It Was the Best Ever Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder
A fall-off-the-bone tender pork shoulder braised in a sweet-smoky maple-mustard glaze, delivering the best flavor experience you've ever had. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 minutes pairs pork shoulder butt, brown sugar, Dijon mustard for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 390 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
- 3 lbs pork shoulder butt
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1, finely chopped onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 3 lbs pork shoulder dry with paper towels; season all sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, mix 3 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp paprika, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 chopped onion; rub mixture evenly over pork shoulder.
- Step 3: Place seasoned pork in a slow cooker; pour 1 cup chicken broth around it.
- Step 4: Cook on LOW for 8 hours until pork is fork-tender and easily shreds.
- Step 5: Shred pork with two forks, mixing in cooking juices; serve with extra glaze spooned over top.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does It Was the Best Ever Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder take to make?
Total time is about 500 minutes (20 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 It Was the Best Ever Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder?
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 butt from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in It Was the Best Ever Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder?
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 It Was the Best Ever Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder 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 It Was the Best Ever Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder?
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
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
Related recipes
Slow-Cooked Maple-Glazed Pulled Pork with Apple and Onion
Slow-Cooked Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Apple
Slow Cooker Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Apple and Rosemary
Slow-Cooker Apple Cider Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables
Maple-Mustard Pulled Pork Shoulder in Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder
