There are days I need a dinner that’s budget-friendly, quick to throw together, and sure to be a hit with the kids. And when I’m facing one of those days, I turn to this Southwest Pork Chili recipe.
A delicious twist on traditional chili, this hearty main dish has it all. It’s packed with vegetables, has amazing flavour, and cooks in just 25 minutes in an Instant Pot or a couple of hours in a slow cooker.
My favourite thing about this ground pork chili is its sweet and smoky flavour, created thanks to the addition of brown sugar and chipotle chili powder along with the more standard chili seasonings. The combination of spices is the perfect compliment to the tender ground pork.
In addition to the pork and seasonings, the chili gets its flavour from a blend of onion, garlic, carrot, celery, black beans, corn, and tomato sauce. Red pepper and cilantro are mixed in at the end to round out the dish.
I’ve included instructions for the slow cooker, Instant Pot, and stovetop, so no matter which method you prefer, you can give it a try. And once this slow cooker pork chili has simmered to perfection, it’s time to dish it into bowls and add the toppings!
Personally, I think diced avocado and fresh cilantro are a must on top of a slow cooker ground pork chili. Sometimes, I’ll also add a dollop of sour cream.
My boys, on the other hand, prefer adding grated cheddar cheese and a few crumbled tortilla chips for crunch. And my husband swears that there’s no better addition to this southwest chili than a few dashes of Tabasco sauce!
Looking for other quick and easy slow cooker recipes? This Slow Cooker Taco Casserole is a fun twist on traditional tacos, without all the work!
Or, try this Instant Pot White Chicken Chili for another quick and easy twist on classic chili. Just make sure to give this one a try first; it may just become your new favourite chili!
Southwest Pork Chili Recipe
This quick and easy ground pork chili can be made in the slow cooker, Instant Pot or stovetop. Packed with veggies, it's a hearty and healthy meal on a busy day!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground pork
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
- 1 can (14 oz. / 398 ml) tomato sauce
- 1 can (19 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen or canned corn kernels
- 2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced avocado, cilantro and/or crushed tortilla chips, for topping
Instructions
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Set slow cooker to sauté setting.
- Add ground pork, onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Stir until pork is cooked and vegetables are softened.
- Add spices, tomato sauce, black beans, corn, chicken broth and brown sugar.
- Cook for three to four hours on High setting or 6 to 8 hours on low setting, until bubbling.
- Stir in red pepper, cilantro and lime juice. Cook for additional 20 minutes.
- Serve with favourite toppings!
Instant Pot Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to sauté setting.
- Add ground pork, onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Stir until pork is cooked and vegetables are softened.
- Add spices, tomato sauce, black beans, corn, chicken broth and brown sugar.
- Set Instant Pot to High Pressure for 20 minutes.
- Return Instant Pot to sauté setting, add red pepper and cilantro, and simmer for 5-10 minutes until pepper is tender.
- Serve with favourite toppings!
Stovetop Instructions
- In large pot, combine ground pork, onion, celery, carrot and garlic.
- Stir over medium-high heat until meat is cooked and vegetables are softened.
- Add spices, tomato sauce, black beans, corn, chicken broth and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chili is thickened and vegetables are tender, adding red pepper and cilantro in the final ten minutes of cooking.
- Serve with favourite toppings!
Notes
If your slow cooker doesn't have a sauté setting, brown meat and vegetables in a skillet on the stove, then add to slow cooker with other ingredients.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 439Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 761mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 10gSugar: 19gProtein: 33g
thats looks delicious, we been using ground pork lately instead of beef and find the flavor is so much better and healthier, going to have to try this recipe
I completely agree with your thoughts on ground pork; it’s such a tasty alternative to ground beef for so many reasons! :) Please let me know how you like the chili if you do give it a try!