Easy Budget Friendly Pork Chops In A Sweet Cherry, Ginger and Garlic Sauce!
Hi! If you’ve been following me for long you’ll already know this, but for those who are new, welcome to Far From The Farm. I’m Mona, the Brit behind the recipes, learning life and food in the States while sharing our debt-free journey and what’s on the menu in our home today!
Freezer meals have quietly become one of the biggest helps in my kitchen. On calm days I can chop, bag, label and tuck a few simple dinners into the freezer, and then on the chaotic days I can just grab one and let the Instant Pot do the work while I catch my breath.
As a military family on baby step 2 of our debt free journey, those small choices really count. Every time I pull a freezer meal out instead of scrolling for takeout, that is money staying in our pocket and one more tick toward our savings goals.
And just a reminder that if you’re struggling and you need help with managing your budget or starting your own debt free journey then here’s some FREE resources below you may find helpful!
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This sweet and tangy cherry pork chop recipe started as a simple twist on a classic sweet and sour style sauce. We did not have pineapple in the house one night, but we did have a little bit left of a bottle of black cherry juice in the fridge, so into the pot it went!
The result was so good we decided it deserved to be written down properly! And it’s now firmly in our family’s easy weeknight meal rotation!
I love that it uses simple pantry style ingredients and tastes like something you would expect from a restaurant, but it comes from a labelled freezer bag in your own kitchen instead!
And the unexpected cherry juice brings a gentle fruity sweetness that pairs beautifully with the ketchup, brown sugar, honey and soy sauce.
The vinegar keeps things bright without being harsh, the easy squeeze ginger and yellow mustard give it that little savoury kick, and the pork chops soak everything up while they cook.
And because I’m British through and through, I always keep a tub of Bisto gravy granules tucked in my pantry. It is the one ingredient from back home I will never give up.
It turns sauces like this into a glossy, rich gravy with almost no effort at all. If you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend giving it a try and I’ve linked the exact one I use in the ingredients section.
As always, these photos are from my real kitchen here in our sweet military base home. No staged lighting or spotless marble counters. Just real life and real food made in a small space. Proof that you can feed your family well without needing a dream kitchen or fancy tools!
So grab a stack of freezer bags and your Instant Pot and come into the kitchen with me. We will build a batch of these sweet and tangy cherry pork chops that will make a busy night feel a whole lot easier!
Equipment
For freezer meal prep
- Large freezer safe food bag
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Measuring jug
- Knife and cutting board
- Marker for labelling
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For cooking day
- Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker
- Tongs
- Knife
- Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
- Whisk (for thickening the sauce)
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Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
Assembling the freezer meal
- 6 to 8 thin boneless pork chops
- ½ cup frozen diced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon easy ginger
- ½ teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 cup black cherry juice
Extra ingredients on cooking day
2 tablespoons butter for searing
1 – 2 tablespoons Bisto gravy granules for thickening the sauce (or you can substitute with a cornstarch slurry if you can’t get Bisto granules)
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Freezer Meal Prep
Add the pork chops, onion, garlic salt, ketchup, brown sugar, white vinegar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, mustard and cherry juice to a large freezer bag.
Press out as much air as you can, seal the bag and gently move everything around so the chops are coated in the sauce.
Lay the bag flat, label it with the recipe name and Instant Pot instructions and freeze for up to 3 months.
Instant Pot Cooking Instructions (From Thawed)
Step 1. Thaw
Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Step 2. Sear the pork chops
Set your Instant Pot to Sauté and melt the butter. Lift the pork chops straight from the thawed bag and sear lightly on both sides. You only want a little colour, not fully cooked chops.
Step 3. Add the sauce
Pour the remaining sauce from the bag over the chops and switch off Sauté.
Step 4. Pressure cook
Seal the lid. Cook on High Pressure for 12 minutes.
Let the pot naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any leftover pressure.
Step 5. Thicken the sauce
Remove the pork chops and set aside.
Turn Sauté back on and let the cooking liquid bubble.
You can thicken the sauce in two different ways:
- Bisto method (my favourite): Sprinkle in 1 to 2 tablespoons of Bisto gravy granules and whisk until thick and glossy.
- Cornstarch slurry: Pour the slurry in slowly while whisking and cook until thickened.
Taste, adjust seasoning if needed and spoon the cherry gravy over the pork.
Same Day Instant Pot Version (No Freezer Step)
If you are not building a freezer stash that day, you can make this from fresh ingredients.
Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl.
Sear the pork chops in melted butter on Sauté.
Pour the sauce mixture over the top.
Cook on High Pressure for 12 minutes with a 10 minute natural release.
Thicken the sauce the same way as above.
Instant Pot Cooking Instructions (From Frozen Method)
If you forget to thaw the bag, you can still make this straight from frozen.
You will not get the golden sear, so the meat will be softer and more likely to fall apart. Still delicious and perfect over mashed potatoes.
Step 1. Add the freezer meal to the Instant Pot
Run the sealed bag under cool water for a minute to loosen it.
Tip the frozen block of food into the Instant Pot and add ¼ cup water around the sides.
Step 2. Pressure cook
Seal the lid. Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes.
Let it naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
Step 3. Thicken the sauce
Lift the pork chops out gently. Turn Sauté on and bubble the cooking liquid.
