Food Recipes Slow-Cooker Pork Ditalini Stew 3.2 (235) Add your rating & review Everyone knows that slow cookers can be a lifesaver on harried days, and few cuts of meat are better suited to the device than savory pork shoulder (also known as Boston butt), which turns supremely tender after a day of low and slow simmering. A handful of baby spinach adds a pop of freshness and color to the mix—but a bag of frozen spinach or kale would work in a pinch, too. Stirring some bite-size ditalini (or any petite, short pasta) into the rich tomato and chicken stock at the end of cooking gives the dish an appealing, comforting texture and transforms it into a colorful and convenient one-pot slow cooker meal that's as perfect for a weeknight family dinner as it is for a Sunday afternoon watching the big game. Trust us, this satisfying but surprisingly light dish is going to quickly become one of your new staples. By Emily Nabors Hall Emily Nabors Hall Emily has been a recipe developer with Dotdash Meredith brands for a decade. She has contributed dozens of recipes to Real Simple, specializing in flavor-forward weeknight meals that feed a family quickly and affordably, as well as baked sweets that are sure to delight. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 16, 2016 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Gentl & Hyers Hands On Time: 15 mins Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins Yield: 6 Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder roast (Boston butt), cut into 1-in. pieces 4 cups chicken broth 1 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes, chopped, liquid reserved 6 garlic cloves, sliced ½ tablespoon crushed red pepper 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt 6 ounces uncooked ditalini pasta 4 ounces baby spinach 2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated (about ½ cup) Directions Combine the pork roast, broth, tomatoes and their liquid, garlic, red pepper, and salt in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 6 hours. Add the pasta; cover and cook 10 minutes. Add the spinach; cover and cook until the pasta is al dente, 2 minutes. Serve topped with the Parmesan. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 374 Calories 15g Fat 30g Carbs 28g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Calories 374 % Daily Value * Total Fat 15g 19% Saturated Fat 6g 30% Cholesterol 76mg 25% Sodium 1653mg 72% Total Carbohydrate 30g 11% Total Sugars 5g Protein 28g Calcium 154mg 12% Iron 4mg 22% *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.