Crock Pot Southwestern Pork Stew

Thick and chunky pork stew is a comfort food with bold flavors you can serve all year long.

Southwestern pork stew in a bowl with a spoon.

When you cook cubed pork shoulder roast in a slow cooker the meat is so tender it melts in your mouth.

This pork stew recipe is slow cooked with southwestern inspired vegetables, pinto beans and a blend of herbs and spices that simmers together into the rich and bold flavors of the south west.

Serve it with Jalapeno Corn Bread, or a crusty bread so you can sop of the flavor packed broth.

Ingredients

This pork stew recipe is made with tender pork shoulder meat, vegetables, potatoes, pinto beans and a combination of Southwestern inspired seasonings and spices.

Ingredeients to make a southwestern inspired pork stew.

cubed pork meat: cut a pork should roast into 1 to 2 inch cubes.
vegetables: canned diced tomatoes, diced onion, diced sweet bell pepper, canned corn
canned beans: I used pinto beans but you could also use black beans.
seasoning and spices: minced garlic, ground cumin, ground chili powder, salt, black pepper and bay leaf.
liquids: I like to use chicken broth but you could use water if needed but you will need to add more seasoning for flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet and brown the cubed pork on all sides. Drain on a paper towel.

Browned cubed pork pieces in a white glass bowl.

Step 2: Put the browned cubed pork, diced onion, diced bell pepper, cubed potatoes, diced tomatoes, green chiles in an 8 quart slow cooker.

Cubed pork and vegetables in a slow cooker.

Step 3: Add the minced garlic, ground cumin, ground chili powder, salt, ground black pepper and dried bay leaf to the slow cooker.

Cubed pork, vegetables, chicken broth and herbs and seasonings in an 8 quart crock pot before cooking.

Step 4: Pour the chicken broth or water in and stir to combine. Place the lid on the crock pot.

Step 5: Slow cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 8 hours or until the cubed pork is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.

Over head image of a metal ladle full of pork and vegetables.

Step 6: Once the pork meat is done turn the slow cooker on warm until ready to serve.

Recipe FAQ's

How long should you cook pork in a crock pot?

Pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 ºF. It will take at least 5 hours slow cooking on high and 8 hours slow cooking on low.

Can you overcook slow cooker chili?

Yes, you can over cook chili when cooking it in a slow cooker. Cooking canned vegetables and canned beans too long will make turn them into a pile of mush or even cause them to totally disintegrate. Over cooking chili with meat in it will make the meat dry and tough.

What kind of beans are best for chili?

A basic chili recipe usually used red kidney beans. But depending on the recipe you might use pinto beans or black beans. So the best beans for chili will depend on the chili recipe you are cooking.

Recipe Expert Tips

Pork shoulder roast is the best pork to use to make stew. A leaner cut of pork will not be as tender.
Do not over cook or the pork will be dry and tough.
Browning the pork is an optional step. If short on time you can skip this step.
If a layer of fat forms on the top from the pork remove with a spoon before serving.

A closeup image of chunky pork stew on a spoon.

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Check out some of my other homemade chili recipes below.

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