Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-06 · Updated 2026-04-06

A comforting slow-cooked meal featuring tender pork shoulder glazed in a sweet-savory maple mixture, accompanied by roasted root vegetables. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 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 550 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
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, diced onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 large, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks carrots
• 2 medium, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks potatoes
• 1, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks parsnip
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then season evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear the pork shoulder on all sides for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown, then transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant (do not brown). Pour in 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and simmer for 1 minute, scraping up browned bits. Stir in 3 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1 tsp dried rosemary, then pour over the pork in the slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Add the carrots, potatoes, parsnip, and 1 cup chicken broth to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, until the pork is fork-tender and vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork.