Pork with Peanut Sauce
This recipe for Pork with Peanut Sauce is a tasty low-carb or Keto dinner that’s extra easy to make in the slow cooker. And I loved the leftovers from this pork served in lettuce wraps with the peanut sauce!
PIN Pork with Peanut Sauce to make it later.
I love recipes using peanut butter, especially if the recipe has a spicy Asian twist to it. This low-carb and Keto Pork with Peanut Sauce is a recipe I came up with when I had a pork sirloin roast I wanted to cook, I wanted a recipe I could make in the slow cooker, and I was craving peanut butter.
I enjoyed a couple of slices of the roast pork for dinner, and the next day I diced up some of the leftover meat and ate it inside lettuce leaves with the peanut sauce, and I thought it was great both ways. Now flash forward a few years, and I still love the recipe and decided to improve on the photos.
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- pork sirloin roast
- Penzey’s Pork Chop Seasoning (affiliate link), or any seasoning blend that’s good on pork
- Olive Oil (affiliate link)
- Minced Ginger (affiliate link)
- Minced Garlic (affiliate link)
- smooth natural peanut butter, I like Adams 100% Natural Peanut Butter (affiliate link)
- tomato sauce
- soy sauce or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (affiliate link)
- Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) or sweetener of your choice
- Chili Garlic Sauce (affiliate link)
- chicken stock or canned chicken broth (affiliate link)
What Slow Cooker did I use for the Pork with Peanut Sauce?
This time I cut the pork roast into some pieces to brown it, and cooked it in my Crock-Pot Casserole Crock Mini (affiliate link), a flatter, oval shaped slow cooker that gives a you more surface area so more of the meat is covered with sauce when it cooks. But you can make this in any smallish slow cooker you have and it will work beautifully.
What low-sugar peanut butter do I use?
I love Adams 100% Natural Peanut Butter (affiliate link) and that’s what I used for this recipe. Check out Keto Recipes with Peanut Butter to see lots more tasty things I’ve made with my favorite peanut butter!
Want more ideas for Peanut Sauce?
Check out Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Dinners with Peanut Sauce on my Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker site for more tasty dinner idea! You might also enjoy my recipe for Chicken with Peanut Sauce, which has a bit more Thai flavor going on than this recipe.
How to make Pork with Peanut Sauce in the slow cooker:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- I used one of those inexpensive pork sirloin tip roasts that come in a four-pack at Costco.
- Trim the roast if needed and cut into several pieces, cutting with the grain so you can cut slices against the grain when it’s cooked.
- Rub the meat with Penzey’s Pork Chop Seasoning (affiliate link) or any spices you like on pork and brown well on both sides.
- Put the browned pieces into the Crock-Pot Casserole Crock Mini or any 3-4 slow cooker.
- Combine Minced Ginger, Minced Garlic, peanut butter, tomato sauce, soy sauce, sweetener, and stock or broth to make the sauce. I buzzed it in the bowl attachment of my immersion blender (affiliate link).
- If you’d like, put the sauce in the pan you browned the meat in and cook for a few minutes, scraping any browned bits off the bottom. (You can skip that step completely if you prefer, but it does add flavor.)
- Pour sauce over the meat in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours, or until an Instant Read Meat Thermometer (affiliate link) shows the pork has reached at least 145F/65C. (The USDA lowered the safe cooking temperature for pork a few years ago.)
- Cut meat into slices against the grain and serve hot with some of the sauce spooned over, and with extra sauce to add at the table if desired.
More Tasty Dinners with Pork:
- Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce
- Green Chile Pork Taco Bowl
- Pork and Broccoli Stir-Fry with Ginger
Weekend Food Prep:
This recipe has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!
Pork with Peanut Sauce
A craving for peanut butter led to this recipe for Slow Cooker Pork with Peanut Sauce, and I loved the leftovers from this served in lettuce wraps!
