When the summer heat settles in and nobody wants to stand over a stove, a slow cooker supper like this old-fashioned pork dish feels like good sense in its finest form. Pork cushion meat cooks up tender and savory with just a handful of pantry staples, making a hearty meal that tastes like it took far more fuss than it truly did. This is the kind of practical country cooking many of us grew up on, where a budget-friendly cut and a little patience turned into something comforting enough to gather everybody around the table.
Serve this tender pork over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or fluffy white rice to catch every bit of the rich cooking juices. A side of green beans, sweet corn, cucumber salad, or simple coleslaw balances the meal nicely, and warm biscuits or a slice of sandwich bread fit right in for sopping up the gravy-like sauce.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Dog Days Feast
Servings: 6
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds raw pork cushion meat
1 packet dry onion soup mix, about 1 ounce
1 can cream of mushroom soup, 10.5 ounces
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Directions
1. Place the raw pork cushion meat in the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the dry onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
3. Pour the soup mixture over the pork, cover, and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours, until the meat is very tender.
4. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes, then slice or shred as desired. Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid if needed.
5. Return the sliced or shredded pork to the slow cooker juices or serve it on a platter with the sauce spooned over the top.
Variations & Tips
Make It Extra Oniony: If your family loves deep onion flavor, add a sliced onion under the pork before cooking. It is a simple stretch from the original and gives the sauce a little more body and sweetness by supper time.
For Richer Gravy: After the pork is done, pour the cooking liquid into a saucepan and simmer it for a few minutes to thicken, or whisk in a small cornstarch slurry if you like a true gravy consistency. This is especially nice when serving over potatoes or noodles.
Shredded Sandwich Style: Instead of slicing the pork, shred it and pile it onto soft sandwich buns. A spoonful of the cooking juices over the meat keeps everything moist and makes an easy next-day meal.
Watch the Salt: Onion soup mix, canned soup, and broth can all bring plenty of seasoning, so taste the sauce before adding any extra salt. A little black pepper at the table is often all this dish needs.
Best Slow Cooker Fit: A 5- to 7-quart slow cooker works well for a pork cushion roast this size. If your piece of meat is especially large, trim it into two chunks so it cooks more evenly and settles down into the sauce.