Oktoberfest Beer-Braised Pork Shoulder with Savory Potatoes

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

A hearty German-inspired dish with tender pork shoulder simmered in crisp pilsner beer, served alongside caramelized potatoes and tangy sauerkraut for a festive comfort meal. This German-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 230 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, German pilsner beer, sauerkraut for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 620 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
• 1 cup German pilsner beer
• 10 oz sauerkraut
• 2 lbs baby potatoes
• 1 large yellow onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat the 2 lbs pork shoulder dry with paper towels and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe pot over medium-high heat until shimmering, then sear the pork shoulder for 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
2. Step 2: Add the 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pot, cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in 1 tsp caraway seeds and 1 tsp dried thyme, then add the 10 oz drained sauerkraut and 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping up browned bits.
3. Step 3: Return the seared pork shoulder to the pot, nestling it among the vegetables. Place the 2 lbs halved baby potatoes around the pork, then pour the 1 cup German pilsner beer around the edges until it reaches halfway up the pork.
4. Step 4: Cover the pot with a lid and bake at 325°F for 3 hours, or until the pork is fork-tender. Uncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes to caramelize the potatoes.