A rich, deep colored broth, speckled with hearty cuts of tender, smoky pork belly and brimming with vibrant, wilted kale. Heirloom beans scattered throughout add pops of color. It's topped off with a light dusting of finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano, adding an Instagram-worthy touch.

Slow Cooker Smoky Kale Stew

Name: Slow Cooker Smoky Kale Stew
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 495 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Kale, 2 cups stemmed and torn into pieces; Smoked Pork Belly, 1.5 pounds cut into 1-inch cubes; Heirloom Beans, 2 cups soaked overnight; large Onion, 1 finely chopped; Garlic, 4 cloves minced; Smoked Paprika, 1 teaspoon; Ground Cumin, 1 teaspoon; Beef Broth, 4 cups; Olive Oil, 2 tablespoons; Salt and Pepper, to taste

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 480 minutes

Style American

Technique Slow Cooking

Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: February 25, 2026

Embrace the cold season with our innovative 'Slow Cooker Smoky Kale Stew'. This dish combines nutrient-rich kale, succulent smoky pork belly, and heirloom beans that provides a balance of comfort, nutrition, and rich American flavors.

Ingredients (for 4)

Kale - 2 cups - stemmed and torn into pieces
Smoked pork belly - 1.5 pounds - cut into 1-inch cubes
Heirloom beans - 2 cups - soaked overnight
Large onion - 1 - finely chopped
Garlic - 4 cloves - minced
Smoked paprika - 1 teaspoon
Ground cumin - 1 teaspoon
Beef broth - 4 cups
Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
Salt and pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍳🥩🔥

Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add cubes of smoked pork belly and sear until brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
Step 2 - 🍳🧅🥬

In the same pan, sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until softened.
Step 3 - 🥘🥬🍲

Combine the browned pork belly, sautéd onion and garlic, kale, smoked paprika, cumin, beef broth and soaked beans in your slow cooker.
Step 4 - ⏲️🍲🔥

Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until the beans are tender and the flavors are well combined.
Step 5 - 🧂🍽️🔪

Prior to serving, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as per your liking.
Step 6 - 🥣🧀🔥

Serve the stew hot with a good sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Additional

This dish can be customized easily based on dietary needs. For vegetarians, replace the pork with mushrooms or vegan sausage. You can also add additional vegetables like zucchini or carrot to pump up the nutritional value. Kids can have fun tearing up the kale and mixing the ingredients together in the slow cooker.