Slow Cooker Sticky Chinese Ground Pork

This easy slow cooker recipe creates incredibly tender and flavorful ground pork coated in a rich, sticky Chinese-inspired sauce. Perfect for a weeknight meal, it's hearty, comforting, and packed with umami. Serve it over steamed rice with fresh green onions for a complete dish.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 420 min
Total Time: 435 min
Servings: 4
ChineseDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreeHigh-Protein

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb Ground pork (lean or regular)
  • 1 piece Yellow onion (finely chopped)
  • 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1 tbsp Fresh ginger (grated)
  • 0.5 cup Soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup Hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp Brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 tbsp Rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp Sesame oil
  • 0.5 cup Water or chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp Cold water
  • 3 stalks Green onions (sliced, for garnish)
  • 1 tsp Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish (optional))
  • 4 cup Cooked rice (for serving)

Instructions

  1. 1.

    In a large skillet or pot, brown the ground pork over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.

    Time: 7 min
  2. 2.

    Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the pork and cook for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for another minute until fragrant.

    Time: 6 min
  3. 3.

    Transfer the pork and onion mixture to your slow cooker.

    Time: 2 min
  4. 4.

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and 1/2 cup water (or chicken broth). Pour this sauce over the pork in the slow cooker.

    Time: 3 min
  5. 5.

    Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or until the pork is very tender and the flavors have melded.

    Time: 360 min
  6. 6.

    About 20-30 minutes before serving, prepare a cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth.

    Time: 2 min
  7. 7.

    Stir the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for another 20-30 minutes, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. Stir occasionally.

    Time: 25 min
  8. 8.

    Serve the sticky Chinese ground pork hot over steamed rice, garnished with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, if desired.

    Time: 1 min

Tips

  • 💡For a spicier kick, add a teaspoon of chili garlic sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes with the sauce ingredients in step 4.
  • 💡This dish is also excellent served in lettuce cups for a lower-carb option, or stuffed into steamed buns.
  • 💡Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and reheat beautifully.

Recipe from TheCookbook.ai

Created by smw355