Giant Eagle has their Whole Boneless Pork Loins (cut to order) on sale through tomorrow for $1.99/lb. For just over $16, I was able to get 16 nice-sized boneless pork chops (four meals for my family) plus a pork roast (which should make one meal plus a second with the leftovers). That averages out to about $2.67 per meal for meat for my family of six–that’s shopping on a shoestring!
I usually get at least two pork loins when Giant Eagle runs this sale. I get them cut so about 1/3 is a roast, and the other 2/3 cut into chops. Sometimes I’ve had to ask the butcher to do this, but this year they had several packages in the meat department already cut the way I like them. I freeze the pork chops in a single layer in freezer bags, and then I can pull out as many as I need for dinner.
I love boneless pork chops because they’re pretty lean meat, the family likes them, and I have a few simple recipes that provide enough variety that we don’t get sick of them. They’re easy on the grill or the Foreman, or lightly seasoned and baked in the oven, but my Crock Pot recipes are the go-to ones for busy days, especially because I can throw in frozen chops and a few other ingredients in the morning, and dinner’s magically ready in the evening.
Here are our favorites:
Easy Stuffed Pork Chops
4-6 pork chops
1 box stuffing mix (this might be in your stockpile from Thanksgiving sales!)
1 can cream soup (we use cream of chicken, but mushroom or celery work too)
Place pork chops in a single layer in the bottom of a crock pot. Prepare stuffing according to directions on box (you can use room-temperature water and mix in a bowl rather than boiling since it’ll cook in the crock pot). Spread soup over the pork chops, then put stuffing on top. Cook on low in the crock pot for 6-8 hours. (8+ if you start with frozen pork chops). Serve with a vegetable.
BBQ Pork Chops or Country-Style Ribs
My original recipe for this called for country-style pork ribs, but sale-priced boneless pork chops are leaner, better meat for the same price or less. Both will work well. The original recipe also called for browning the meat on the stove before slow cooking, but I found that the difference in taste wasn’t worth the extra work in my opinion…you can decide for yourself!
4-6 pork chops
salt, pepper, garlic, or other seasonings
Barbecue sauce
Place meat in the bottom of a crock pot. Season to taste, then pour 1 bottle of barbecue sauce over the meat. Cook for 6-8 hours on low, 8+ if starting from frozen. We like this with broccoli-cheese rice and a veggie.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin
Season a pork loin roast with salt, pepper, and other seasonings of your choice. Place in a crock pot with 1/2 cup of water, and cook on low for about 8 hours. Check with a meat thermometer–it should be fork tender and reach an internal temperature of 160°. You can make gravy with the drippings, or add sauerkraut for the last 2-3 hours (if you’re not tired of it from New Year’s!). Serve with mashed potatoes and a vegetable.
**Leftover idea: If you don’t use sauerkraut, shred the leftover pork and reheat the next day with BBQ sauce. Serve on buns for great pulled pork sandwiches. Totally different flavors with the same meat!
Coupons
Whole Boneless Pork Loin, cut to order: on sale this week at Giant Eagle for $1.99/lb ($16-$20 for the whole loin), no coupon needed.
Stuffing Mix (not many coupons now, but this is a common stockpile item!)
75¢/1 Mrs. Cubbison’s Stuffing or Dressing, 11/6 SS (exp 3/31/2012)
Soup
25¢/4 Campbell’s Condensed Great for Cooking Soups, 11/6 SS (exp 1/15/2012)
$1/5 Campbell’s Condensed Great for Cooking Soups 40¢/3 Campbell’sCondensed “Great for Cooking” soups
40¢/3 Campbell’s Condensed Great for Cooking Soups–SavingStar
Barbecue Sauce (another common stockpile item)
$1/1 Uncle Mikes Bar-B-Q Sauce, Blues Hog Barbecue Sauce or Allegro Marinade printable
*check in-store for peelies too!
Mashed Potatoes (I love the convenience of the steam-in-bag ones for a weeknight dinner!)
$1.50/3 Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes, TARGET COUPON, 12/4 SS (exp 1/8/2012)
$1/1 McCain Purely Potatoes–SavingStar
Vegetables
75¢/2 Margaret Holmes Southern Style Vegetables, All You Dec, Jan (exp 4/15/2012)
50¢/2 Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Frozen Vegetables, 11-12 oz 11/13 GM, 12/11 SS
60¢/3 Green Giant Boxed Vegetables 11/13 GM, 12/11 SS
75¢/2 Green Giant Frozen Bagged Vegetables, 19-24 oz 11/13 GM (exp 1/7/2012)
$1/4 Libby’s Canned Vegetables 11/13/2011 RP Insert (exp 03/31/2012)
$1/2 Hanover Gold Line Frozen Vegetables 12/11 RP (exp 1/31/2012)
$1/2 Hanover Silver Line Frozen Vegetables 12/11 RP (exp 1/31/2012)
1 Free Del Monte Canned Vegetable WYB 3 Canned Fruits, Target printable
$1/3 Hanover Gold or Silver Line Frozen Vegetables (IE)
Rice
$1/4 Rice-A-Roni or Pasta Roni facebook printable
