When I need a low-effort dinner that still feels like something special, a slow cooker pork collar is one of my favorite tricks. Pork collar has plenty of marbling, so it turns incredibly tender after a long, gentle cook, and with just a handful of ingredients you get a rich, hearty meal that tastes like you worked on it all day. It is especially nice for a casual Independence Eve dinner when the day is busy and you want comfort food waiting for you by dinnertime.
Serve this pork with mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or fluffy rice to soak up the savory juices. If you want to keep things simple, add a crisp green salad, roasted corn, or steamed green beans on the side for some freshness. For a holiday-style spread, soft dinner rolls and a chilled glass of iced tea or lemonade fit right in.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Independence Eve Pork Collar Dinner
Servings: 6
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds raw pork collar
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray if desired. Place the raw pork collar in the bottom of the slow cooker and scatter the diced onion and bell peppers around it.
2. Sprinkle the salt evenly over the pork and vegetables, then pour the barbecue sauce over the top, letting some run down around the sides.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours, until the pork is very tender and easy to pull apart with a fork.
4. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and slice or shred it into large pieces. Spoon some of the cooking juices and vegetables over the meat before serving.
Variations & Tips
Make it smokier: Use a smoky barbecue sauce or add a pinch of smoked paprika if you do not mind stretching past the five-ingredient concept a bit. That small change gives the pork a cookout-style flavor without any grilling.
Add a sweeter finish: If your family likes a sweet-savory balance, use one or two of the bell peppers in red or orange and choose a honey-style barbecue sauce. The vegetables soften down and add a really nice sweetness as they cook.
Prep ahead: Dice the onion and peppers the night before and keep them refrigerated in a container. In the morning, all you have to do is load the slow cooker, which is a lifesaver on busy workdays.
Best serving tip: Pork collar is rich, so it is best served with something that catches the juices, like mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles. If the sauce seems thin at the end, let the pork rest for a few minutes and spoon the thicker juices from the cooker over the top.
