Cinnamon-Spiced Pork Shoulder with Apple Cider Glaze

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

Fall-apart pork shoulder braised with apple cider, cinnamon, and garlic until caramelized and deeply flavorful, perfect for Whole30 weeknights. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe (whole30), ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, 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 vinegar
• 1/4 cup coconut aminos
• 4 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 2 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch coins carrots
• 2 stalks, diced celery
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place 2 lbs pork shoulder in slow cooker, season evenly with 1 tsp sea salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Add 1 medium diced onion, 2 medium sliced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon to slow cooker, mixing gently.
3. Step 3: Pour 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/4 cup coconut aminos over the top, ensuring all ingredients are moistened.
4. Step 4: Cook on LOW for 8 hours until pork is fork-tender and easily shreds.
5. Step 5: Remove pork shoulder, shred with two forks, then return to slow cooker with all cooking juices. Stir gently until sauce thickens slightly and coats the meat.