Herb-Crusted Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables
A fall-apart tender pork shoulder slow-cooked with sweet potatoes, carrots, and fresh herbs until perfectly melded with natural vegetable sweetness. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 495 minutes pairs Pork shoulder, medium Sweet potato, medium Carrots 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
- 2.5 lbs Pork shoulder
- 2 medium Sweet potato
- 4 medium Carrots
- 2 stalks Celery
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp dried Rosemary
- 1 tsp dried Thyme
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat the 2.5 lbs pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then rub with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker, then arrange the 2 peeled and cubed sweet potatoes, 4 peeled and sliced carrots, and 2 chopped celery stalks around it.
- Step 3: Sprinkle the 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried rosemary, and 1 tsp dried thyme evenly over the vegetables and pork, then cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours until pork is fork-tender and vegetables are soft.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Herb-Crusted Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables take to make?
Total time is about 495 minutes (15 min prep + 480 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 Herb-Crusted Pork Shoulder with Root 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 Herb-Crusted Pork Shoulder with Root 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 Herb-Crusted Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Herb-Crusted Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables?
American slow cooker 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
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 480-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
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