Citrus-Achiote Pork Shoulder with Roasted Vegetables
Slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in a tangy achiote blend is served alongside caramelized bell peppers and onions for a deeply flavorful dish. This puerto rican-inspired one pot ready in about 160 minutes pairs pork shoulder, achiote paste, orange juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, 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
- 2 lbs, trimmed pork shoulder
- 1/4 cup achiote paste
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 medium, sliced red onion
- 2 medium, sliced bell peppers
- 2 medium, sliced zucchini
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, mix achiote paste, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Rub mixture evenly over pork shoulder.
- Step 2: Place pork in a roasting pan, then arrange sliced red onion, bell peppers, and zucchini around it. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and pour 1/4 cup chicken broth over vegetables.
- Step 3: Cover the pan tightly with foil and roast for 2 hours until pork is tender. Uncover and roast for an additional 20 minutes to brown vegetables.
- Step 4: Remove pork and vegetables, slice pork, and serve with roasted vegetables and pan juices.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Citrus-Achiote Pork Shoulder with Roasted Vegetables take to make?
Total time is about 160 minutes (20 min prep + 140 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Citrus-Achiote Pork Shoulder with Roasted Vegetables?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Citrus-Achiote Pork Shoulder with Roasted Vegetables?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Citrus-Achiote Pork Shoulder with Roasted Vegetables for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Citrus-Achiote Pork Shoulder with Roasted Vegetables?
Puerto Rican one pot like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Cooked this for my Puerto Rican in-laws and they said it was authentic and delicious. The one-pot made cleanup a breeze!
- ★★★★★
Loved it! The citrus and achiote really made the pork shine, and the veggies roasted perfectly. Made it for my family and they were raving.
- ★★★★☆
The flavors were great but the pork was a bit bland for my taste. Next time I'll add more spices. Took about 2 hours to cook, longer than the recipe said.
