This amazing Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork recipe features juicy chunks of pork and tender vegetables coated in a super flavorful sweet and tangy sauce. As it slowly cooks, the pork soaks in all those delicious flavors, creating the most incredibly enticing aroma that fills your entire kitchen.
Crockpot Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe
Are you craving Chinese food that’s even better than what you get at your local Chinese restaurant? This easy-to-make sweet and sour pork recipe will not disappoint! Tender pieces of pork are pan-seared to lock in their juices then added to the slow cooker with pineapple chunks and veggies and covered in a delectable sauce that’s both sweet and tangy. Every single bite is bursting with a delicious combination of flavors that has a special homemade touch.
What makes this recipe even more special is that once you’ve seared the pork, you can set and forget, allowing the slow cooker to do the rest of the work for you. The result is a delicious dinner idea that’s perfect for busy weeknights or for those times you need a no-fuss meal the whole family will love.
If you’re a fan of Asian-inspired recipes, you should also check this Instant Pot Orange Chicken, this Chinese Chicken Salad or this Mongolian Ramen Beef Stir Fry recipe.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe: Slow cooking the meat and veggies in the crockpot means you won’t have to stand over the stove babysitting dinner.
- Great freezer meal: This a wonderful recipe to freeze for nights when you need a last-minute tasty meal.
- Yummy sauce: Everyone will agree that the star attraction of this recipe is the amazingly sweet and delightfully tangy sauce.
Ingredients
- Boneless pork chops, cubed
- Cornstarch
- Vegetable oil
- Green bell pepper, chopped
- Red bell pepper, chopped
- Sweet onion, chopped
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
- Pineapple chunks with the juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Ketchup
- Fresh garlic clove, minced
- Ground ginger
- Black pepper
- Sesame seeds and scallions for garnish
Instructions
Step One: Prep the Pork
- Cut the pork into 1-inch pieces. Place in a large bowl and toss with the cornstarch.
Step Two: Sauté the Pork
- Heat up the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Brown the pork quickly in the pan. You’re not trying to cook the pork through, just until it has a little color on each side.
Step Three: Add the Pork and Veggies to the Crockpot
- Place the browned pork in the crock pot.
- Add the chopped red and green pepper, the large onion and pineapple (make sure to reserve the juice).
Step Four: Add the Sauce
- In a small bowl combine the sugar, brown sugar, pineapple juice, vinegar, soy, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and pepper.
- Whisk until well combined then pour mixture over the pork in the slow cooker and stir.
Note: If the sauce seems a little too thin you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and mix the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker.
Step Five: Cook and Serve
- Cook the sweet and sour pork mixture on low for 4 hours, stirring once or twice to make sure the sugars in the sweet and sour sauce are not burning.
- Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds and serve over instant white rice.
Note: Keep in mind, the actual cooking time will vary on the size of the pieces of pork and the chunk of bell peppers and onions.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Suggestions and Alternatives
- Pineapple chunks: We used canned chunks, but you can use the same amount of fresh pineapple. Make sure to slice it over a bowl so you can catch all those yummy juices.
- Carrots: Slice or julienne carrots and add them to the crockpot. They add wonderful texture and an extra touch of sweetness.
- Tamari: For an umami boost, add a splash of tamari instead of soy sauce to the sauce mixture.
- Tomato paste: You can add a more intense tomato flavor by using tomato paste in place of the ketchup.
- Sriracha or spicy garlic chili sauce: If you enjoy a spicy kick, add some sriracha or chili sauce to the sauce mixture to give it a bit of heat. Red pepper flakes are a great choice too.
- Honey: Feel free to use honey instead (or in addition to) the brown sugar.
- Vinegar: Vinegar adds a tangy balance to the sauce. We used apple cider vinegar but you can use rice vinegar or any type that you enjoy the taste of.
- Sesame oil: You can add even more nutty flavor with a drizzle of sesame oil. Easy does it though because a little goes a long way.
- Snow peas: They will add a very satisfying crunch to the dish. Make sure to add them towards the end of the cooking time so they won’t become overcooked and mushy.
What Can I Serve with This Dish?
This Chinese-inspired main dish is always a huge hit served over steamed white rice, brown rice or fried rice. But if you prefer you can serve it with a side of stir-fried veggies, lo Mein or chow Mein noodles, or Asian coleslaw.
What Type of Pork Works Best for This Sweet and Sour Recipe?
This is a very versatile recipe so there really isn’t a best cut of meat when it comes to the pork you use. We used cubed up boneless pork chops but you can use whatever you can find on sale at the grocery store. Here are a few things to keep in mind while deciding:
- Pork tenderloin: This is a very lean meat but is also a very tender cut that works wonderfully for sweet and sour pork. It cooks quickly and it remains juicy and tender, making it a popular choice for a lot of pork recipes.
- Pork loin: This is another great option and a lot of times less expensive choice. It’s a larger cut, which is great when you have a crowd to feed
- Pork roast: A boneless pork shoulder roast is a high-fat meat and will require a bit of trimming. But it is well worth the effort because it is super flavorful.
- Country-style ribs: Though a less popular choice, ribs are a great cut of meat for slow cooking.
Can I Make This Recipe with Chicken?
Absolutely! If you prefer chicken or if you’re looking for a variation on the traditional sweet and sour-pork recipe, you can certainly use chicken instead. Sweet and sour chicken is a tasty alternative and can be just as delicious using the same ingredients and the same steps. Boneless chicken breasts or thighs work best.
More Pork Recipes
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Herb Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
- Crockpot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
- Honey Glazed Ham
- Sausage Tortellini
- Baked Ziti with Sausage
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless pork chops cubed
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ⅓ cup oil
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 20 ounces pineapple chunks with the juice 1 can
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- sesame seeds for garnish
- 1 scallions for garnish
Instructions
- Coat your pork pieces in cornstarch.
- Heat up the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Brown the pork quickly in the pan. We are not looking to cook the pork through, just get a little color on each side.
- Place the browned pork in the slow cooker.
- Add the chopped bell peppers, onion and pineapple (reserve the juice).
- In a small mixing bowl combine the sugar, brown sugar, pineapple juice, vinegar, soy, ketchup, garlic, ginger and pepper .
- Pour the sauce over the pork in the slow cooker and stir.
- Cook on low for 4 hours, stirring once or twice to make sure the sugars are not burning.
- Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds and serve over white rice.
Nutrition
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