This Pork Stew in the Slow Cooker is the ultimate comfort meal. If you are looking for something easy and flavorful that your whole family will love, I highly recommend that you try this stew. Kids enjoy it and it also makes fantastic leftovers so a quick lunch the next day.
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The pork is infused with a lot of flavor from the baked beans, spices, and Worcestershire sauce. They add sweetness, heat, and umami to the meat and vegetables for depth of flavor so every bite tastes delicious and has great texture.
If you like yummy stew recipes, you will love my Corned Beef Stew and this savory Guinness Beef Stew.
Why You’ll Love This Pork Stew Recipe
- Customizable recipe: It’s super easy to alter this recipe and make it your own! Use your favorite spices and veggies.
- An easy one-pot meal: This pork stew is cooked entirely in the crock pot, saving you time on cleanup.
- It’s quick to prepare: It only takes a few minutes to prep the ingredients for the stew
Ingredients
Below are all of the ingredients you’ll need to make pork stew in the slow cooker. There are plenty of spices and aromatics to infuse flavor into the pork shoulder as well as beans and veggies for texture.
- Pork shoulder: This is an expensive cut of pork that becomes very tender when cooked in a crock pot. It has just the right amount of fat for flavor and moisture that goes perfectly in a stew. Try pork chops instead and create a tasty pork chop stew. Adjust the cooking time so they don’t become dry.
- Broth: I use beef broth to add depth of flavor to the base of the pork stew. You may use chicken or vegetable broth if you prefer.
- Beer: A stout or ale would work best in this recipe. As it cooks down, it adds richness and tenderizes the pork. Don’t worry, the alcohol will cook down in the slow cooker, so it will be safe for anyone to eat.
- Baked beans: This adds texture and sweetness and helps thicken this easy pork stew.
- Rotel: Diced tomatoes with green chiles add acidity and subtle spice to this recipe. If you prefer, you may use plain diced tomatoes instead.
- Peppers and onions: As the bell peppers and onions cook down, they soften and add great flavor to the stew. I like to use red and green peppers but you may use any color combination that you like.
- Spices: I used smoked paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. They add a smoky flavor with a hint of heat.
- Worcestershire sauce: The umami flavor of the Worcestershire sauce helps to balance the other ingredients.
- Liquid smoke: For extra smoky flavor, I add liquid smoke. You may omit it if you prefer but I love the depth it adds.
- Carrots and potatoes: Carrots and potatoes are must-haves to make this slow cooker pork stew filling and delicious.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Herb and mushroom: Try fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme mixed with earthy sliced mushrooms.
- Southwest-style: Turn this stew into a spicy southwest meal by adding diced jalapenos, corn, and a squeeze of lime juice.
- Apple and cabbage: Give this pork stew extra sweetness with chopped apples and cabbage.
How to Make Pork Stew in the Crock Pot
Ensure all of your ingredients are measured and your veggies are chopped before you prepare your stew in the slow cooker. Those steps make it so quick to get it started so it can cook all day and be ready by dinnertime.
Step 1: Add to the crock pot. Prepare the base of your stew by adding the beef broth, beer, beans, Rotel, bell peppers, onions, spices, and Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker. Stir the ingredients until they are well combined.
Step 2: Add the pork shoulder. Place the pork shoulder into the pot. Ladle some of the broth mixture on top of the pork to ensure it’s as submerged as possible. Add the lid and cook. Stir in the carrots and potatoes into the sauce when there are about 2 hours of cooking time left and finish cooking.
Step 6: Shred the pork. Remove the pork should from the slow cooker and place it into a large bowl. Shred it with two forks and then return it to the cooking liquid and vegetables.
Step 7: Garnish and serve. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top and enjoy!
⭐️ Hint: Check the potatoes and carrots for doneness with a fork. They should be tender but not mushy.
If you love pork recipes like this one, you may also enjoy this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe or this 3 Ingredient Pork Roast in the Slow Cooker recipe!
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Cool the stew completely and place it in a freezer-safe bag. Ensure it is flat and all of the air is gently squeezed out. Freeze it for 2-3 months.
- Reheating: Pour the pork stew into a saucepan and gently reheat over medium-low heat on the stovetop until heated. If it's too thick you can add some more broth or water to restore the consistency.
- Make Ahead: Prepare this crock pot pork stew 24 hours ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat it the next day as a quick dinner.
Serving Suggestions
You can’t go wrong with a fresh tossed salad as a side dish! Though I love serving a delicious bread to soak up the juices from the stew. Try this recipe with some freshly baked Homemade Cornbread, Air Fryer Dinner Rolls, or Bacon Cheese Biscuits.
Try making an easy and tasty dessert to finish your hearty meal. Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie and Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are great options.
Recipe Tips
- Let it rest: Allow the pork to rest for a few minutes before you shred it to ensure maximum juiciness.
- Use a thermometer: If you are unsure if your pork shoulder is cooked properly, check it with a meat thermometer. For safety, it must reach a minimum of 145 degrees F.
- Cut the pork shoulder: Instead of cooking it whole, you may slice it into smaller chunks. You will need to adjust the cooking time for this so it doesn’t dry out.
- Adjusting the consistency: If the stew doesn’t have enough liquid after shredding, add a ½ cup of beef broth. Some crockpots don’t seal well or can lose their seal over time, causing them to lose moisture during the cooking process.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Add all of the ingredients (including the potatoes and carrots) to the instant pot. Set it to manual and cook for 35-45 minutes. Let it naturally release for 10 minutes and then quickly release the rest of the pressure. Serve and enjoy!
Yes. Sear it in a skillet over medium-high heat for no more than 1-2 minutes per side. You are looking to add color, not to cook it. This will help add more flavor and lock in the juices.
Of course! Layer the pork and veggies in the bottom and cover them with the liquids and spices. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Fabulous How to Make This Recipe Video
More Slow Cooker Dishes to Love
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Slow Cooker Pork Stew
Equipment
- large slow cooker 8 quart
- Shredding claws or 2 forks
- wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 12-ounce can your favorite beer
- 2 28-ounce cans baked beans
- 2 10-ounce cans Rotel drained or canned tomatoes
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 3-4 pound pork shoulder
- 2 carrots peeled and chopped
- 2 cups baby potatoes quartered
- Parsley to garnish
Instructions
- In the crockpot, add the broth, beer, baked beans, Rotel, red pepper, green pepper, sweet onion, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke and stir to combine.
- Add the pork shoulder and spoon some of the sauce over the top.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5hours.
- 2 hours before its ready . Add the potatoes and carrots and quickly stir them in being sure to not leave the crockpot uncovered for too long and allow to cook for another 2 hours.
- Shred the pork. Use 2 forks or a shredding tool to shred the pork inside the crockpot and stir it into the stew to combine the flavors.
- Serve. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Let it rest: Allow the pork to rest for a few minutes before you shred it to ensure maximum juiciness.
- Use a thermometer: If you are unsure if your pork shoulder is cooked properly, check it with a meat thermometer. For safety, it must reach a minimum of 145 degrees F.
- Cut the pork shoulder: Instead of cooking it whole, you may slice it into smaller chunks. You will need to adjust the cooking time for this so it doesn’t dry out.
- Adjusting the consistency: If the stew doesn’t have enough liquid after shredding, add a ½ cup of beef broth. Some crockpots don’t seal well or can lose their seal over time, causing them to lose moisture during the cooking process.
Nutrition
This post was originally posted in May 2018. It has been updated with new content and images.
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