Ingredients
- 3 lb. pork sirloin roast, fat trimmed
- 1 tsp. Penzey’s Pork Chop Seasoning, for seasoning the pork before it’s browned (or use any seasoning blend that’s good on pork)
- 2 tsp. olive oil
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 T minced fresh ginger (see notes)
- 1 T minced fresh garlic (see notes)
- 1/4 cup smooth natural peanut butter (see notes)
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 3 T soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce if needed)
- 3 T Golden Monkfruit Sweetener or sweetener of your choice
- 2 tsp. Chili Garlic Sauce (or more)
- 1/4 C chicken or vegetable stock
Instructions
- Trim any visible fat from the pork sirloin roast and cut with the grain into several pieces (so you can cut slices against the grain when the meat is done); then rub the roast on all sides with Penzey's Pork Chop Seasoning (affiliate link), or a seasoning mix of your choice that’s good on pork. (You could use just a blend of garlic powder, salt, and pepper if you don’t have anything else that will work.)
- Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan over high heat and brown the roast well on all sides. Put browned pieces of pork into the slow cooker.
- While the meat browns, in a food processor or the bowl attachment of an Immersion Blender (affiliate link), combine the minced ginger, minced garlic, peanut butter, and tomato sauce and process until the ingredients are well-combined.
- Add the soy sauce, Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) or sweetener of your choice, Chili Garlic Sauce (affiliate link) and chicken or vegetable stock and process again until everything is mixed.
- If you want to add flavor, put the mixed sauce into the frying pan and cook over low heat for a few minutes, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the frying pan. (You can skip that step if you prefer.)
- Pour sauce over the meat in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 2-3 hours, or until the roast is tender and internal reaches at least 145F. I would test it with an Instant Read Meat Thermometer (affiliate link).
- When it’s done, remove meat from the slow cooker and let it rest for a few minutes.
- If the sauce looks separated, whisk it for a minute to combine.
- Slice meat against the grain into slices about 1/2 inch thick and serve with sauce drizzled over.
Notes
I originally used a Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Slow Cooker (affiliate link) for this recipe. This time I made it in the Crock-Pot Casserole Crock Mini (affiliate link); any small slow cooker will work.
Minced garlic and ginger from a jar is fine for this recipe. Choose peanut butter with the least sugar, I like Adams 100% Natural Peanut Butter (affiliate link).
This recipe created by Kalyn.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 583Total Fat 27gSaturated Fat 8gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 209mgSodium 956mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 76g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
It’s important to use low-sugar peanut butter and an approved sweetener to make this Pork with Peanut Sauce if you want this recipe to be low-carb or Keto or approved for the original South Beach Diet.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Slow Cooker Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was posted in 2012. It was updated with better photos in 2017. The recipe was last updated with more information in 2023.
68 Comments on “Pork with Peanut Sauce”
I grew stevia this summer and dehydrated some. Not sure if this would go well. Anyone reading have any thoughts?
Sorry, I don’t really know much about the plant stevia.
Has anyone tried this with chicken? I eat very little pork.
I haven’t tried that. If you do I would brown the chicken (for flavor and to evaporate some of the water that gets released in the slow cooker.) And I’d guess the cooking time is a bit less for chicken. Love to hear how it works if you try it.
Please give us some good idea of sides for this dish (carb & veggie). I love peanut sauce, but I only had it with Vietnamese Summer Rolls, so I would have to imagine whatever goes into that would also compliment this dish.
Hi Kim. I have a hard time recommending side dishes, because people like such different things and there’s no way for me to know what someone else will like.
But I’d enjoy this with Spicy Cilantro Peanut Slaw and maybe something like Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Mushrooms.
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Can you not use the sauce in the instapot like you do in the crockpot?
You can try it, but I am doubtful that a sauce like this will hold up in the pressure cooker. I’m thinking it will separate. If you try it, I’d love to hear how it works.
Your weekend prep recipes seem to be missing the piece about what you prepped on the weekend. Like this recipe. Did you do just the dry rub or did you put the pork in a marinade? Did you do all the cooking so you just warm it up? It seems to me that weekend prep would include as much attention as slow cooker and pressure cooker.
I am thinking you didn’t see the post that announced the Weekend Food Prep category? From that post, “What you’ll find in the Weekend Food Prep category are recipes that you can cook or prep on the weekend and then reheat and eat or assemble and eat during the week.”
