Pineapple Hawaiian pork chops made fast, easy, and delicious in an Instant Pot! Succulent pork chops smothered in the most delicious sweet, tangy, and savory pineapple sauce.
This recipe is great with bone-in pork chops, thick boneless pork chops, or pork steaks.
Instant Pot Pineapple Hawaiian Pork Chops
Pineapples are one of my personal favorite cooking ingredients. In fact, most of my sweet and sour recipes always have pineapples in them. I love how its sweet and tangy taste complements the flavors of meat, fish, and seafood.
And so, it's no surprise that I instantly fell in love with these pineapple pork chops the first time I made them.
Here are reasons why you'll love this recipe:
- Easy and straightforward recipe. Perfect for busy weeknights when you don't have much time in the kitchen.
- A perfect summertime dish and is sure to be enjoyed by everyone who loves tropical flavors!
- Sweet (but not too sweet), fruity, and tangy sauce. Everything you love about Hawaiian pork chops is here!
- Tender pork chops every time–with an Instant Pot there's little to no risk of overcooking or undercooking the meat.
Ingredients
And here's what you need to make pineapple pork chops:
Pork Chops
Thick pork chops, with a thickness of about 1 to 1 ¼ inches, are the perfect choice for cooking in an Instant Pot. Pressure cooking renders them fork-tender, and there's little risk of overcooking.
Opting for bone-in pork chops enhances the flavor profile even more, though boneless pork chops work well too if you prefer them.
Pineapple Sauce
To make the sauce for Hawaiian pork chops, you will need:
- Pineapple Juice - Use pure canned pineapple juice. This is the secret to making the best sauce. It tastes better than the syrup from pineapple slices.
- Chicken Broth - Makes the sauce so flavorful! You can also use ½ piece of chicken bouillon for convenience.
- Ketchup - Gives a nice reddish color to the pineapple sauce.
- Soy Sauce and Worcestershire sauce - For depth of flavor and balances the sweetness of the sauce.
- Vinegar - Add just a little bit to lift up the tanginess of the pineapple juice.
- Brown Sugar - or white sugar if preferred.
How to Make It
And here's how to make the best pineapple Hawaiian pork chops in an Instant Pot:
A few cooking tips:
- Keep the fat around to pork to keep it moist and not dry.
- Season the pork chops with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper then sear before pressure cooking them. This helps to create a nice crust on the outside of the chops and seals in their juices.
- To get the perfect sear pat dry pork chops with a paper towel to remove any moisture. The high heat will help evenly brown the meat without producing any steam.
- Scrape the brown bits from the seared pork off the bottom of the pot. This will add a nice depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Pressure cooking time will depend on the thickness of the pork chops. For thick pork chops, cook for 20 minutes. A thinner cut of pork chops may just need 12 to 15 minutes of cooking time.
- When the timer is up, do a QUICK release to avoid overcooking the pork.
- To thicken the sauce, add the cornstarch slurry. Simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.
- Finally, add the pineapple slices. Cook just until warm through to maintain the firm texture.
More recipes with pineapples
- Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapples
- Escabeche: Whole Sweet and Sour Fish
- Pork Humba
- Pininyahang Manok
What to Serve with
There are several side dishes that would pair well with Pineapple Hawaiian Pork Chops. Here are a few ideas:
- Rice - A simple side of white or brown rice would be a great accompaniment to these pork chops. The rice can absorb the flavorful juices from the chops and pineapple.
- Grilled Vegetables - Grilled vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and onions, would add some color and nutrition to the meal.
- Steamed Broccoli - Another healthy side dish option is steamed broccoli, which would provide a nice contrast in texture and flavor to the sweet and tangy pork chops.
- Salad - A light and refreshing salad would be a nice way to balance out the richness of the pork chops. Consider a simple green salad with a citrus vinaigrette or a fruit salad with mango and avocado.
Complete Recipe
Instant Pot Pineapple Hawaiian Pork Chops
Equipment
Ingredients
Pineapple Sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice (pure, from the can)
- 1 cup chicken broth (note 1)
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Pork
- 4 pieces bone-in pork chops 1 to 1 ¼ inch thick (note 2)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Other ingredients
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 4-6 slices pineapple (from the can)
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Make the sauce - Combine all sauce ingredients in a cup or bowl. Stir until combined.1 cup pineapple juice, 1 cup chicken broth, ¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoon white vinegar, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Season pork - Pat dry pork chops with a paper towel. Season both sides with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.4 pieces bone-in pork chops 1 to 1 ¼ inch thick, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper
- Brown the pork chops - Set the Instant pot to SAUTE mode. Add oil. Once hot, add pork chops and brown on both sides. Do this in batches. Remove and set aside.
- Add garlic and stir until just softened. Pour pineapple sauce then scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Return pork chops to the pot. Lock the lid. Press CANCEL. Select PRESSURE COOK and set the timer to 20 minutes.
- Quick release - When the timer is up, turn the knob to VENTING to quick-release (follow the manufacturer’s guide for safety.)
- Thicken the sauce - Open the lid carefully. Press CANCEL then select SAUTE mode. Stir the cornstarch slurry then pour it into the pot. Simmer until the sauce thickens. Taste and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add pineapple slices - simmer for 1 minute to warm through.
Recipe Notes and Tips:
- Chicken broth - or dissolve ½ pc chicken bouillon in hot water.
- Pork Chops - for maximum flavor, I use bone-in pork chops with the fat intact to keep them moist. You can also use boneless pork chops if preferred.
- Cornstarch - use 3 teaspoons for a thicker sauce.
- Cooking Time - reduce cooking time to 12-15 minutes if using thin pork chops.
- Instant Pot - always follow the manufacturer’s guide for safety.
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