Use either Bisto or a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
Stir until glossy, taste and adjust, then serve with the cherry gravy poured over the pork.
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Notes and Troubleshooting
Notes
- Cherry juice brings sweetness and a gentle fruit flavour without making the meat mushy.
- Thin boneless pork chops work best for this timing. Very thick chops may need a couple of extra minutes.
- The vinegar in the sauce can smell strong while cooking, but the final flavour is balanced and mild.
- This is a rich sauce. Serving it with rice or mashed potatoes helps stretch it across more portions.
Troubleshooting
Pork feels a bit tough? Put the chops back in the sauce, re seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 2 more minutes, then do another 10 minute natural release.
Sauce too thin? Add a little extra cornstarch slurry or Bisto and simmer on Sauté until it thickens.
Sauce too thick? Stir in a splash of water or extra cherry juice until it loosens.
Storage
- Store leftover pork and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Reheat gently in a saucepan or microwave with an extra spoonful of sauce to keep the meat moist.
- Leftovers freeze well in their sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat slowly.
Serving Ideas
- Serve over mashed potatoes with green beans or peas.
- Spoon over rice or egg noodles for a simple bowl dinner.
- Use the leftovers in soft rolls for sweet and tangy pork sandwiches.
- Pair with a basic salad and garlic bread for an easy weekend meal.
Why You Will Love This Recipe?!
- All the flavour of a sweet and sour style sauce with a fun cherry twist
- Freezer friendly so future you already has dinner ready
- Uses simple pantry style ingredients you probably already have
- Budget friendly compared to eating out or ordering in
- Instant Pot does most of the work while you get on with your evening
FAQ
Can I use bone in pork chops?
Yes, but you may need to add a couple of extra minutes to the pressure cook time, especially if they are thick cut chops.
Can I swap the cherry juice for something else?
You can use apple juice or a mild fruit punch, but the black cherry juice gives the best flavour here.
- Can I cook this from frozen in the Instant Pot?
- For safety and even cooking, I prefer to thaw the bag first. If you forget, you can still cook from frozen, but you will need to skip the sear step and add extra time. If you ever want that version written out, I can help you build it carefully.
Is this very spicy?
No. There is warmth from the ginger and mustard, but the sauce is more sweet and tangy than hot.
Instant Pot Sweet and Tangy Cherry Pork Chops Freezer Meal Recipe!
December 8, 2025Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add the pork chops, onion, garlic salt, ketchup, brown sugar, white vinegar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, mustard and cherry juice to a large freezer bag.
- Press out as much air as you can, seal the bag and gently move everything around so the chops are coated in the sauce.
- Lay the bag flat, label it with the recipe name and Instant Pot instructions and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw the freezer meal overnight.
- When it's time to cook, set your Instant Pot to Sauté and melt the butter. Lift the pork chops straight from the thawed bag and sear lightly on both sides. You only want a little colour, not fully cooked chops.
- Pour the remaining sauce from the bag over the chops and switch off Sauté.
- Seal the lid of your Instant Pot. Cook on High Pressure for 12 minutes.Let the pot naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any leftover pressure.
- Remove the pork chops and set aside.Turn Sauté back on and let the cooking liquid bubble.To thicken the sauce you can either use British Bisto gravy granules and sprinkle in 1 to 2 tablespoons onto the sauce, whisking until thick and glossy.Or you can use a cornstarch slurry if you prefer.
- If you are not building a freezer stash that day, you can make this from fresh ingredients as follows: Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl.Sear the pork chops in melted butter on Sauté.Pour the sauce mixture over the top.Cook on High Pressure for 12 minutes with a 10 minute natural release.Thicken the sauce the same way as above.
- If you forget to thaw the bag, you can still make this straight from frozen.You will not get the golden sear, so the meat will be softer and more likely to fall apart. Here's the instructions from frozen: Run the sealed bag under cool water for a minute to loosen it.Tip the frozen block into the Instant Pot and add ¼ cup water around the sides.Seal the lid. Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes.Let it naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.Thicken the sauce the same way as above.
Notes
- Cherry juice brings sweetness and a gentle fruit flavour without making the meat mushy.
- Thin boneless pork chops work best for this timing. Very thick chops may need a couple of extra minutes.
- The vinegar in the sauce can smell strong while cooking, but the final flavour is balanced and mild.
- This is a rich sauce. Serving it with rice or mashed potatoes helps stretch it across more portions.
Storage
- Store leftover pork and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Reheat gently in a saucepan or microwave with an extra spoonful of sauce to keep the meat moist.
- Leftovers freeze well in their sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat slowly.
Related Recipes:
- Check out all out other Instant Pot Recipes HERE!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The Takeaway
This Instant Pot sweet and tangy cherry pork chop freezer meal is one of those recipes that quietly earns a permanent place in your rotation.
It feels special, tastes like something you would expect from a takeout menu, and still fits into a normal budget with normal ingredients.
You can build a bag on a calm afternoon, tuck it into the freezer and know that on a future hard day you will only be one pressure cook away from a hot comforting dinner!
What to Try Next?!
Share and Rate This Recipe!
If this sweet and tangy cherry pork chop freezer meal helps you on a busy night, share it with a friend who is trying to simplify dinners too and do not forget to tap the stars and leave a quick comment.
Last update on 2026-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
