Name: Instant Pot Veracruz Pork Chops
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds bone-in pork chops (4) 1-inch thick); sea salt and black pepper; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 0.5 cup diced white onion (or thinly sliced); 4 large cloves garlic (minced); 1 cup dry white wine (or chicken stock); 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes; 0.5 cup pimento-stuffed green olives; 1 tablespoon capers (drained); 1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and sliced lengthwise); 2 dry bay leaves; 2 sprigs fresh Mexican oregano (or 0.5 teaspoon dried); 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 0.5 teaspoon dried); 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro; 1 lime (cut into wedges)

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Last Updated on June 20, 2022 by Lisa Johnson

Instant Pot Veracruz Pork Chops – thick-cut, bone-in pork chops cooked in a zesty combination of crushed tomatoes, capers, sliced bell pepper, pimento-stuffed olives, white wine and fresh herbs in an Instant Pot to create a tender and juicy dish to serve any night of the week.

Check out the Instant Pot Recipes page for even more delicious pressure cooker recipes.

Pork chops on a platter topped with a tomato, olive, caper, and pepper sauce.

What is Veracruz sauce?

Veracruz is a region on the Gulf Coast of Mexico (the east side) where some of the first settlers arrived from Spain. They brought along their healthy Mediterranean style of cooking with tomatoes, capers, oregano, bay leaves, and olives. This dish is most commonly made with fish, like a whole snapper, but it is just as delicious on pork and chicken.

This sauce is packed with flavor, but it’s not meant to be a spicy dish. The flavors are just layered on top of each other to perfection!

What you will need

Ingredients needed to make Instant Pot Veracruz Pork Chops.

1-inch thick, bone-in pork chops are perfect for this pressure cooker meal. They stay nice and tender and the bones add to the overall flavor.
The pork chops are seasoned with sea salt and black pepper, then seared in olive oil.
White wine is used to add flavor and deglaze the pan, but chicken stock can be substituted if needed.
Garlic, onion, jalapeno, bay leaves, oregano and thyme give this tomato based sauce its flavor, while the caper adds a punch of salty flavor and the pimento stuffed green olives add slightly smoky, rich, and briny flavor.
Serve garnished with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice to brighten up the overall flavors.

Be sure to check out the detailed printable recipe card below

Looking down on four pork chops on a platter topped with tomato, caper, pepper, and olive sauce.

How to make Instant Pork Chops with Veracruz Sauce

Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel, then season both sides with salt and pepper.

Four thick-cut, bone-in pork chops on a tray seasoned with salt and pepper.

Select the Sauté button on your Instant Pot, and add the oil.

Brown both sides of the pork chops in batches, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from pressure cooker and set aside on a plate.

Two pork chops seared in oil inside a pressure cooker.

Add the chopped onion to the pot and sauté, stirring frequently until they begin to soften.

Sautéed, chopped onion in a pressure cooker.

Add the garlic and cook for one additional minute. Pour in the wine and scrape the bottom of the pressure cooker to remove all the cooked on bits.

White wine added to the pressure cooker to deglaze the pan with a wooden turner.

Return the pork chops to the pressure cooker. Stack as needed to make them fit.

Sautéed onion, wine and four seared pork chops in a pressure cooker.

Top with the tomatoes, olives, capers, jalapeno strips, bay leaves, oregano, and thyme.

Pork chops, tomatoes, olives, herbs, and green pepper slices in a pressure cooker.

Secure the lid and select the Pressure Cook/Manual button. Set for 15 minutes on High pressure. It will take about 15 minutes to reach pressure.

Instant Pot set to 15 minutes on High Pressure.

When the pot beeps allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 10 minutes. (Do not touch anything!) Release any remaining pressure after the 10 minutes are up.

Pork chops cooked in veracruz sauce inside an instant pot.

Remove the bay leaves, thyme and oregano sprigs. Place the pork chops on a plate and spoon the sauce and vegetables over the top. Garnish with chopped cilantro and lime wedges to squeeze over the top.

Pork Chops with Veracruz Sauce served over rice with lime wedges.

This meal is delicious served over steamed rice or crispy roast potatoes.

Recipe Notes & Tips

This recipes uses .75 to 1-inch thick bone-in pork chops. If using boneless, center-cut chops reduce the cooking time so they don’t dry out.
You can also use pitted Castelvetrano or manzanilla olives in place of the pimento -stuffed.
Leftover sauce can be poured over cooked cod, salmon, or chicken. This recipe makes a lot of sauce!
Store leftover pork chops in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove.

Tools used to create this recipe

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Enjoy!!