Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder with Apples

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-17 · Updated 2026-04-17

Slow-simmered pork shoulder in a sweet-tart apple cider glaze, paired with earthy roasted root vegetables for a comforting weeknight meal. This British-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 165 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, all-purpose flour, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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

• 3 lbs (trimmed, 1-inch thick slices) pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large (chopped) yellow onion
• 2 cloves (minced) garlic
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 medium (peeled, sliced) apples
• 2 cups (carrots, parsnips, turnips, 1-inch chunks) mixed root vegetables

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season pork shoulder with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, then coat evenly with 2 tbsp flour.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear pork for 5 minutes per side until golden brown, then remove and set aside.
3. Step 3: Add chopped onion and minced garlic to pot; sauté 3 minutes until softened. Stir in 2 cups apple cider, 1 tbsp honey, and 1 tsp dried thyme, scraping browned bits from pot.
4. Step 4: Return pork to pot with sliced apples, cover, and simmer on low heat for 2.5 hours until pork is fork-tender.
5. Step 5: Add 2 cups mixed root vegetables and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes until vegetables are tender.