Slow-Cooked Pork Adobo with Sweet Plantains
Tender pork shoulder simmered in a savory adobo sauce with caramelized sweet plantains for a traditional Puerto Rican dinner. This puerto rican-inspired one pot ready in about 450 minutes pairs soy sauce, white vinegar, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 505 calories and feeds 6, 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
- 2 pounds, cut into 1-inch cubes pork shoulder
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 6 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds sweet plantains
- 1, chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, white vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, and black pepper. Add pork cubes and toss to coat. Marinate for 1 hour at room temperature.
- Step 2: Place chopped onion in the slow cooker. Add marinated pork and pour in chicken broth. Cook on low for 6-7 hours until pork is fork-tender.
- Step 3: During the last hour of cooking, add sweet plantain slices to the slow cooker and stir gently.
- Step 4: Remove pork and plantains. Skim excess fat from the sauce. Return pork to the sauce and simmer for 10 minutes to thicken before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Pork Adobo with Sweet Plantains take to make?
Total time is about 450 minutes (30 min prep + 420 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Cooked Pork Adobo with Sweet Plantains?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep soy sauce from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Pork Adobo with Sweet Plantains?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Cooked Pork Adobo with Sweet Plantains for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Cooked Pork Adobo with Sweet Plantains?
Puerto Rican one pot like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Brought this to a potluck and it was the first dish to disappear.
- ★★★★★
The flavors in this slow-cooked are incredible.
- ★★★★☆
Tasty recipe. I'd add a bit more seasoning next time.
