I am trying to use up apples every day so I can work through the boxes and boxes of apples I got from my sisters tree. I cannot continue to eat apple cakes and caramel apples to use up the apples if I want to be able to wear my jeans for much longer, so it was time to use up some apples in a savory dish. Who doesn’t love apples for dinner? When I think of using apples in a savory dish, I instantly think of pork and apples!

The classic pork and apples combo is pork chops and applesauce. I love pork chops with applesauce, but I needed a dish that I could set up in the morning and forgot about. I love using my slow cooker for easier dinner time. I don’t use it as much as I should, but this week has been crazy with PTA events and I knew I wouldn’t be home until 6:30pm, no time to cook a normal dinner before kids got crazy, so I turned to my slow cooker.

This slow cooker pork was perfect for our quick dinner. I love the sweet and tangy pork with the apples. I added the sautéed apples to to the top to add another layer of texture, slightly crisp but warm and delicious.

Then you put all that goodness on top of a bowl of rice and chopped romaine lettuce. I love the addition of romaine lettuce to the rice bowl. It adds a crisp texture to your rice bowl. So good! You could also do this with shredded cabbage, it would pair beautifully with the tangy pork. These rice bowls are the perfect for having dinner while curling up with a good book.

Making these pork and apples rice bowls couldn’t be easier. Start by mixing together 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper. Rub it on a 2 lb pork roast then place it into your slow cooker.

Slice 1/2 of a medium onion into thin slices and throw it on top of the pork roast in the slow cooker.

In a small bowl, mix together 1 cup applesauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 apple cider vinegar and 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the top of the pork and onions. Cook on low for 8-9 hours.

When the pork is done, remove it from the slow cooker, then skim the fat off the top of the sauce. Shred the pork then stir it into the sauce.

In a small sauté pan, heat 1 Tbsp butter then add in 2 large apples chopped and sauté until slightly soft.

Fill your bowl with romaine lettuce and rice (I prefer brown rice), top with a scoop of shredded pork with sauce and some sautéed apples. Then curl up and enjoy!

This is the perfect slow cooker dinner for fall. Another favorite to add to my list of my 10 favorite things to do with apples.

Slow Cooker Pork and Apples Rice Bowls

Yield: 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes

A new twist on the classic pork chops and applesauce. These easy slow cooker pork and apples rice bowls combine a sweet and tangy pork with fall apples.

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Ingredients

• 1 2lb pork roast
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 medium onion
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 large apples, chopped
• 1Tbsp butter
• brown rice and chopped romaine, for serving

Instructions

1. Mix together thyme, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Rub all over pork roast. Place roast in the slow cooker.
2. Slice onion into thin slices and put over pork in slow cooker.
3. In a small bowl, mix together applesauce, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over pork and onions in slow cooker.
4. Cook on low for 8-9 hours (until pork is tender and easily shredded). Remove pork from slow cooker, skim fat off the top of the sauce. Shred pork and stir into sauce.
5. Melt butter in a small saucepan and then sauté chopped apples just until tender.
6. Fill a bowl with chopped romaine lettuce and rice. Top with shredded pork and sautéed apples.
7. Enjoy!

Now it’s time to break out the canner and get through a lot of these apples!

I’m linking up to some of my favorite Link Parties.