Keto Pulled Pork with Creamed Spinach
If there's one cooking apparatus that can save you time, energy, and even money, it's the slow cooker.
A slow cooker, also known as a Crockpot, is literally as easy as set-it-and-forget-it. You can prepare several days’ worth of keto meals in one go, all in one pot, and trust that the end result will come out tender and flavorful.
Take this keto pulled pork recipe, for example. After 4 hours of slow cooking, you'll be left with pork loin so tender that it can literally be pulled apart with two forks. Yum!
From there, you'll use things like apple cider vinegar, butter, and Worcestershire sauce to give it an amazing flavor. (One that gets better as it sits in the fridge, too—and you'll have plenty for leftovers.)Pair it with some deliciously fat-fueled creamed spinach, cooked with heavy cream, cream cheese, and plenty of garlic. It’s the perfect savory side to pair with the "zing" of pulled pork.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pork loin
- Beef broth
- Frozen spinach
- Garlic cloves
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Heavy whipping cream
- Apple cider vinegar
![keto pulled pork](jpg/dsc1266-300x212.jpg)
Why You’ll Love This Keto Pulled Pork Recipe
Sometimes, sticking to your diet is about giving yourself options that work for your lifestyle and schedule.
That's why we love Crockpot recipes like this keto pulled pork.
If you don't already have a slow cooker, think about it this way:
How much money have you spent over the years on gadgets and tools that help you stay healthy? (Maybe you don't even want to think about it.)
Unlike many of the things you bought that are likely collecting dust somewhere, a slow cooker is an affordable, highly useful investment for your low-carb healthy lifestyle.
They cost between $20 and $40. They are as inexpensive as kitchen gadgets come, and they last for years.
And they can prepare full meals like this keto pulled pork and creamed spinach recipe with very little actual cooking on your part.
Preparing the pork will only take a few minutes, and in the time it takes to cool, you can whip together the delicious creamed spinach as a side. Easy!
That's why we think you'll love this delicious pork and the creamy spinach on the side—it tastes great, but it also gives you a reason to use the Crockpot more. It's a win-win!
Top 4 Health Benefits of this Recipe
Protein, antioxidants, and the ability to fight off bacteria—you'll be impressed by the benefits of both the pork and creamed spinach in this recipe.
1. Pork is full of protein
Just a four-ounce serving of this keto pulled pork has 26 grams of protein in it, which is about a quarter of what you should be eating each day on the keto diet.
The benefits of dietary protein are all well studied. For example, did you know:
- Protein breaks down into amino acids in the body, which are required for growth and regeneration of nearly every bodily tissue—hair, skin, fingernails, muscle, tendons and ligaments, just to name a few [1].
- Protein has a satiating effect. It keeps you full for hours after meals, which is why many health experts and scientists call protein the key macronutrient for weight loss and weight management [2][3].
2. Apple cider vinegar can help you lose weight
We use apple cider vinegar to give pork that tasty zing you know and love from barbeque sauce. It just so happens ACV is also loaded with health benefits.
Studies show that regular ACV consumption can promote weight loss and reduce tissue inflammation [4].
ACV is also great for immune system health, as it has an antimicrobial effect (this means it kills small bacteria before they can fester and make us sick) [5].
3. Spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals
As you can see, the pork recipe comes with some great benefits. But the side dish is no slouch, either.
As far as veggies go, spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense, bioactive options you have available on a low-carb diet [6].
You'll find more than a dozen vitamins and minerals in each serving, many of which protect you from diseases and keep your immune system healthy [7].
4. Garlic is loaded with antioxidants
We'll do you one further with the creamed spinach; it's loaded with 4 cloves of garlic, which helps make it both flavorful and good for you.
Garlic contains four very potent antioxidants, all of which fight off free radicals in the body that can turn cancerous if left alone [8].
And garlic, like ACV, also has an antimicrobial effect [9]. Between this main course and side dish, bacteria doesn't have a chance!
Other Keto Recipes You Might Like
- Pulled Pork with Cabbage Slaw
- Pork Ribs with Asian Slaw
- Bunless Cheeseburgers with Avocado Mayo and Artichokes
- Air Fryer Keto Chicken Wings
- Keto Shepherd's Pie
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Creamed Spinach Recipe
![keto pulled pork](jpg/dsc1287.jpg)
Ingredients:
- Pulled Pork: 2-2½ pounds pork loin (do not trim fat)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 3 cups chicken or beef broth
- 8 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- Creamed Spinach: 8 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup minced onion
- 2 (16-ounce) bags frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Pinch nutmeg (optional)
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
Preparation:
- Cut pork into 4 evenly-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine spices (paprika through ground pepper). Add pork pieces and toss to coat in spices.
- Place pork pieces in the bowl of a slow cooker and cover with broth. Cook on high for 4 hours or until fork tender.
- Removed cooked pork from slow cooker, reserving ½ cup cooking liquid, and place in a large bowl. Use two forks to shred pork.
- Combine melted butter, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over shredded pork. Toss to coat and season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, make the creamed spinach. Heat butter in large saucepan over low heat.
- Sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add thawed and drained spinach and sauté, allowing any remaining water to evaporate, about 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in cream cheese and cook until melted.
- Stirring constantly, add heavy whipping cream and cook until thickened and creamy, allowing excess liquid to evaporate. Season to taste with nutmeg (if using), salt and pepper.
- To serve, plate 4 ounces pulled pork with 3/4 cup spinach.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 8
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