Weekend Food Prep on my site includes recipes you cook on the weekend that make enough servings you can eat it again one of two times during the week. It also includes things like salads where you chop it up on the weekend and eat some, but keep some to eat later during the week. I don’t have recipes that you prep ahead and cook later. Sorry if that was not clear.
This recipe is fantastic. It is simple and very flavorful. We ate this with rice and broccoli for dinner (4 meals total) and one large lunch, just adding half a bag of Trader Joe’s frozen mixed vegetables to the meat.
And thank you for turning me on to the pork roasts at Costco! Can’t wait to try your other recipes using them.
Thanks Laura, so glad you enjoyed it!
This was delicious! My husband and I just started SB and are on phase 1. This definitely broke up our mononity! I will be trying a lot more of your receipes.
Thanks Jen! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
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This recipe is amazing. I mean, like lick the plate good. The only change I made was to up the peanut butter from 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup (we love peanut butter). I used Monkfruit sweetener and my own spice rub for the pork. I will be making this again (and again).
So glad you liked it. And more peanut butter is always fine with me!
Makes me crazy when companies change their websites like that, sorry I didn't notice it! I buy either Huy Fong Chili Garlic Paste (which is widely available even in grocery stores or this one that I wrote about on the blog. I think they're quite similar but the Huy Fong might be slightly hotter. Hope that helps. Will make the link go to Amazon for people who can't find it in their store.
Kalyn,
I can't wait to try this in my Insta Pot. The pork recipe you referenced called for adding 1 1/2 cup liquid after browning the roast. I noticed in this version you add the peanut sauce at the end. So should I use the water, apple juice while the meat cooks?
Thanks!! Marsha
Yes, you'll need to use that liquid in the pressure cooker, then discard it. Then cook the sauce for a few minutes while you slice the meat. I'd probably heat the meat in the sauce for a few minutes too, but you might not need to if it stays hot.
Would a 4 lb pork shoulder roast work with this recipe?
Yes, I think that will work just fine without any changes. I had plenty of sauce as you can see.
It was delicious with the 4 lb pork shoulder roast, but alas, the sauce was not as much as I would have liked. I made a double recipe to keep in freezer for future. Used it to make IP Country Style Ribs. wonderful!!!
Suzie, so glad you enjoyed it! Good idea to make extra sauce!
This sounds yummy! I smiled when I read "four pack from Costco" in my head I went "score!!!" I can't wait to try this.
Yaay! So glad I am speaking a language that people can understand!
I love all the ingredients in this. Looks wonderful!
Thanks Amy, so glad you like it. This is one of my favorites!
Kalyn, thank you for your recipes and love! I only have a large crock pot. Would you recommend using that for this recipe or switching to a smaller roasting pan in the oven? Thank you
If you only have a large slow cooker I worry that the sauce might burn, so maybe a pan in the oven would be best. Or you could cook in a pan INSIDE the slow cooker; have you seen that technique? Another option would be to cook two pork roasts and freeze some. Glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Scott, so glad you liked it!
This was amazing. I tasted the sauce before putting it on the pork, and nearly just ate that. Wow. I'm going to try this on chicken, lamb, veggies…. Kalyn, you've a gift for sauces, and this one is superb. Thanks for sharing!
Emily if you try that I would love to hear how it turns out!
Another big fan here – had it with roasted broccoli and soba noodles. I think we might try it without browning the pork next time – just go straight from the freezer to the crock pot, for a longer cooking time of course.
Made this last night, and it was sooooo good!! Even tastier leftovers for lunch today! I served it with a rice medley, and steamed cauliflower that I tossed with a little butter and some Turmeric. Oh my, this is a new favorite at my house!! I plan to use the sauce on veggies, and even baked stuffed potatoes!
I love the idea of eating this over broccoli slaw! So glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Kalyn, I made this on Sunday night and it was excellent. I really love using the crockpot this way. I cannot stand the taste of most crockpot recipes that cook all day. I served it over cooked broccoli slaw. The sauce had the perfect amount of spice. Will make again and again.
