10 Pleasing Pork Crockpot Recipes
Julia Hartbeck
There are so many reasons to love slow-cooked pork. It's tender, flavorful, and, with the help of a Crockpot, nearly impossible to mess up. Pork shoulder, also called pork butt or Boston butt, is the most common choice for slow cooking. Taken from the upper portion of the front leg of the pig, this inexpensive cut is relatively tough and marbled with fat. Luckily it takes just a few steps to transform pork shoulder into a silky pile of meat: Combine the pork and the broth or sauce of your choice in a Crockpot, then step away for a few hours. Yes, pork shoulder needs a long cooking time to get that super-tender, falling-off-the-bone texture, but once it's done, you have the base for a week's worth of delicious meals.
A staple of our collection of pork Crockpot recipes is barbecued pulled pork. It's smothered in a tangy sauce made from ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, molasses, and mustard; the cooked meat should come off the bone with a few passes of a fork, If the weather is cold, a hot, long-simmered pork stew is in order. Adding legumes like Marcia Kiesel does in her Ham Hock and Chickpea Stew is a smart choice because they'll cook along with the pork without losing their texture.
One last tip for excellent slow-cooked pork? Take it from star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and use bold spices. He marinates his pork shoulder with hot paprika and sriracha chile sauce. "Chile is my condiment of choice," he says. "A little here, a little there makes the food sing." — Carrie Mullins
Slow Cooker Coconut Pork Curry
For this dish, pork shoulder gets cooked with bold ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, curry powder, cumin, and turmeric. The flavors intensify and penetrate the meat after four hours in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Barbecued Pulled Pork
Julia Hartbeck
Serve the pulled pork with coleslaw and pickles, or mound it on hamburger buns and top with coleslaw and thinly sliced onion and dill pickles.
Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Roasted Apples
This cut takes a long time to cook, but the prep is minimal and the results are outstanding: super-crispy skin and meltingly tender meat.
Slow-Cooked Sweet and Sour Pork Shoulder with Pineapple
Inspired by the retro combination of ham and pineapple, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten created this rendition by mixing the pineapple with vinegar for a sweet-sour effect and marinating pork shoulder with hot paprika and sriracha. "Chile is my condiment of choice: A little here, a little there makes the food sing," he says.
Slow Cooker Asado de Puerco (Pork and Tomatillo Stew)
Make this classic Mexican dish in your slow cooker for ease and extra flavor. Hominy provides texture and savory corn goodness in the tangy tomatillo sauce; the cilantro garnish adds a pop of freshness to the bowl.
Pork Rillettes
Rillettes is a rustic pâté made from meat that's been poached in its own fat, then shredded and stored in some of that fat. Inspired by a dish at Fort Defiance, a bar in Brooklyn, New York, writer Oliver Strand makes pork rillettes in a slow cooker; the recipe works equally well prepared on the stovetop over low heat. The quick pickle of dried apricots is an ingenious sweet-tart accompaniment to the rich meat.
Slow Cooker Ham Hock and Chickpea Stew
Split pea soup was the inspiration for this robust stew. Like split peas, chickpeas need to simmer for a long time, making them great for a slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Glazed Pork Ribs with White Beans
© Fredrika Stjärne
Baby back ribs, Great Northern beans, white wine, tomatoes, chicken broth, and more come together for a hearty, satisfying meal.
Slow Cooker Sunday Sauce on Spaghetti
© Fredrika Stjärne
This indulgent Sunday sauce recipe includes pork shoulder, pancetta, sweet Italian sausages, and plenty of garlic.
Slow Cooker Potato and Ham Hock Soup
Ask your butcher to split the ham hock in half and plan to peel and cube three pounds of baking potatoes before six hours of slow cooking.
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