8 Simple Slow Cooker Recipes Featuring Pork (2024)

A roundup of 8 simple and delicious slow cooker recipes featuring pork from bloggers you love and the Ohio Pork Council!

Raise your hand if you are like me… on days when you use the slow cooker, you feel so proud of yourself. It’slike for once, you REALLY have your act together. I absolutely love my slow cooker (this is the one I currently use) and I feel like such a rock star when I remember to put ingredients in it in the morning, and a ready meal appears at night in time for us to sit down for dinner. I don’t often get to feel like a rock star parent (just ask me how many times I’ve put ingredients IN the slow cooker and forgot to turn it on… ooops!), so when I do, it’s a wonderful thing.

Today, I’ve partnered with 8wonderful bloggers, my friends at The Ohio Pork Council and the Ohio Soybean Council to bring you a roundup of simple slow cooker recipes featuring pork. These recipes are so easy and amazingly good, you’ll feel like a rock star each time you prepare one in your slow cooker to feed to your family.

Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Pork from Nutmeg Nanny

A 5-pound bone in pork shoulder is the star of this recipe from Nutmeg Nanny. Tender and fall off the bone perfection is the result after a low and slow day in the slow cooker. Brandy suggests serving this Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Pork on a bun or even better, over rice! Check out the recipe over at Brandy’s site, Nutmeg Nanny.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork Tostadas from Foxes Loves Lemons

This recipe from Foxes Loves Lemons takes me away on those busy weeknights when I’d rather be sitting on the beach instead of shuffling kids around town to various activities. If I can’t get myself to Hawaii at least I can savor some of those delicious tropical flavors! Find Lori’s Hawaiian Pulled Pork Tostada recipe on her blog, Foxes Loves Lemons.

5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Maple Dijon Ham from Rachel Cooks

I rarely make ham at home, unless it’s a holiday, and I have no idea why because we love it and it’s so easy! I’m taking a cue from Rachel and I am going to make this flavorful ham recipe in my slow cooker.The combination of maple syrup and dijon mustard is a definite winner for a family friendly, weeknight meal. Check out the recipe for 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Maple Dijon Ham from Rachel Cooks.

Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork from Baked By Rachel

You know when your family of 5 eats every last morsel of a meal, you’ve hit a dinnertime home run. That’s what happened with Rachel when she served up these pulled pork sandwiches on a busy weeknight!Not a single nibble was left. Considering the slow cooker did most of the work, that’s definitely a busy weeknight dinner success story!You can find the recipe for Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork on Baked by Rachel.

Apple Ginger Slow Cooker Ham from Lemons for Lulu

Again, ham… why don’t I make you more often? Especially since you are so very easy to make? This slow cooker ham recipe from Lemons for Lulu looks like a lifesaver for those crazy, busy weeknights! The tangy and sweet apple ginger glaze gives it an extra boost of flavor to make it something extra special. You can find the recipe for Apple Ginger Slow Cooker Ham over on Lemons for Lulu.

BBQ Apple Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Carrot Apple Slawby Running to the Kitchen

This recipe from my friend Gina proves that sandwiches don’t have to be boring at all! Shecooked a bone-in pork shoulder with some apples and seasonings low and slow all day to create the pulled pork, then made sandwiches topped with this flavorful carrot apple slaw. How smart is that? You can find the recipe for BBQ Apple Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Carrot Apple Slaw over on Running to the Kitchen.

Slow Cooker Asian Pulled Pork from The Lean Green Bean

What I love the most about this slow cooker pulled pork recipe from Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean is that instead of making a traditional pulled pork sandwich, she turned her slow cooker creationinto pulled pork lettuce wraps with rice. This option goes great with the Asian inspired flavors in this recipe, but I bet would work well with other flavors as well! So smart! You can find the recipe for Slow Cooker Asian Pulled Pork over on The Lean Green Bean.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork from Chocolate Slopes

Here’s another quick and easy dinner idea for acrazy weeknights. Simple combine your pork shoulder with pineapple bits and other spices and seasonings, let it cook all day in your slow cooker, and at dinnertime you can sit down to these fabulous sandwiches! Kristy also suggeststopping a salad with this pulled pork creation or wrapping it up in tortillas. All great ideas for mixing things up! You can check out the recipe for Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork over on Chocolate Slopes.

I hope this roundup of wonderful slow cooker recipes featuring pork has inspired you to save yourself a little time and to try cooking pork in the slow cooker more often!

