Slow Cooker Salvadoran Pork and Vegetable Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

A flavorful Salvadoran pork stew simmered slowly with root vegetables and spices, delivering tender meat and rich broth perfect for a comforting meal. This Latin American-inspired soup recipe, ready in about 440 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, potatoes, carrots 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

• 2 lbs, cut into 1.5-inch cubes pork shoulder
• 3 medium, peeled and quartered potatoes
• 3 medium, cut into 1-inch pieces carrots
• 1 large, chopped onion
• 5 minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 0.25 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• for serving lime wedges

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs pork shoulder cubes and sear them for 5-7 minutes until browned on all sides.
2. Step 2: Transfer the pork to a slow cooker. Add 1 large chopped onion and 5 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and sauté for 3 minutes until fragrant and softened, then add to the slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Pour 1 cup tomato sauce and 4 cups chicken broth into the slow cooker. Stir in 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
4. Step 4: Add 3 peeled and quartered medium potatoes and 3 medium carrots cut into 1-inch pieces into the slow cooker.
5. Step 5: Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4 hours until pork is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
6. Step 6: Stir in 0.25 cup chopped cilantro before serving.
7. Step 7: Serve hot with lime wedges to brighten the stew’s rich flavors.