Puerto Rican-Style Mojo Pork Shoulder Roast

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in a garlicky citrus mojo sauce, capturing the essence of Puerto Rican home cooking. This latin american-inspired pork ready in about 210 minutes pairs pork shoulder, garlic cloves, orange juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 195 min Serves 6 Latin American cuisine 480 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Small appliances → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine 8 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup fresh orange juice, 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Whisk until well blended.
  2. Step 2: Place 3 lbs boneless pork shoulder in a large resealable bag and pour the mojo marinade over it. Seal and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight to marinate.
  3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 325°F. Transfer the pork and marinade to a roasting pan, cover tightly with foil, and roast for 3 hours until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.
  4. Step 4: Remove foil and increase oven temperature to 425°F. Roast uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to crisp the exterior.
  5. Step 5: Let pork rest for 10 minutes, then shred and toss with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Puerto Rican-Style Mojo Pork Shoulder Roast take to make?

Total time is about 210 minutes (15 min prep + 195 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Puerto Rican-Style Mojo Pork Shoulder Roast?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Puerto Rican-Style Mojo Pork Shoulder Roast?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Puerto Rican-Style Mojo Pork Shoulder Roast for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Puerto Rican-Style Mojo Pork Shoulder Roast?

Latin American pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

What others are saying

Related recipes