Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Sauerkraut & Cinnamon Apples
A savory-sweet Whole30 slow cooker masterpiece featuring tender pork shoulder braised with tangy sauerkraut, sweet apples, and warm cinnamon. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe (dairy-free, gluten-free), ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, sauerkraut, honey for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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 pounds pork shoulder
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 medium apple
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 2 pounds pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the pork shoulder for 3 minutes per side until golden brown, transferring it to the slow cooker.
- Step 2: Finely chop 3 garlic cloves and add to the slow cooker with 1 cup sauerkraut, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon; toss gently to coat.
- Step 3: Peel and core 2 medium apples, then slice into 1/4-inch thick wedges and arrange around the pork shoulder in the slow cooker.
- Step 4: Cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours until pork is fork-tender and apples are soft but hold shape.








