Easy Ground Pork Slow Cooker Casserole Recipe

Serve the ultimate comfort food with my Easy Ground Pork Slow Cooker Casserole Recipe. Perfectly seasoned ground pork, tender rice and vegetables, and cheesy sauce, all slow-cooked to perfection. A hearty and hassle-free meal your entire family will love.

Readers crave my Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole with sausage just as much!

I love eating this ground pork and rice casserole made in my trusty crock pot on busy weeknights. The best part is that it combines all my favorites—convenience and incredible flavors, with a comforting, hearty meal. My son thinks it's one of the best recipes around!

The slow cooking process also helps create a tender and flavorful dish our whole family finds irresistible. Just like my meaty, pasta-filled Crock Pot Pizza Casserole and Slow Cooked Ground Beef and Pasta Casserole.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Casserole
• Ingredient Notes
• Substitutions
• Step-By-Step Instructions
• Expert Tips
• Good Side Dishes
• Storing
• Recipe FAQs
• More Slow Cooker Recipes (Family Favorites)
• Printable Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Casserole

• EASY RECIPE: Once the pork and onions brown, throw everything in the slow cooker and let it do. Add some cheese at the end, and dinner is done! It’s a hearty option for busy weeknights.
• FAMILY-FRIENDLY: This simple yet comforting recipe has a mild but rich flavor and is covered in gooey melted cheese, so it pleases everyone in the family.
• LEFTOVERS: Casseroles made in a slow cooker typically yield plenty of leftovers, making this recipe a practical choice for meal planning, which saves time on future meals.

Substitutions

• Meat: You can swap the ground pork for lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground Italian sausage, or ground turkey. They all have great flavor.
• Broth: In a pinch, use chicken or vegetable broth. However, I find the intensity of flavor may decrease.
• Vegetables: The vegetables used in the casserole can vary based on what you have or prefer. Red peppers, carrots, peas, corn, spinach, green beans, and zucchini are all good options. For convenience, you can also consider using frozen mixed vegetables.
• Cheese: You can swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt and use other shredded cheese, like Parmesan cheese, Monterey jack, or pepper jack.
• Seasonings and Spices: Adjust the seasonings and spices to match your taste. You can experiment with different herbs, spices, and seasoning blends. For example, try using Italian seasoning or Cajun seasoning, or spice it up with cayenne pepper or hot sauce. You can substitute garlic powder if you don't have fresh garlic.

RITIKA'S TIP: Good garnishes to brighten the flavor of this delicious casserole are fresh parsley, green onions, or fresh cilantro. 

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Prep: Chop veggies and mince the garlic.
2. Brown the Ground Pork: In a large skillet with olive oil, brown the ground pork with the chopped onion over medium heat until it's no longer pink (about 5 minutes), breaking the meat up as you go (Image 1). Drain any excess fat.
3. Combine Ingredients: Mix together the cooked ground pork and onion, rice, tomato paste, diced tomatoes (with the juices), minced garlic, diced carrots, and beef broth in the slow cooker. Make sure the rice is completely submerged in the liquid. 
4. Add Seasonings: Sprinkle the dried oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaf (Image 2). Mix to distribute the seasonings.
5. Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for about 4-6 hours (or HIGH for 3-4 hours), or until the rice and veggies are tender and the flavors have blended together.
6. Cheese: About 15 minutes before serving, mix softened cream cheese and sour cream with a fork. Stir the cream cheese mixture into the meat and sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the casserole (Image 3). Cover the slow cooker again and let the cheese melt.
7. Serve: Once the rice is cooked and any cheese has melted, serve the ground pork and rice casserole hot. Garnish with fresh herbs or green onions if desired.

Expert Tips

• Use the Right Rice: Long-grain white rice is the best choice, but other varieties like jasmine or basmati can be used. We have not tried this recipe with brown rice as it tends to need longer to cook.
• Season Well: Season your dish with the spices, salt, and pepper to taste. Slow cooking can sometimes dull flavors, so don't be shy with seasonings. Taste and adjust as needed before serving.
• Cooking Time: Be cautious not to overcook the casserole. Overcooking can lead to mushy rice and dry meat. All slow cookers cook differently, so watching it the first time you make the recipe is helpful so you can adjust accordingly. 

Good Side Dishes

What can you serve with your Pork Casserole Recipe? Our favorites are roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, or steamed broccoli. A green salad or fresh fruit is excellent, as is garlic bread. 

Storing

REFRIGERATOR: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. 

FREEZER: Store your cooked and cooled pork casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. 

This slow-cooker ground pork casserole with rice is a hearty and flavorful meal that's easy to prepare. You can customize it by adding your favorite vegetables or spices. Enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

More Slow Cooker Recipes (Family Favorites)

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Printable Recipe