Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Apple & Onion

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

Sweet-savory slow-cooked pork shoulder with tender apples and caramelized onions, perfect for weeknight dinners that kids love. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder roast, chopped yellow onion, diced Granny Smith apples 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

• 2 lbs pork shoulder roast
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 1 cup diced Granny Smith apples
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place 2 lbs pork shoulder roast in slow cooker, then layer 1 cup chopped yellow onion, 1 cup diced Granny Smith apples, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1/4 cup pure maple syrup on top.
2. Step 2: Whisk 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, and 1 tbsp unsalted butter in a small bowl; pour over pork and vegetables, ensuring even coating.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours until pork is tender enough to pull apart with a fork.
4. Step 4: Carefully transfer pork to a cutting board, shred with two forks, and return to slow cooker. Stir to coat with sauce.
5. Step 5: Cook uncovered on HIGH for 30 minutes to thicken sauce to a syrupy consistency that coats the back of a spoon.