Slow-Cooked Pork and Apple Stew with Root Vegetables

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-17 · Updated 2026-04-17

A comforting winter stew with tender pork, sweet apples, and hearty root vegetables, slow-cooked to meld flavors. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 470 minutes pairs pork shoulder, olive oil, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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

• 1.5 lb pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 parsnips
• 1 large Granny Smith apple
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1.5 lb diced pork shoulder and sear for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown, then transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large diced onion, 2 diced carrots, 2 diced parsnips, and 1 diced Granny Smith apple to the slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Sprinkle 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1 bay leaf over the vegetables, then season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
4. Step 4: Pour 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 7-8 hours until pork is fork-tender.
5. Step 5: Remove the bay leaf, then mix 2 tbsp all-purpose flour with 2 tbsp cold water to form a slurry. Stir into the stew and cook on high for 30 minutes until thickened and coating the back of a spoon.