Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork - tender slow cooked pork in a delicious sweet and savoury sauce with pineapple, peppers, soy sauce and a little kick of spice. It is the perfect easy dinner that is ideal for busy days when you want dinner ready and waiting for you when you get home.
Slow cooker meals are always a lifesaver on hectic days, especially when you know the last thing you will feel like doing later is standing cooking dinner from scratch. This recipe is really easy to prep ahead, with everything added straight into the slow cooker so you can come home to a flavour packed meal with hardly any effort. It is also great for batch cooking, as the leftovers freeze really well for future meals during busy weeks.
Calories in Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork
This recipe serves 6 and is 299 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Pork Shoulder - Pork shoulder trimmed of all visible fat becomes beautifully tender when slow cooked and works perfectly in this sweet and savoury sauce.
- Onion - Adds sweetness and flavour as it slowly cooks down into the sauce.
- Crushed Pineapple - Adds natural sweetness and helps create the delicious sticky sauce.
- Maple Syrup - Adds extra sweetness and balances the savoury and spicy flavours.
- Garlic - Fresh garlic gives the sauce lots of savoury flavour.
- Fresh Ginger - Adds warmth and fresh flavour that pairs perfectly with the pineapple and soy sauce.
- Soy Sauce - Adds saltiness and rich savoury flavour to balance the sweetness.
- Tomato Paste - Helps add richness and depth to the sauce.
- Sambal Oelek - Adds a little spicy kick to the dish. Adjust the amount depending on your preferred spice level.
- Water - Helps create the sauce while everything slow cooks together.
- Red and Green Peppers - Add colour, sweetness and a little texture to the dish.
- Cornstarch - Used to thicken the sauce at the end so it coats the pork nicely. Arrowroot or tapioca starch work well too.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
This slow cooker pineapple pork is really easy to adapt depending on what proteins and flavours you prefer.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs work really well instead of pork and stay lovely and tender in the slow cooker.
- Sriracha can be used instead of sambal oelek for a slightly different style of heat.
- Add extra vegetables like carrots, sugar snap peas, baby corn or mushrooms.
- Honey can be used instead of maple syrup if preferred.
- Tamari or coconut aminos work well in place of soy sauce.
- Add a splash of rice vinegar or lime juice at the end for extra freshness.
- Fresh chilli slices can be added if you like more heat.
- Pineapple chunks can be used instead of crushed pineapple for extra texture, but I find the crushed canned pineapple yields a better sauce. .
- Cashews or peanutss over the top add a lovely crunch.
- For a sweeter sauce, add a little extra maple syrup or honey to taste.
Tips for Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork
- Try not to keep lifting the lid during cooking. Every time the lid is removed, heat escapes and can add extra cooking time.
- Trust the liquid ratios in the recipe and avoid adding extra water or stock unless really needed. Slow cookers create extra liquid as food cooks and very little evaporates during cooking.
- Cut the pork into evenly sized chunks so it cooks evenly and becomes tender at the same time.
- If you like extra caramelized flavour, you can quickly brown the pork before adding it to the slow cooker, although this step is completely optional.
- If the sauce is thinner than you would like at the end, you can simmer the sauce in a pan to thicken.
Side Suggestions
This pineapple pork pairs perfectly with simple sides that soak up all the delicious sweet and savoury sauce.
Fluffy jasmine rice is always a great choice or egg fried rice if you want a more flavoured side and works really well with the pineapple and soy flavours. Noodles are another delicious option, especially if you want more of a stir fry style meal. For a lighter option, cauliflower rice works really well too. You could even go for homemade oven fries or garlic and herb wedges or mashed potatoes if you prefer.
Steamed greens like broccoli, green beans or sugar snap peas are perfect on the side, and a sprinkle of spring onions, sesame seeds or chopped coriander over the top adds a lovely fresh finish.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
Storing
Allow the pineapple pork to cool before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavours become even more delicious the next day once everything has had time to sit together.