Stacey, so glad you enjoyed it.
Loved this! I reheated the leftover a few days later and had some fresh yellow squash from the garden I decided to saute as a side for it. As I was getting the squash and onions in the pan, I decided to add the left over peanut sauce (about a fourth of a cup) and it turned out amazing!
This was excellent. A definite keeper in my house, thank you. The sauce is so easy!
Oh, yes, I was using packets! I had no idea there was a difference. Thank you again. 🙂
It is 3T if you use the granulated Stevia I mention in the recipe. It sounds like you might be using packets which are much sweeter.
I have to ask if you really mean 3 TABLESPOONS of the sugar/sweetener? When I look at my packets of stevia the equivalent sugar is so high. It's something like 2 teaspoons of sugar per pack. Stevia is so overtly sweet, I typically use half a pack.
I made this recipe yesterday and I did enjoy it. I only put in 1 T of stevia – I am thinking next time I will use actual sugar or leave it out all together because I thought the sauce had an aftertaste.
Just my two cents. I love your site!!!
Today is day 1, phase 1 and this dinner was AMAZING and we had leftovers to look forward to tomorrow. I'm going to make the sauce again and make peanut butter chicken with veggies. Your blog is a fabulous tool for me to kick start this journey. Thanks!!!
No, the cooking time will be longer but not double. I don't know exactly how much longer, but I'd guess at least an hour more.
Can't wait to try this tomorrow! I have a 5-6lb pork roast though (not sirloin)….should I double the cooking time? I made the peanut sauce today and literally took a spatula so I could lick every last drop out of the bowl – so yummy!
Kristen, love that idea of using the leftovers in a wrap! I love to hear when people are enjoying the recipes, thanks!
Made this last night with the nappa slaw and my husband and I loved both! Looking forward to maybe combining them in a wrap as leftovers. Your recipes are always so tasty and easy to make. I can't tell you how much joy you've brought to my kitchen 🙂 Thank you!!
This was incredibly easy and beyond fantastic! Thanks for giving us another go-to recipe, Kalyn.
I adore peanut sauce – loving this!! (but I have to admit that I really love a good pb & honey sandwich!)
I’ve already made it twice in January. This is so delicious. We could eat the sauce with a spoon. Thank you Kalyn!
This pork was incredible. Thanks again for another great recipe.
Kristen, yes cook on low for 2-3 hours is correct. All slow cookers are different, so I'd use a meat thermometer if you have one.
I can't wait to try this! Looks amazing. Just wanted to confirm the setting is low for 2-3 hours? I have a tendency to undercook but wouldn't want to ruin this. Thanks!
That pork looks divine! I'll have to try that recipe!
Meghan, love how you adapted it. I'm thinking you could even turn it into a stew with onions and green peppers. Might have to try that.
Made this last night and OH EM GEE is it good!!!
I changed it up a TOUCH by cubing then browning the pork, I used sunbutter instead of peanut butter and honey instead of splenda (and only 1T – we're doing paleo, so trying not to do too much sweets and no legumes) and adding a dash of fish sauce to it.
Oh my goodness, this is going to be a STAPLE in our home. We had it with shredded cabbage and some coconut-oil sauteed broccoli and that sauce on the broccoli is heaven.
I just ate some for breakfast. It's that good.
Oh fabulous! I bet it was nice and moist too =D
Bryan and YiRan, thanks!
Becky, me too. Peanut soup sounds good.
Donna, I do think we are culinary soulmates. Peanut sauce would be good on anything!
Oh. My. Gosh. You are my culinary soul mate, Kalyn. I never liked PB&J, either! But peanut sauce – now that's a different story entirely. Yours looks Yum.
This looks super tasty! I just heard a podcast about peanut soup that I'm dying to try. I'm a sucker for anything with peanut flavor.
Wow that looks realy good!
Thanks Barbara. This will fix that peanut butter craving!
Joanne, me too. I like it in most anything.
If I had my way, I would eat peanut sauce at LEAST once a day. This sounds delicious!
Great recipe Kalyn. I've been craving peanut butter recently.