Low-Flame Braised Pork Shoulder

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-19 · Updated 2026-04-19

Pork shoulder slow-cooked over low heat until fork-tender, with a savory sauce that develops depth. This american-inspired quick meals ready in about 170 minutes pairs pork shoulder, olive oil, 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, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1, diced onion
• 2, diced carrots
• 2 stalks, diced celery
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 lbs pork shoulder cubes and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes.
2. Step 2: Add 1 diced onion, 2 diced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 cup chicken broth, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tsp dried thyme. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cover. Braise for 2.5 hours until pork is fork-tender.