Description
When cold weather calls for something bold and warming, there’s no better comfort food than a steaming bowl of slow cooker Dan Dan noodles.
Ingredients
For the Pork Base:
1 lb ground pork
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce or chili oil
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
For the Sauce:
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili oil (adjust to taste)
1 cup chicken broth
Other Ingredients:
8 oz dried Chinese noodles (or spaghetti if substituting)
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
Optional: bok choy, spinach, or napa cabbage for added greens
Instructions
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground pork and cook until browned, about 5–7 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin, chili sauce, and five-spice. Cook for another 2 minutes to let the flavors develop.
Transfer the cooked pork mixture into your slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, brown sugar, chili oil, and chicken broth until smooth. Pour over the pork in the slow cooker and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours.
During the last 15 minutes, cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and add to the slow cooker. Stir to coat the noodles well in the sauce.
Add chopped greens if using and let them wilt in the heat of the dish for about 5 minutes before serving.
Serve hot, topped with chopped scallions and peanuts.
Notes
For extra depth of flavor, sauté your spices (ginger, garlic, five-spice) briefly before slow cooking. Prefer more spice? Add a spoonful of doubanjiang (fermented chili bean paste). For low-carb, use zucchini noodles or shirataki noodles.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 4–6 hours on low or 2–3 hours on high
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Fat: 28 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Protein: 25 g
Keywords: Slow Cooker Dan Dan Noodles