Pork chop stew is a super easy and totally cozy dinner. Made on the stovetop or in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, it packs in some serious flavor without any hassle. Comforting and hearty, it's perfect for dinner!
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Why You'll Love This Pork Stew Recipe
I love a good stew recipe. There’s nothing like a warm and cozy meal to warm you up on a chilly night. And while beef stew is always a tasty option (try this Italian Beef Stew!), a pork stew recipe sounded like a delicious idea as well!
I used pork chops because they’re super budget-friendly and end up fall-apart tender when slow cooked. This dish is totally packed with tasty veggies, all in a savory gravy. It's a satisfying twist on a traditional stew that the whole family will love. What's more, making pork stew is super easy! It's also:
- Full of comforting flavors
- Dump it and go recipe
- Packed with vegetables and pork
- Savory and delicious
- Family-friendly
- Affordable
Ingredients And Substitutions
- Pork Chops- Make sure to trim and cut into 1-inch pieces before you get started.
- Vegetables & Aromatics- This stew is packed with vegetables too! I add carrots, celery, and frozen peas, plus some onion and garlic for even more flavor.
- Chicken Broth- Adds liquid and moisture without watering down any of the other flavors. If you don't have chicken, beef or vegetable broth is a good substitute.
- White Wine- Optional, but adds depth of flavor to the stew — it cuts through the richness of the meat and broth and the alcohol cooks out. If you prefer not to cook with alcohol, additional broth is a good option.
- Cornstarch- To thicken the whole thing.
- Seasonings- Nothing too elaborate here: salt, pepper, and dried thyme.
How To Cook Pork Stew
Note: there are Instant Pot directions- stovetop and Slow Cooker directions are also available in the recipe card below.
Step 1- Add ingredients into the Instant Pot and cook.
Add the pork, broth, wine, salt, pepper, thyme, onion, and garlic to the Instant Pot. Cover, turn the gasket to sealing and cook for 15 minutes on manual high pressure and then do a 10 minute pressure release. Then quick release to release the remaining pressure.
Step 2- Add veggies.
Open the Instant Pot, give it a stir and add the carrots and celery. Close, seal and cook on manual high pressure for another 5 minutes and then do a quick release.
Step 3- Thicken the stew.
Open the Instant Pot. Change the setting to the Sauté setting. Add a cornstarch slurry and frozen peas to the Instant P and simmer for a few minutes to thicken and cook the peas. Serve immediately over mashed potatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can freeze it either before cooking or after. For the best taste and texture, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating gently on the stove.
I use pork chops, but you could also use half of a pork shoulder (or pork butt) cut into 2-inch chunks instead if you'd like. Pork tenderloin is another option, but I prefer a little more fat.
No, the white wine is optional — I know not everyone likes to cook with alcohol. You can replace it with some additional broth.
I don't find that the pork chops really need much softening — they cook up nice and tender as the stew simmers. If you're working with thicker pieces, you may want to cut them down a bit with a meat tenderizer.
Tips For Making Pork Stew:
- Cut with care. I try not to cut the vegetables too small as they will break down as they cook.
- For the slow cooker pork stew- Remember to add the peas and slurry during the last 30 minutes of cooking and increase the heat to High.
- For the Instant Pot- Don't skip that Sauté setting finish once the stew is done cooking and de-pressurizing. It's essential for thickening!
- Natural release- Do a 10-minute natural release in the IP to help tenderize the meat even further.
- Sear the pork chunks before placing them in the slow cooker for even more flavor. If you're using your Instant Pot, you can do this on the Sauté setting! This is optional but never a bad idea.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Slice, dice, mince, and chop the vegetables, onion and pork before you get started.
- Leftovers and storage- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, microwave in 30-second bursts, or heat gently over medium-low on the stovetop until warmed through.
What To Serve With My Pork Stew Recipe
I love serving this over boiled or mashed potatoes with a crusty piece of Italian bread to the side to soak up all that yummy broth. If you want some other side dish options, plus dessert, any of the following would be delicious:
- Peas with Onions
- Easy Garlic Green Beans
- French Onion Mashed Potatoes
- Summer Bounty Strawberry Salad
- Grandma's Best Banana Cake
- Quick and Easy Chocolate Pudding Cake
Other Delicious Stew Recipes To Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
Pork Chop Stew Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil Only if making on the stovetop
- 3 large carrots, sliced
- 2 ribs celery, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4-5 boneless pork chops, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 cans chicken broth
- 3 Tablespoons white wine (optional)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 4-6 tablespoon corn starch
- 2-3 Tablespoons water
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
Crockpot instructions
- In crockpot combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, pork chunks, broth, wine, salt pepper and thyme until well combined.
- Cover and cook on low for 7 hours.
- Towards the end of the cooking time, combine corn starch and water to make a slurry.
- Stir slurry and peas into the crockpot. Taste for seasoning and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Cover and increase the crockpot to high heat.
- Cook for an additional 30 minutes to thicken. Serve immediately.
Instant Pot instructions
- In Instant Pot combine onion, garlic, pork chunks, broth, wine, salt pepper and thyme until well combined.
- Cover and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes with a 10 minute natural release.
- Open the Instant Pot and add carrots and celery.
- Cover and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes and end with a quick release.
- Towards the end of the cooking time, combine corn starch and water to make a slurry.
- Uncover and turn the Instant Pot to the Saute setting.
- Add slurry and peas to the stew and simmer until stew has thickened and peas are tender. Taste for seasoning and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve immediately.
Stovetop instructions
- Coat a thick-bottom pan with one tablespoon of olive oil and sweat out carrots, onions and garlic over medium heat for 5-10 minute or until they've softened a bit. Remove from pot and set aside.
- While vegetables cook, sprinkle pork with salt and pepper.
- Once vegetables are out of the pan, add the other tablespoon of oil and sear pork chunks on each side. Be careful not to crowd the pan.
- Once all pork is seared, add vegetables back into the pot and the chicken broth along with the peas, salt, pepper and thyme. Stir well and raise the heat a bit to bring to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for an hour on low heat, stirring periodically.
- In the last 10 minutes of that hour, mix cornstarch with a small amount of water (a slurry) and stir into the stew to thicken. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Cut with care. I try not to cut the vegetables too small as they will break down as they cook.
- For the slow cooker pork stew- Remember to add the peas and slurry during the last 30 minutes of cooking and increase the heat to High.
- For the Instant Pot- Don't skip that Sauté setting finish once the stew is done cooking and de-pressurizing. It's essential for thickening!
- Natural release- Do a 10-minute natural release in the IP to help tenderize the meat even further.
- Sear the pork chunks before placing them in the slow cooker for even more flavor. If you're using your Instant Pot, you can do this on the Sauté setting! This is optional but never a bad idea.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Slice, dice, mince, and chop the vegetables, onion and pork before you get started.
- Leftovers and storage- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, microwave in 30-second bursts, or heat gently over medium-low on the stovetop until warmed through.
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