Pork and apple are one of those combinations that just works, especially when everything can be added to the slow cooker and left to gently cook away for the day. The apples soften into the sauce, the onions add plenty of flavour, and the pork becomes beautifully tender.

This Tender Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole is a lovely option for the cooler months when you want something warm and filling without spending too much time in the kitchen. There’s no need to brown the pork first, and the ingredients are all simple things you can easily keep on hand.

I like serving this with creamy mashed potatoes and a couple of vegetables on the side. The sauce is thickened right at the end, giving you plenty of rich gravy to spoon over everything.

Watch the Video

If you’d like to see exactly how I make this Tender Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole, you can watch the full recipe video over on my YouTube channel.

It’s a simple slow cooker dinner that takes very little hands-on time, making it a great one to get started earlier in the day and have ready for dinner that evening.

Watch: Tender Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole

Other Recipes You May Like

If you’re looking for more easy family dinners, you might also enjoy:

• Slow Cooker Curried Sausages
• Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
• Slow Cooker Tender Beef Rissoles
• Beef Cottage Pie
• Our Favourite Meatloaf

Recipe Card

Tender Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole

Serves: 4–5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6–8 hours on Low or 4–6 hours on High

Ingredients

• 4–5 pork chops
• 3 apples, sliced, skin left on
• 2 onions, sliced
• 1½ cups water
• 2 Tbsp tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• ½ tsp dried sage
• 2 Tbsp chicken stock powder

To Thicken

• ¾ cup cold water
• 4 Tbsp cornflour

Method

1. Add the sliced apples and onions on the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place the pork chops on top of the apples and onions.
3. In a jug, combine the 1½ cups water, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, dried sage and chicken stock powder. Stir well.
4. Pour the sauce mixture over the pork, apples and onions.
5. Cover and cook on Low for 6–8 hours or High for 4–6 hours, until the pork is tender and beginning to fall apart.
6. Towards the end of the cooking time, combine the ¾ cup cold water and cornflour until completely smooth.
7. Stir the cornflour mixture into the slow cooker. Replace the lid and continue cooking until the sauce has thickened.
8. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, then serve hot.

What to Serve With

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Roast potatoes
• Steamed green beans
• Peas
• Broccoli
• Roasted carrots
• Buttered cabbage
• Crusty homemade bread for soaking up the gravy

Stacey’s Kitchen Tips

• You don’t need to peel the apples. Leaving the skin on saves time and helps the slices hold together a little better while they cook.
• Use cold water when mixing the corn flour slurry so it blends smoothly without lumps.
• Different pork chops can vary in thickness, so use the cooking time as a guide. You’re looking for tender pork that easily pulls apart.
• Taste the sauce before adding any extra salt, as the chicken stock powder and Worcestershire sauce already provide plenty of seasoning.
• If the sauce is thick enough for your liking at the end of cooking, you don’t have to use all of the corn flour mixture.

Variations & Substitutions

• Pork: Boneless or bone-in pork chops can both be used. Adjust the cooking time if necessary, depending on their thickness.
• Apples: Use whatever apples you have available. A firmer apple will hold its shape better, while softer apples will cook down further into the sauce.
• Sage: If you don’t have dried sage, dried thyme would also work nicely with the pork and apple.
• Extra vegetables: Add sliced carrots to make the casserole stretch a little further.
• Sweeter sauce: If your apples are particularly tart, you can add a small spoonful of brown sugar to balance the flavours.

Storage, Freezer & Make-Ahead Notes

Allow any leftovers to cool before transferring them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently until piping hot.

This casserole can also be frozen. Once completely cooled, portion the pork and sauce into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

You can prepare the onions and apples ahead of time, although I recommend slicing the apples shortly before adding them to the slow cooker to prevent them from browning.

Final Thoughts

Slow cooker dinners like this are especially handy on those days when you know the late afternoon is going to be busy. Everything can be put together earlier in the day, and by dinnertime you’ve got tender pork and a lovely thick sauce ready to serve.

The apples are what make this casserole a little different. As they cook, they soften and bring a subtle sweetness that works so well with the savoury pork, sage and Worcestershire sauce without making the finished dish taste overly sweet.

Add a generous helping of mashed potatoes and some vegetables and you’ve got a simple, hearty family dinner with very little fuss.

Stacey