Lager-Braised Pork Shoulder with Onions
Tender pork shoulder slowly braised in half a pint of lager beer with caramelized onions for a rich, savory dish. This European-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 135 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, lager beer, yellow onion 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, cut into 2-inch chunks pork shoulder
- 8 fl oz (half a pint) lager beer
- 2 medium, sliced into half-moons yellow onion
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
- 1 whole bay leaf
The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add 2 lbs pork shoulder chunks seasoned with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper, browning on all sides for about 5-7 minutes.
- Step 2: Remove pork and set aside. In the same pot, add 2 sliced yellow onions and 4 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 8-10 minutes until onions are soft and golden caramelized.
- Step 3: Return pork to the pot; pour in 8 fl oz lager beer (half a pint), scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
- Step 4: Add 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme and 1 whole bay leaf, then bring the liquid to a simmer.
- Step 5: Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and braise for 2 hours until pork is fork-tender and the sauce thickens.
- Step 6: Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed, then serve pork with onions and reduced braising liquid.








