Herb-Crusted Whole30 Pork Shoulder with Apple Cider Glaze

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

Fall-apart pork shoulder slow-cooked with aromatic herbs and a tangy apple cider glaze, perfect for effortless Whole30 dinners. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe (gluten-free, dairy-free), ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, olive oil, dried rosemary for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick 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

• 3 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup unsweetened apple cider
• 1/2 cup carrots
• 1/2 cup celery
• 1/2 cup onion

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then rub 1 tbsp olive oil evenly over the surface. Mix 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp sea salt in a small bowl, then rub this mixture over the entire pork shoulder.
2. Step 2: Place the seasoned pork shoulder in the slow cooker insert, pour 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 cup unsweetened apple cider over it, then add 1/2 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup diced celery, and 1/2 cup diced onion around the pork.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours until the pork is fork-tender and easily shreds.