I didn’t grow up on Hawaiian pork chops. Actually, the first time I made them was because I needed dinner and didn’t want to go to the grocery store. I stood in the kitchen, looking into the refrigerator, hoping some meal would introduce itself. On the door shelf I found a bottle of barbecue sauce, a can of pineapple chunks and some pork chops. Not so much a recipe. Like a bunch of ingredients waiting for a goal more. But I just threw everything in the slow cooker and hoped for the best. A few hours later I walked through the kitchen and I got the smell. I knew then dinner was going to be all right.
The pineapple was giving off a sweet aroma, the pork slow cooking in the sauce. The barbecue sauce gave a rich, smoky flavor, and together they made a smell that seemed to warm the whole house up. And I knew it wasn’t quite ready yet, but every time I walked by the slow cooker I lifted the lid for a quick peek.
Some habits are hard to break. Time for dinner and the pork chops were tender and juicy. The pineapple softened and soaked up the savory sauce, giving bites of sweet here and there. I poured it all over a pile of rice, sat down and immediately wished I’d made more.
That’s usually how the best recipes are born. No fancy plans. No special ingredients are needed. Just a few things from the pantry coming together at the right time. And this recipe has become a regular part of my dinner rotation because it makes life easier. It allows me to throw it together early, forget about it for most of the day and come back to a meal that tastes like I put a lot more work into it than I did. Honest to God, that is my favorite kind of cooking.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- The slow cooker does most of the work.
- The pineapple is super sweet but it really cuts the savory pork.
- Ingredients are kept simple and easy to find.
- It tastes great over rice or potatoes.
- It’s different than the everyday pork chop recipes without the extra work.
Ingredients:-
- 4 boneless pork loin chops
- 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice
- 1 cup of barbecue sauce
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Directions
Step 1: Add the porkchops
- Put the pork chops in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- If you can, spread them out in a single layer.
Step 2: To make the sauce
Mix together in a bowl:
- Chunks and juice of pineapple
- BBQ Sauce
- Garlic powder
- Liquid soy
Mix until all ingredients are combined together.
Step 3: Pour on the pork
- Then pour mixture evenly over pork chops.
- Make sure the pineapple spreads out on the top.
Step 4: Cook it
- Cover and cook.
- LOW 5-6 hours HIGH 3-4 hours
- Pork should be tender and easily cut with a fork.
Step 5: Serving
- Transfer pork chops to plates.
- Spoon the pineapple and sauce over top.
- Serve with rice, roasted veggies, or mashed potatoes.
Little Kitchen Notes
- Slow cooking makes thick cut pork chops juicier.
- A few sliced green onions for freshness, right before serving.
- White rice is especially good because it soaks up all the sauce.
- Leftovers make a good lunch the next day.
Concluding remarks
Some dinners throw a curve.You throw a few things together expecting nothing and somehow it becomes a recipe that everyone remembers. And that is exactly what these Hawaiian pork chops did. They’re sweet, they’re savory, they’re comforting and they’re easy enough for any day of the week. And if your family starts asking when you’re making them again, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
