This recipe uses your slow cooker and sweet or hot peppers to create an economical, succulent pork dinner.
If you’re looking for a simple, economical, and tasty idea for dinner, these Pork and Pepper Sandwiches check all the boxes. Not only will your slow cooker deliver succulent, fork-tender pork to pile on your sandwich bun, you can use leftovers from this versatile recipe to make other meals later in the week. Economical recipes like this are more important than ever considering rising food costs.
A recent CNN Business article delivered the sobering news. Food prices have spiked over 11 percent in the last year, the biggest increase since 1979, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eggs have seen the biggest price jump (39.8 percent). Chicken prices are up 16.6 percent. Experts say the avian flu has helped drive the spikes for eggs and poultry. However, pork and beef prices have gone up by nearly 7 percent.
Steps taken by the Federal Reserve Bank to combat inflation doesn’t have a lot of effect on your grocery bill, according to the article. Wars and crop-killing droughts are the main culprits.
And prices at the grocery store are affecting how we shop, CNN stated. The demand for frozen dinners has fallen drastically, and many families are opting to leave items like cookies, candy, and snacks on the shelves.
I look at the weekly prices of food much closer now than ever, and often swap pork for a lean protein choice instead of costlier chicken breasts. Also, the price for pork has dropped almost 2 percent in July and August, according to CNN (another reason to love these Tasty Pork and Pepper Sandwiches). This week, a 3-pound pork shoulder roast at Walmart was about $9. So, let’s get cooking!
To make my Tasty Pork and Pepper Sandwiches, which yields six servings, you’ll need these ingredients:
3-pound pork shoulder roast
2 cans enchilada sauce (red or green)
½ package taco seasoning
2 sweet bell peppers (red, orange or yellow)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 sandwich rolls
Directions to make Tasty Pork and Pepper Sandwiches
I like to first sear any meat before adding it to my slow cooker; it lends for better color and flavor. So, this is an optional first step, but I recommend taking it.
Divide the taco seasoning and rub the top and bottom of roast thoroughly. Heat oil in a large skillet and brown the pork shoulder. If you don’t have taco seasoning on hand (as I didn’t), make your own rub using 1 teaspoon each of granulated garlic, cumin, chili powder, paprika, black pepper. I added 1½ teaspoons kosher salt to this mix.
Coat the slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place browned pork shoulder in cooker.
Remove seeds from peppers and slice in strips (about ½-inch thick) then place around the pork. If you want more heat, use 2 habanero peppers or 4 jalapenos. You also can do any combination of sweet and hot peppers. Just remember when working with the hot peppers to protect your hands with gloves while chopping.
Pour sauce over pork (I used green sauce) and vegetables, cover, and cook on low heat for 8 hours.
Remove pork and shred with two forks. Serve on sandwich rolls of your choice and top with cooked peppers. A side bowl of sauce is nice for dipping the sandwich. I also sliced an onion to include a few slides on the sandwich. A delicious side with this meal would be St. Louis-Style Street Corn.
If you have leftover pork and peppers (as I did), use them to make fajita-inspired wraps. I simply reheated the pork and peppers, sautéed the rest of the onion I’d cut for sandwiches, and added shredded cheese and a dollop of salsa to the soft tortilla. Reheat the pork to use in this recipe for tacos pastor. This succulent pork would be delicious added to your mac and cheese recipe or in the classic King Ranch casserole. You get the idea!
So, what’s the cost per serving for Tasty Pork and Pepper Sandwiches? Realizing this total is very subjective based on prices near me at the time I’m writing this post, but it still came to $3.13 per serving. Any time you can feed six people for under $20, that recipe’s a keeper.
I hope you’ll give these pork sandwiches a try. Let us know how they turned out and how you used leftovers in comments below.
Interested in more economical pork recipes? Pork Chops in Creamy Mushroom Sauce is a quick weeknight meal that's fancy enough to serve guests. A great dish for fall and a favorite of my father's is Pork Schnitzel with Sauerkraut made with affordable pork cutlets.
About the blog
Three Women in the Kitchen is an award-winning food blog offering today’s home cooks comforting, hearty recipes with a personal touch. The website also pays tribute to Deborah’s mother, Katie Reinhardt, and paternal grandmother, Dorothy Reinhardt (the “three women” in the kitchen). Whether you’re an experienced or a novice cook, you’ll find inspiration here to feed your families and warm your heart. Subscribe today so you won’t miss a single delicious detail.