Introduction

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork is a flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth dish that combines sweet, savory, and tangy notes into one comforting meal. With just a few simple ingredients and your trusty slow cooker, you can transform tender pork into a sticky, caramelized masterpiece. Perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, or meal prep, this recipe gives you restaurant-quality flavor with almost no effort!

Ingredients

• 2 to 2.5 lbs (900g – 1.1kg) boneless pork shoulder or pork loin, trimmed and cut into large chunks
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a mild kick)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
• 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, minced garlic, onion, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
2. Assemble in the slow cooker: Place the pork chunks in the slow cooker. Pour the honey garlic mixture over the pork, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
3. Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the pork is tender and easily shredded with a fork.
4. Thicken the sauce: Remove the pork from the slow cooker and set aside. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Stir this into the sauce in the slow cooker. Turn the cooker to HIGH and cook for an additional 10–15 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
5. Combine: Return the pork to the slow cooker, toss it in the thickened sauce, and let it soak for a few minutes to absorb the flavors.
6. Serve: Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.

Description

This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork is irresistibly tender with a sticky, glossy sauce that perfectly balances sweetness from the honey and savory umami from the soy and garlic. The slow cooking process ensures the pork absorbs every drop of flavor, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth experience that pairs beautifully with rice or vegetables.

Correction

• If your sauce turns out too salty, add 1 tablespoon of honey or a splash of pineapple juice to balance the flavor.
• If it’s too sweet, add a dash of soy sauce or vinegar to cut through the sweetness.