How to Cook Bacon Hock in a Slow Cooker for Tender, Flavorful Meals

Bacon hocks, also known as pork knuckles or ham hocks, are an inexpensive cut of meat that, when prepared properly, delivers tender, flavorful meat perfect for soups, stews, beans, greens, and more. Slow cooking is one of the best methods for cooking bacon hocks to maximize their flavor and tenderness.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to cook bacon hocks in a slow cooker, including:

• Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker
• Choosing the Right Bacon Hock
• Preparing the Bacon Hock
• Slow Cooker Bacon Hock Recipes
• Cooking Tips
• Serving Suggestions

Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker

Slow cookers are ideal for cooking tough, inexpensive cuts of meat like bacon hocks. The low, slow cooking helps break down the collagen and connective tissue to make the meat incredibly tender

Other benefits of using a slow cooker include

• Convenience – simply throw in ingredients and let it cook unattended for hours. Great for busy weeknights.
• Added flavor – the long cook time allows flavors to develop and meld together.
• Budget-friendly – can transform inexpensive cuts into fork-tender meat.
• Hands-off – frees up your time for other tasks.
• Easy clean up – cooks in an enclosed environment, minimizing mess.

Choosing the Right Bacon Hock

You can find bacon hocks, also labeled as pork hocks or ham hocks, in the meat section of most grocery stores. When selecting one for the slow cooker, keep the following tips in mind:

• Choose hocks that are meaty with plenty of fat. The fat keeps the meat moist and adds flavor.
• Estimate 1 pound of hocks per person. For a family of 4, select 4 pounds of hocks.
• Opt for fresh hocks rather than pre-cooked or smoked. The fresh ones deliver better flavor.
• Make sure the skin is smooth without any dried or discolored patches.
• Check the expiration date and pick hocks with the latest sell-by date.

Preparing the Bacon Hock

Proper prep is key to draw out the flavor and tenderness of the bacon hock. Here are a few tips:

• Rinse under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
• Trim off any excess skin or fatty areas.
• Poke holes all over the hock with a fork to allow the seasoning and cooking liquid to penetrate.
• Rub generously with seasoning like smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• For richer flavor, brown the hocks in a skillet with oil before adding to the slow cooker.
• If using frozen hocks, thaw completely before cooking.

Slow Cooker Bacon Hock Recipes

Bacon hocks pair deliciously with hearty vegetables, beans, grains, and broth or wine in the slow cooker. Here are a few tasty recipe ideas:

Slow Cooker Bacon Hock and Bean Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs bacon hocks
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 (15 oz) cans navy beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
2. Remove hocks, shred meat, and return to soup.
3. Discard bay leaf, season with salt and pepper.

Slow Cooker Bacon Hock and Collard Greens

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs bacon hocks
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bunches collard greens, rinsed and chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1-2 tsp hot sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add hocks, onion, garlic, greens, and broth to slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
3. Remove hocks, shred meat, and return to pot.
4. Stir in vinegar, hot sauce, and season with salt and pepper.

Slow Cooker Bacon Hock and Barley Soup

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs bacon hocks
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients except barley to slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.
2. Remove hocks, shred meat, and return to pot.
3. Add barley and cook 30 minutes more until tender.
4. Discard bay leaves, season with salt and pepper.

Cooking Tips

• Cook on low setting for best results, high may cause overcooking.
• Add vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery during the last hour so they don’t get mushy.
• Goes great with grains like barley, rice or beans. Add them halfway through cooking.
• For convenience, prep and freeze in freezer bags ahead, then simply dump into the slow cooker to cook.

Serving Suggestions

Bacon hock cooked in the slow cooker pulls apart easily into tender, succulent meat that takes well to shredding. Here are some serving ideas:

• Shredded in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, sandwiches etc.
• Over cooked grains like rice, barley, farro or polenta.
• In stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls or in omelets.
• On pizza, nachos, baked potatoes etc.
• Chopped and added to pasta, risottos, frittatas etc.
• Pair shredded meat with roasted vegetables or salad.
• Use in dips, spreads and appetizers.

So next time you come across bacon hocks on sale, grab a pack and let the slow cooker work its magic. With little prep and minimal effort, you’ll have fall-off-the-bone tender, flavored meat ready to star in all sorts of hearty dishes.