This keto-friendly pulled pork stew is a hearty and satisfying dish that's perfect for chilly days. It's a delicious twist on the classic beef stew, replacing traditional beef with tender, shredded pork and incorporating white wine for a unique flavor profile. Packed with an abundance of low-carb vegetables, this stew is not only satisfying but also a nutritious option for your dinner table. This recipe gets top marks both for flavor and for simplicity. With minimal prep time, you simply pop everything into the pot, turn it on, walk away, and it practically cooks itself!
Why This Recipe Works
This hearty pork stew features shredded meat, which cuts down on prep time and distributes the meat throughout the entire dish. It still features a rich broth and chunks of delicious low carb vegetables, making it perfect one-pot comfort food!
Different Cooking Methods
I’ve made it my slow cooker, I’ve made in my Instant Pot, and I’ve made it on the stove.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Cooked Pork Shoulder sliced (Recipe Here)
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 2 tsp. Chili Powder
- 2 tsp. Cumin
- 1 tsp. Minced Garlic
- ½ tsp. Salt
- ½ tsp. Pepper
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- 1 tsp. Oregano
- ¼ tsp. Cinnamon
- 2 Bay Leafs
- 6 oz.
Nutritional Information
This makes a total of 4 servings. Each serving comes out to be 386 Calories, 28.9g Fats, 6.4g Net Carbs, and 19.9g Protein.
Choosing Your Pork
Boneless pork chops, country pork ribs, pork loin, and pork butt all make good cuts for this easy pork stew recipe. If you are using larger pieces like loins or roasts, cut them into smaller 2 inch pieces for faster cooking.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Boneless pork chops: These cook quickly and shred easily.
- Other cuts: You can use other cuts here, including roasts, but it is recommended cutting them down to size so they cook through faster.
When you cut up the roast, make sure to keep that luscious marbling in there! I don't mean keep a big ol' hunk o' fat.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- Turnip: This is my favorite potato replacement in all sorts of keto soups and stews.
- Diced tomatoes: A can of diced tomatoes adds to the Southwestern flair of this recipe.
- Chicken broth: How much broth you need depends on what method of cooking you choose.
- Spices: I added chili powder, cumin, and a touch of cayenne. It’s not enough to make the stew spicy but it tastes fabulous!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Instant Pot Pork Stew
Here's a basic breakdown of the steps involved in making Low-Carb Instant Pot Pork Stew:
- Pat the pork dry and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in the Instant Pot on saute.
- Place 1/3 of the pork in the Instant Pot on the sear setting.
- Let the pork sear on all sides until no pink shows.
- Remove meat with a slotted spoon and place a bowl.
- Repeat with another 1/3 of the pork (add more oil if needed), and then the final 1/3
- Return all of the pork to the pot, add the remaining ingredients except for the xanthan gum and parsley.
- Stir to combine.
- Close the lid and steam valve on the Instant Pot.
- Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before doing a quick release.
- Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf.
- Set the Instant Pot to saute and whisk in the xanthan gum.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Chop pork and add to slow cooker along with mushrooms, bone broth, chicken broth, and coffee.
- Add spices and other vegetables (with oil) to the slow cooker.
- Mix together.
Combine all ingredients in a large 5 or 6 quart slow cooker. Stir to mix well. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. When cooking is complete, remove the pork to a plate and shred with two forks. Add the pork back into the pot and stir to combine. Season with additional salt, pepper, and chili powder as desired. Serve with a wedge of lime and chopped cilantro.
Instant Pot Method
Reduce the broth to 2 cups. Place all of the ingredients except for the lime and cilantro in an Instant Pot and stir to combine. Seal the lid and set to the stew function for 35 minutes. Proceed as directed.
Stovetop Method
Place all of the ingredients except for the lime and cilantro in a 5 to 8 quart Dutch oven over medium high heat. Stir to combine. Once the liquid comes to a strong simmer, reduce the heat to medium low. Cook 3 to 4 hours, until the pork can be easily shredded.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Thickening the Stew
The xanthan gum is used as a thickener like most regular stew recipes would use a corn starch slurry to thicken them. If you would prefer to not use the xanthan gum you could omit it, just know the end result would be more of a thin broth vs a stew.
Tips for the Perfect Pork Stew
- Cut the vegetables into 1 inch pieces. You don’t want them too small as they get very soft during cooking.
- If you prefer them firmer, consider adding them halfway through the cooking process.
- If you use boneless pork chops, there is no need to cut the meat any smaller. It will cook through and shred easily in the allotted time.
- Larger cuts like a shoulder roast should be cut down into more manageable chunks of about 2 inches across.
Troubleshooting
Why is my stew meat tough?
Stew takes tougher cuts of meat because the long, slow braising method breaks down the tough fibers. If your meat is tough, it usually means you didn’t cook the stew long enough. It’s also important not to let your stew come to a boil as boiling can toughen the meat.
Flavor Variations
- Spicy: The chili powder and cumin add flavor but the stew is quite mild. If you don’t like a lot of heat, skip the cayenne. Alternatively, if you want a bit more of a kick, double the cayenne or add 2 teaspoons of chipotle powder.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a wedge of lime and chopped cilantro.
Storage Information
Store this stew in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can you freeze pork stew?
You can freeze this keto stew but do note that the vegetables will soften even more in the freezing and thawing process.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
Other Keto Stew and Soup Recipes to Try
If you are looking for more stew recipes give this Creamy Low Carb Turkey (or Chicken) Stew, Keto Instant Pot Beef Stew, or this Low Carb Oyster Stew a try. Looking for some tasty soups?
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. Erythritol carbs will not be included as it has a glycemic index of 0 (meaning it does not spike blood sugar) and it’s not metabolized. Do your best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them.