For more great recipes and to find out more about Ohio Pork, visit the Ohio Pork Council website!

Disclosure: Thank you to the Ohio Pork Council and the Ohio Soybean Council for sponsoring this campaign. All opinions expressed are my own.

8 Simple Slow Cooker Recipes Featuring Pork (2024)

FAQs

Should pork be covered with liquid in slow cooker? ›

Your liquid should not cover your pork in the slow cooker: it should only come up about a quarter of the way up the sides. The pork will make more liquid as it cooks, and you need to leave room for that. And 10 hours later, this huge hunk of meat is tender and ready.

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What pork is best for slow cooking? ›

The top part (known as the butt) is best for slow cooking, while the lower shoulder section absorbs flavours beautifully.

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Can you put raw pork in a slow cooker? ›

Can You Put Raw Meat in the Slow Cooker? It is safe to add raw meat to a crock pot or slow cooker if it will be cooked through completely. Tough cuts like pot roast, pork shoulder, and stew meat can be browned first and then cooked through in the cooker or simply added to the crock pot.

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Should I cook pork before putting in slow cooker? ›

Preparing the pork

I prefer to season the meat before adding it to the slow cooker with my favourite spices, along with salt and pepper. I also recommend browning the meat slightly prior to slow cooking which will help maximise the flavour. However, this is a step that can be left out if you don't have enough time.

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What is the best liquid to cook pork in? ›

Pull the pork from the fridge to take the chill off while you chop a few onions and smash garlic cloves. Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy.

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What liquid should I cook pork in? ›

Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Ingredients

Water: A cup of water helps the pork tenderloin stay moist during cooking. Wine: Red wine lends complexity and enhances the flavor. Soy sauce: Soy sauce adds savory flavor. Garlic: Fresh garlic lends a bold flavor.

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Does pork get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker? ›

At around 2 hours, your pork chops will be cooked through (145°F) and have a texture similar to chicken breast — tender, but firm. Between 3 to 6 hours, the chops will have a texture closer to pulled pork; it will be easy to cut with a fork and will pull easily from the bone.

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Why is my slow cooker pork too tough? ›

The meat was overcooked: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize meat, but if the meat is cooked for too long, it can become overcooked and tough. ...
The meat was not cut into the correct size: If the meat is cut into large chunks, it may take longer to cook and could become tough.

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Dec 7, 2021

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Why is my pork tough in the slow cooker? ›

The low setting is important so you don't overcook it, potentially leaving you with a dry or tough meal. If you're wondering how long your meat will take to cook in a crock pot, we recommend consulting Crockpot's cook time guide for guidance.

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Which part of pork is best for slow cooker? ›

That all-time favourite – pork belly – is one of the best and most popular cuts to slow roast. And it'a cheap too, making it ideal for the times.

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How do you keep pork moist in a slow cooker? ›

Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot. To add a strong flavor during the process, white wine can also be sprayed.

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Can I overcook pork in a slow cooker? ›

On low heat, cook for 8-10 hours; on high heat, cook for 5-6 hours. The pork should be fork-tender and easily shredded. Can you overcook pulled pork in a slow cooker? Yes, overcooking can lead to dry, tough meat.

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How long can you leave pork in a crockpot on low? ›

Slow cook the pork 14 to 16 hours.

Cover and cook on the LOW setting until the pork is soft enough to pull apart with a spoon, 14 to 16 hours.

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What happens if you don't brown meat before slow cooker? ›

While searing meat before slow cooking can enhance flavors by developing a caramelized crust, it's not strictly necessary. If you skip searing, the meat may lack some depth of flavor, but it will still cook and become tender in the slow cooker.

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How long is too long to slow cook pork? ›

You could go 24 hours. Since the temperature if your simmering liquid or oven is only 180-185, the roast isn't going to get higher than that, so if you want to go as long as 24 hours, you'd be fine.

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Does meat in a slow cooker need to be covered with liquid? ›

Do you add water when cooking meat in a slow cooker? If your slow cooker is 3/4 full, no extra liquid is required. However, if you're cooking a smaller amount of food, add 1-2cm of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl to ensure there's enough liquid for cooking.

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Does food in slow cooker have to be covered with liquid? ›

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

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How do you keep pork from drying out in a slow cooker? ›

Cooking a lean roast like pork tenderloin in a slow cooker is tricky because it can quickly turn overcooked and dry. We discovered that nestling two tenderloins side by side, alternating the narrow and thicker ends, helped to insulate the meat and prevented it from overcooking.

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