Sweet savory set-it-forget-it meal (Printable Format)

Juicy pork shoulder slow-cooked with pineapple, soy sauce, and brown sugar until fork-tender. A family favorite that makes dinner effortless.

# What You'll Gather:

→ For the Main Dish

01 - 2 pounds pork shoulder or pork butt, cut into 1-2 inch chunks (look for nice marbling for the most flavor)
02 - 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained (reserve the juice!)
03 - 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium works great if you're watching your salt intake)
04 - 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced (or more if you're a garlic lover)
06 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (about a 1-inch piece)
07 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
08 - 1 tablespoon water
09 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For Garnish

10 - 3-4 green onions, chopped
11 - Sesame seeds (optional)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and ginger. Add a few grinds of black pepper. This sweet and savory mixture is going to work magic on the pork!
02 - Place your pork chunks in the bottom of your slow cooker. They don't need to be perfectly arranged - just spread them out somewhat evenly. Pour the pineapple juice mixture over the pork, making sure all pieces get some love from the sauce. Put the lid on and get ready for your house to smell amazing.
03 - Set your slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. The longer and slower you cook it, the more tender your pork will become. You'll know it's ready when you can easily shred a piece with two forks. This is the beauty of slow cooking - you can go about your day while dinner practically makes itself!
04 - During the last hour of cooking, gently stir in the drained pineapple chunks. Adding them later in the cooking process keeps them from completely breaking down, so you still get those delicious pineapple bites in the final dish.
05 - Once the cooking time is up, carefully remove the pork and pineapple pieces with a slotted spoon and set them aside in a bowl. In a small cup or bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water to make a slurry. Pour the remaining liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan and bring it to a gentle boil over medium heat. Whisk in the cornstarch slurry and cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
06 - Return the pork and pineapple to the slow cooker and pour the thickened sauce over the top. Gently stir to coat everything in that sticky, savory-sweet goodness. If your slow cooker has a 'keep warm' setting, you can use that while you prepare any side dishes.
07 - Spoon this delicious creation over rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. Sprinkle generously with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if using. The vibrant green onions not only add a pop of color but also bring a fresh, mild flavor that balances the rich, sweet pork perfectly.

# Important Tips:

01 - This recipe transforms an affordable cut of pork into a mouthwatering dish with minimal hands-on time. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld beautifully while breaking down the connective tissues in the pork.
02 - This dish can easily be prepped the night before - just combine the pork and sauce mixture in the slow cooker insert, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, pop it into the slow cooker base and turn it on.

Back to Recipe