. :)

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