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Slow Cooker Pork Stew

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A cozy, easy-to-make slow cooker pork stew with tender pork shoulder and root vegetables simmered in a savory broth. Perfect for family dinners and busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into chunks
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 4 medium yellow potatoes, diced
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (optional, for browning pork)

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork chunks dry with paper towels. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the pork on all sides until golden, about 3-4 minutes per batch (optional).
  2. Peel and slice the carrots, dice the potatoes, chop the onion and celery, and mince the garlic.
  3. Place the browned pork chunks in the slow cooker base. Add the carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, and garlic on top.
  4. Pour the chicken broth over the ingredients. Stir in tomato paste until evenly distributed. Sprinkle thyme, add the bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the pork is fall-apart tender and vegetables are soft but not mushy. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking.
  6. Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. If stew is too thin, stir in a slurry of 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water and cook on high for another 15 minutes to thicken.
  7. Optional: Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving to brighten flavors.

Notes

Browning the pork is optional but adds richer flavor. Do not overfill the slow cooker; leave at least an inch of space at the top. Layer denser vegetables like carrots and potatoes near the bottom for even cooking. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain heat. Fresh herbs like parsley or thyme can be added before serving for extra freshness. For gluten-free, verify broth and tomato paste ingredients. To thicken stew, use cornstarch slurry. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker pork stew, pork shoulder stew, easy pork stew, family dinner, comfort food, slow cooker recipes

Find it online: https://bouncybowl.com/slow-cooker-pork-stew-recipe-5-easy-steps-for-cozy-family-dinners/