Cocoa-Spiced Pork & Apple Stew

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

A surprising yet deliciously balanced stew featuring tender pork shoulder, sweet apples, and a subtle cocoa depth that elevates simple ingredients. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 435 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch cubes pork shoulder, medium, diced onion, unsweetened cocoa powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 390 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs, cut into 1-inch cubes pork shoulder
• 2 medium, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes apples
• 3 medium, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces carrots
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 1.5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place diced pork shoulder in slow cooker, then scatter diced apples, carrots, and onion over the top.
2. Step 2: Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, sea salt, and black pepper, then sprinkle cocoa powder evenly over the mixture.
3. Step 3: Pour in chicken broth and apple cider, ensuring all ingredients are moistened, and stir gently to combine.
4. Step 4: Cook on Low for 7 hours until pork is tender and apples have softened, stirring once during the final hour to prevent sticking.