This slow cooker sweet and sour pork takes a tasty Chinese takeout dish and turns it into a delicious dinner at home that will make your home smell amazing! Chunks of tender pork with pineapple and bell pepper all in a sweet and savory sauce that will have you licking your lips.

Two bowls of rice topped with sweet and sour pork, pineapple and peppers.

*This is a sponsored post in partnership with the Utah Pork Producers Association. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Table of Contents

Why We Love Crockpot Sweet And Sour Pork

Better Than Takeout – Skip the takeout and go for this version that packs all the flavor, plus any leftovers stay tender and delicious. I love doing this stir-fried version instead of a breaded fried version. Pork chops can be really lean and have so much protein, about 24 grams per 3 ounce serving. Then we get the taste we love, in a dish my family wants to eat!
Support USA Utah Small Farmers – Buying pork supports small farmers in Utah and farmers across the country in any grocery store.
Great Family Meal – The pineapple flavor makes a sweet pork that will have your whole family excited to come to the table. My daughter especially really enjoyed this meal, and claimed the leftovers as hers alone!
Cook This Recipe While You Are Gone! – Use a slow cooker with a programming setting to switch it to warm when it’s done cooking. This recipe holds up to staying warm so when you come home after a long day, dinner is almost ready.

Love using your crock pot? Try the slow cooker pork loin or Pineapple pork loin in the slow cooker for more great dinner ideas using lean pork. Also the crock pot Dr. Pepper pork ribs come out so tender every time!

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Sweet And Sour Pork

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.

boneless pork chops trimmed, cubed in one inch pieces
bell peppers chopped in one inch pieces, one red one green
sweet onion chopped in one inch pieces
pineapple chunks – juice used also, canned
brown sugar
apple cider vinegar – you can also use rice vinegar
low sodium soy sauce
ketchup
garlic minced
ground ginger
pepper
cornstarch

How To Make Sweet And Sour Pork

Chop the peppers and onions into large one-inch chunks. Slice the pork chops into about 1 inch cubes, trimming them as needed. Spray the base of the slow cooker with cooking oil lightly, then place the pork chops, peppers and onions in the slow cooker.

Two raw pork chops placed on a cutting board with the fat being trimmed with a knife.

Raw boneless pork chops being sliced on a cutting board into cubes with a knife.

Drain the pineapple juice from the pineapple and set the pineapple juice to the side. Add the pineapple to the slow cooker.
In a small mixing bowl add brown sugar, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger and pepper. Mix the sauce well then pour the sauce over the pork in the slow cooker. Stir until the pork pieces and vegetables are evenly coated in the sauce.

A clear glass bowl with ingredients being mixed to make a sweet and sour sauce.

A white oval dish slow cooker filled with raw boneless pork chop pieces, chopped peppers, onions and pineapple mixed together.

Cook on low heat for 4 hours, or until the pork is tender and registers at least 145 degrees when checked with a meat thermometer.
Flip the slow cooker to high heat. In a small bowl mix together the cornstarch with 6 tablespoons of water and stir until dissolved. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the slow cooker, then cover and let it cook for another 20-25 minutes to thicken. Serve with steamed rice and enjoy!

A slow cooker filled with sweet and sour pork and vegetables with a bowl of rice and a bowl with a fork nearby.

Can I Swap In Other Cuts Of Pork For The Boneless Pork Chops Like Pork Loin?

Yes you can swap in some other cuts of pork. Bone in pork chops can be used, but you’ll need to cut the pork off the bone as you cut the pork into pieces.

Boneless pork loin can also be swapped into this recipe easily. The pork can sometimes shred a little more than when using pork chops. Pork tenderloin can be used also, but will absolutely shred.

A spoonful of sweet and sour pork mixed with pineapple and peppers being lifted from a slow cooker.

What To Serve With Sweet And Sour Pork

Steamed white rice or brown rice, or noodles like lo mein, ramen or rice noodles are my go to choices to serve with sweet and sour pork. You’ll almost always find rice or noodles on our table with this dish. I prefer the pork on a bed of rice, but I use noodles when I need to get dinner on the table fast.

Egg Ffried rice is another great option that is fast. I like to do this when I have leftover rice from the night before or earlier in the week.

You can also add more appetizers easily at home like sauteed sesame green beans with a little soy sauce. Steamed edamame is another great choice, I’ll often buy it frozen to throw on the side. Sometimes I’ll even make air fryer spring rolls (or heat up frozen spring rolls) or add ground pork lettuce wraps.

Can I Use Frozen Or Fresh Pineapple In This Recipe?

You can use frozen or fresh pineapple in this recipe, but you’ll also need to add about 1/2 cup of pineapple juice to the slow cooker. Canned pineapples comes packed in pineapple juice while frozen and fresh pineapple won’t have nearly the amount of juice. You can also use orange juice in a pinch if you don’t have pineapple, though the flavor will change a little.

Can I Cook This Sweet And Sour Pork Recipe On High Temperature In My Crock Pot?

You can cook the pork on high and it does cook much quicker. The pork is usually done at about two hours when cooked in a six-quart slow cooker. You can check the doneness of the pork by using a meat thermometer to check the pork’s temperature, it should register at least 145 degrees when safe to eat.

Why Isn’t the Sauce Red Like Is Served In Chinese Resturants?

Often the sweet and sour sauce in Chinese restaurants or even sold in a bottle is a bright red color. The coloring comes from food coloring and doesn’t really affect the overall taste of the recipe.

You are welcome to add a little red food coloring to the sauce if it will make it more appealing to your family. I recommend adding food coloring to the water you mix in with the cornstarch to thicken the sauce, and then adding it to the crockpot towards the end.