A one pot meal the whole family will love! Simply chop, stir, toss in the slow cooker and smell the delicious Sweet and Sour Pork cooking away! Finish your day with this tasty stress-free meal!

sweet and sour pork over rice in a bowl with spoon

What is sweet and sour pork?

Many dishes found on Chinese restaurant menus boast a “sweet and sour” sauce. But, what exactly is it? Put simply, it’s a sauce that has sweet flavors from added sugar and sour flavors that come from vinegar or sometimes lemon juice. That sauce is then added to proteins such as chicken, beef, or pork and vegetables for a delicious main dish that’s usually served over rice.

My recipe for Sweet and Sour Pork is a delicious one-pot meal that will have you patting yourself on the back for serving your family a quick, delicious, and nutritious meal. I mean, seriously… who doesn’t love making healthy versions of their favorite take-out dishes? You can make this this Sweet and Sour Pork at home in your slow cooker. And, as an added bonus, you can adjust ingredients to make this meal an option for those with food sensitivities.

chopped veggies for sweet and sour pork in a slow cooker

Ingredients

What’s the best cut of meat to use in Sweet and Sour Pork? Thick cut pork loin chops are easiest to use in this recipe for Sweet and Sour Pork. You could use a pork roast as well. I don’t recommend a pork shoulder as it will have too much fat.

Can I make substitutions for food sensitivities and allergies? Yes, you can! Use tamari instead of soy sauce to keep Sweet and Sour Pork gluten-free. Tamari is a sauce that is made from fermented soybeans, just like soy sauce. However, there’s very little (if any) wheat in tamari which makes it gluten-free. (Double-check the label if you need it to be completely gluten-free.) Using tapioca flour instead of cornstarch will keep Sweet and Sour Pork grain-free.

sweet and sour sauce poured over pork and veggies in a slow cooker

Preparation

How do you make sweet and sour sauce? Making your own sauce for Sweet and Sour Pork is so easy! By whisking together a few ingredients like pineapple juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and ketchup, you can make a tasty sweet and sour sauce that be will compliment your meal perfectly.

How do I prepare the pork for the slow cooker? Trim any excess fat from your pork so your Sweet and Sour Pork won’t be greasy. Then, cut the meat into chunks so it will cook faster. Slow cooking the pork will help keep the pork from drying out.

sweet and sour pork in slow cooker with spoon

Serving suggestions

How do I serve Sweet and Sour Pork? Sweet and Sour Pork is a tasty one-pot meal that can be eaten alone or served over rice. Use your Instant Pot to make up a batch of brown rice, basmati rice, or jasmine rice.

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