Cajun Pork Chops and Rice

If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal prep recipe, consider trying these Cajun pork chops. We cook the meat with seasonings, vegetables, aromatics and rice, resulting in a delicious and flavorful one-pot meal that you can dig into for several days. The recipe only takes 20 minutes to prepare and then the slow cooker takes care of the rest.

 Cajun Pork Chop Ingredients

• Pork: We season the pork chops with ground cumin and chili powder to enhance their flavor. 
• Vegetables: We mix diced tomatoes, onions, celery, carrots and garlic into the slow cooker to simmer with the pork. Then we saute green peppers in olive oil as a garnish.
• Rice: We add instant rice to the slow cooker so that the grains absorb all the flavor from the pork chops. 
• Chicken broth: We pour chicken broth into the slow cooker to help the rice cook and give this dish some moisture. 
• Hot sauce: We rely on hot sauce to give this pork chop and rice dish spicy bites.

Directions   

Step 1: Add the ingredients to the slow cooker

Season the pork chops with 2 teaspoons of a mixture of cumin and chili powder and add the chops to the slow cooker. Then, mix the tomatoes, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, hot sauce, salt and remaining spice mixture in a small bowl. Next, add the vegetables to the slow cooker and cook on low for four to five hours. Stir in the rice and chicken broth, breaking the pork into pieces. Cook everything covered on low until rice is tender, 12 to 15 minutes longer.

Step 2: Prepare the pepper garnish

In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the green peppers and cook for five to seven minutes or until crisp-tender. Next, add the peppers on top of the pork rice.

Cajun Pork Chops Variations 

• Kick up the heat: If you like spicy bites, add chopped jalapeños in to this recipe to cook with the rest of the ingredients.
• Add garlic: Toss some minced garlic into the stew to impart a savory and umami flavor to this dish.
• Finish with fresh herbs: In addition to peppers, garnish this pork and rice dish with fresh parsley to give it aromatic notes.  

How to Store Cajun Pork Chops

First, let your cajun pork chops reach room temperature. Then, store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days.

Can you make Cajun pork chops ahead of time? 

This Cajun pork chops and rice dish is ideal for meal prep. After following the recipe, store it in your refrigerator for three to four days until you’re ready to reheat and eat.

Can you freeze Cajun pork chops?

You can store Cajun pork chops and rice in an airtight container in the freezer for two to three months. Then, defrost it when you are ready to reheat and eat.

How long do Cajun pork chops last? 

Cajun pork chops stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator will last two to four days or, stored in the freezer, for two to three months. 

Cajun Pork Chops Tips

Can I use a different protein for this recipe?

While we recommend adding pork chops to this dish, you can also try this recipe with short ribs, chicken or shrimp. Just keep in mind that the cooking times may vary depending on the protein. 

Can you use bone-in pork chops?

You can use bone-in pork chops for this recipe, but they may take longer to cook. Additionally, after they’re finished cooking, you will have to fetch out the bones so that they don’t get lost in the rice.

What can you serve with Cajun pork chops?

This one-pot meal is delicious on its own because it’s so hearty and packed with protein, grains and veggies. However, if you want to pair it with other foods, you can serve it with grilled shrimp or a vibrant salad for a refreshing bite.