Recipe Background
These Instant Pot pork chops offer smoky flavor and are perfect for a busy, celebratory meal.
Back when I first moved into my cozy downtown loft, the excitement of living alone sparked a sense of culinary adventure. It was during this transition that I decided to break in my new Instant Pot, a housewarming gift from my sister who swore by its magical powers. With a busy schedule, I wanted something that felt like a treat but wouldn't require a culinary degree to pull off. Pork chops felt like the perfect choice, and they always reminded me of dinners at my grandparent's house—right down to the cozy comfort they brought my taste buds. The simplicity of rubbing a mix of brown sugar, salt, paprika, and onion powder onto the chops was a promising start.
On a whim, I added a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the pressure cooker with chicken broth, mostly out of curiosity and partly because I love anything that tasted like it came from a well-worn barbeque pit. Browning those chops in a little butter not only gave them a golden crust but filled my apartment with a delicious aroma. Let me tell you, deglazing the pot after browning, scraping up those flavorful bits, made me feel like a proper chef. I learned early on that letting the pressure release naturally before serving the chops made all the difference—resulting in tender, flavorful bites that paired perfectly with that rich, smoky broth.
The dish became my go-to for solo celebratory dinners, marking each new milestone in my little loft with a smoky, savory stamp. Mastering these Instant Pot pork chops was not just about cooking; it was about creating a sense of home and mastering my newfound independence.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 (1-inch-thick) pork chops boneless
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Directions
- Mix the brown sugar, the salt, the black pepper, the paprika, and the onion powder together.
- Rub the spice mixture into both sides of the pork chops.
- Set the pressure cooker on saute (high) and add 1 tablespoon of the butter.
- When hot, add the pork chops and brown on both sides for 1-2 minutes each.
- Remove the pork chops and set them aside.
- Press cancel on the pressure cooker.
- Add 1 cup of the chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to deglaze the browned bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and the liquid smoke, stirring to combine.
- Add the pork chops directly to the pot in the liquid.
- Secure the lid, make sure the vent is sealed.
- Pressure cook on manual for 7 minutes.
- When done, allow the pressure to naturally release for 12 minutes.
- After 12 minutes, quick-release the rest and remove the lid
- Let the pork chops rest for about 5 minutes.
- Serve.
×
