Apple-Rosemary Pork Shoulder with Crisp Apples

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

Tender pork shoulder slow-cooked with sweet apples and aromatic rosemary, creating a naturally sweet and savory dish perfect for a comforting weeknight meal. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe (whole30), ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, apple cider, apples for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a Whole30 week and pairs well with roasted sweet potato or a simple olive-oil salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pork shoulder
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 2 medium apples
• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 2 lbs pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then season evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sear pork shoulder for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply browned, transferring to a slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Add 1 medium diced onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary to the skillet, cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 2 peeled, cored, and diced apples and 1/2 cup apple cider to the slow cooker.
5. Step 5: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours until pork is fork-tender.