This easy, flavorful, and fully loaded pork stew is a one pot meal made with the whole family in mind! Doesn’t get much better than juicy pork chunks, potato, bacon, and veggies simmered in a flavorful broth!
If you love chunky soups you’re going to want to put shepherd’s pie soup, white bean and ham soup, and chicken pot pie soup on your must-make list. Each has it’s own way of delivering something special!
Easy Delicious Pork Stew
Whether you’re saying hello or goodbye to stew season, this hearty stew is perfect comfort food to make any time of year in my opinion.
I’m a sucker for all kinds of soups, stews, and chilis during the cooler months, but I know I’m not wrong in saying that chicken and beef stew tend to get most of the spotlight. Well, no more! This delicious pork stew recipe ranks right up there with the best I’ve ever had. And soon to be the best you’ve ever had!
It’s a wonderful thick soup made with tender cubed pork, smoky bacon, and loads of seasoning. Along with potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots, it all gets simmered in beef broth allowing time for the flavors to meld.
Serve it with a side of crusty bread or a side salad and you’ve got a quick and easy dinner for the busy night!
What cut of pork is best for stew?
I prefer a pork shoulder or pork sirloin (also known as pork butt) for this recipe. They’re both budget-friendly cuts of meat that do well with low and slow cooking. Save the pork tenderloin and pork loin for another day.
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Ingredients list
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this easy and delicious recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card for individual amounts.
- Olive oil: Used to sauté the aromatics and veggies and brown the meat.
- Aromatics: Diced onions and minced garlic.
- Veggies: Sliced carrots, potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes, can of diced tomatoes.
- Pork and bacon: You’ll need to dice your bacon so it cooks quickly. I like to use boneless pork shoulder and cut it into cubes.
- Beef broth: Low sodium or regular, it’s up to you.
- Seasoning: Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Smoked paprika would be great if you are interested in extra smoky flavors.
- All-purpose flour: To help thicken the stew at the end.
Variations
1. The beef broth gives this hearty pork stew a more robust flavor, but you can certainly swap it for chicken broth, chicken stock, or vegetable broth instead.
2. Swap the beef stock for chicken broth or vegetable broth if desired.
3. Toss in extra veggies. Red bell pepper, green bell pepper, zucchini, baby spinach, green beans, or peas would be great.
4. You can also swap the potatoes for different root vegetables. Sweet potatoes or butternut squash would be amazing.
5. To add a little heat, add ⅛ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
6. Swap the Italian seasoning for chili powder and add a teaspoon of cumin to make Mexican pork stew.
7. If you prefer less stew and more soup, you can omit the flour for a lighter, liquid soup.
How to Make this Pork Stew Recipe
You can make pork stew, that my whole family loves, in just over 1 hour!
Step 1: In a large soup pot or large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat and saute the onions and carrots until the carrots have softened and the onions are translucent. This is about 4-5 minutes.
Step 2: Then add the garlic to cook for another minute.
Step 3: Add the pork cubes and chopped bacon. Brown the pork on all sides for 2 minutes.
Step 4: Scrape off the brown bits at the bottom of the pot (to deglaze the pot). Then add the rest of the ingredients (EXCEPT the flour) to the pot and stir. Then, bring it to a boil.
Step 5: Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Allow the stew simmer for 45 minutes until the potatoes and pork are fork-tender.
Step 6: Make a flour slurry. Mix the flour with cold water and then pour that mixture to the pot. Then simmer for another 5-10 minutes until thickened.
Can I make this pork stew in the slow cooker?
Yes, you sure can make this recipe in a crock pot! I like to brown pork cubes and the bacon in a skillet in a little olive oil to lock in the tenderness. Then add all the veggies to the bottom of the slow cooker and then add the seared pork pieces and bacon with the spices and the broth. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
You can then stir in the slurry int the last 30 minutes to thicken the sauce.
I have also made this stew in an Instant pot as well! Use the sauté mode to sear the pork and bacon together. Scrape any of the bits stuck to the bottom of the inner liner off so they don’t burn. Add all of the other ingredients and set to pressure cook on high for 20 minutes then let it naturally release for 15 minutes for a total of 35 minutes.
Tips
- Save some time and use up some of your leftover pork from your boneless pork shoulder roast or last night’s pork chops!
- Instead of the flour slurry at the end, you can toss the pork stew meat in flour. This will not only help to thicken the stew but it’ll also help to give it a bit of a crispy coating.
- Serve it over rice or pasta, if desired.
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerate: After cooling completely, store any leftover stew in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Once it has completely cooled, you can freeze it in a freezer bag or freezer-friendly container. It’ll keep for up to 3 months frozen!
Reheat: reheat stew in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl for one minute, stirring halfway through. Heat an additional 30 seconds if needed. You can also heat it in a pot on the stove on medium-low heat until heated through.
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Pork Stew
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 3 medium carrots sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces bacon diced
- 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder cut into small cubes
- 1 pound potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 14.5- ounce diced tomatoes 1 can
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or dutch oven, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the diced onions and carrots and sauté for approximately 4-5 minutes until the onions are translucent.1 yellow onion, 3 medium carrots
- Then add the minced garlic and stir for one minute.4 cloves garlic
- Add chopped bacon and pork and cook for two minutes to sear the pork.8 ounces bacon, 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder
- Stir in the remaining ingredients (except the flour), bring to a boil.1 pound potatoes, 2 cups beef broth, 14.5- ounce diced tomatoes, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Cover and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes until the potatoes and pork are fork tender.
- Once tender, mix the flour with 4 tablespoons of cold water and mix to combine. Then add it to the stew and simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes to thicken the broth.2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Serve garnished with fresh parsley if desired
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Dave Goodwin
Made this following the recipe and it was DELICIOUS…!! Needless to say, I will be making it again.
The recipe caught my eye because it called for pork shoulder instead of beef. I love pork and this dish didn’t disappoint.
Thanks for posting!!