Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Apple Cider

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A fall-off-the-bone tender slow cooker masterpiece with sweet-tart apple cider and smoky maple glaze, perfect for cozy weeknights. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder roast, apple cider, pure maple syrup for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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 pounds pork shoulder roast
• 1 cup apple cider
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 large, thinly sliced onion
• 2 medium, peeled and chopped carrot

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker, then scatter the sliced onion and chopped carrots evenly around it.
2. Step 2: Whisk together apple cider, maple syrup, smoked paprika, and garlic powder in a bowl, then pour the mixture over the meat and vegetables.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 5 hours, until the pork pulls apart easily with a fork.
4. Step 4: Remove the pork and vegetables, then strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes until reduced by half and thickened into a glossy glaze.
5. Step 5: Slice the pork and drizzle with the reduced glaze before serving.