Freezing
This recipe freezes really well, making it perfect for batch cooking. Allow to cool completely before transferring to freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat gently in a saucepan over a medium low heat until piping hot, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much during storage. You can also reheat portions in the microwave in short bursts, stirring halfway through until heated through.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Looking for some other slow cooker recipes to try? Check out these:
See more Slow Cooker Recipes →
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Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork
Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork - tender slow cooked pork in a sweet, savoury and slightly spicy pineapple sauce that is perfect served with rice or noodles.
Ingredients
- 900g (31oz) of pork shoulder, visible fat removed and cut into chunks
- 1 onion, halved and sliced
- 1 cup (240ml) of crushed pineapple, canned )
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 2 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger
- ¼ cup (60ml) of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon of sambal oelek (chilli paste)
- ½ cup (120ml) of water
- 1 red pepper, sliced
- 1 green pepper, sliced
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Instructions
- Add the crushed pineapple, garlic, ginger, sambal oelek, soy sauce, tomato paste, maple syrup and water to a bowl, and whisk to combine.
- Add the pork and onion to slow cooker, pour over the top the sauce and mix.
- Add lid and slow cook for 5 hours on high.
- Mix the cornstarch with a little water to make a slurry.
- Add this into the pork, along with the red and green pepper.
- Stir to combine.
- Add lid and slow cook for a further 1 hour on high.
- Season with salt and black pepper as needed.
- Serve with your choice of sides
- Enjoy!!
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - see storing, freezing and reheating section
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Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1 servingAmount Per Serving Calories 299Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 134mgSodium 783mgCarbohydrates 18gFiber 1gSugar 14gProtein 41g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
J sales says
Can't get sambal can I substitute chilli flakes or harrissa paste
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi there, you should be able to get sambal oelek at most large grocery stores, it is also available on Amazon. But as a replacement chilli flakes should work okay, you won't get quite the same flavour, but it will still add the kick.
Jenny says
How spicy is it please? It looks delicious, but my kids are quite fussy about eating anything spicy.
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Jenny, I would just leave out the sambal oelek if they don't like spicy. It's not overly spicy, but does have a slight kick.
Ashleigh says
Hiya can you do this in the pro king cooker? If so how long do you think it would take?
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Ashleigh, I think it will work perfectly in a pressure cooker, however without testing it myself I can't be definite on timing, but my first try would be 15 mins, allow the pressure to release naturally, and then switch to saute mode and add in the cornstarch slurry stirring till thickened. Add the peppers in at the beginning with the pork.
Sarah says
Hi do I add the pineapple juice
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
I added just the crushed pineapple. Enjoy 🙂
Samantha Biston says
Hi would you be able to use fresh pineapple instead of canned pineapple to save on syns?
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Samantha, using fresh won't reduce the syns unfortunately, as it is still cooked in the recipe and only fruit which in it's raw form will be syn free. I can't say how fresh pineapple would work in this recipe, I don't think it will yield the same result because canned pineapple is part cooked in the canning process.
Emma Hudson says
Do you think this would work by replacing the meat options with some sort of beans or lentils to make it suitable for vegetarians? And if so which do you think would work best?
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Emma - I can't personally say without testing. White beans with some butternut squash or sweet potato might work really well.
Sarah says
I used 2 pork steaks that I had, fresh pineapple, 2 fresh chillis and brown sugar instead of Maple syrup. I cooked on the hob for an hour and it was amazing. I served it with rice. I know I've adapted this a lot but I loved the sound of the ingredients together and wanted to try it and we loved it! Defo doing this again, will try your way if I have all ingredients though!
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
Sounds perfect, glad you enjoyed
Kay C McDonald says
Lovely, full of flavour. Definitely make again.
Carla M says
This is fabulous, and so easy!
I'm curious if this would work with stewing steak or chicken (my colleague loves the idea of the tast but cannot eat pork!)
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
Chicken thighs should work okay, you may want to cook for less time though. 6 hours max on low.