Slow-Cooker Smothered Pork Chops

Steps

• 1

  Spray 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Pat pork chops dry with paper towels; season both sides with pepper and salt.
• 2

  Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook and stir 6 to 8 minutes or until browned. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to slow cooker. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat; reserving remaining fat for another use, or discard. Increase heat to medium-high; add pork chops to bacon drippings in skillet. Cook 3 to 5 minutes on each side or until browned. Transfer to slow cooker and stand pork chops up against sides of slow cooker, bone side down.
• 3

  Add onions to skillet. Cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic; cook and stir 30 seconds. Transfer to slow cooker. Add broth, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until pork chops are just cook through (at least 145°F in center, but still moist.)
• 4

  Remove pork chops; cover with foil to keep warm. Remove bay leaves and discard. Increase slow cooker to High heat setting.
• 5

  In small bowl, beat cornstarch, vinegar and water with whisk. Stir into liquid in slow cooker. Cover; cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
• 6

  Ladle sauce over pork chops; serve immediately.