Slow-Cooked Adobo Pork Shoulder with Citrus
Pork shoulder braised in a tangy adobo sauce with orange juice, resulting in fall-off-the-bone tenderness. This puerto rican-inspired slow cooker ready in about 495 minutes pairs trimmed pork shoulder, minced garlic, white vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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, trimmed pork shoulder
- 8 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 bay leaf
- 1 medium, sliced onion
Instructions
- Step 1: Trim 2 lbs pork shoulder of excess fat and cut into 2-inch cubes. In a bowl, combine 8 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup orange juice, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp black pepper, and 2 bay leaves.
- Step 2: Add the pork cubes to the marinade, coating evenly, and let marinate for 1 hour at room temperature.
- Step 3: Transfer marinated pork and all marinade to a slow cooker, then add 1 medium sliced onion.
- Step 4: Cook on low for 8 hours until pork is fork-tender.
- Step 5: Remove pork from slow cooker, strain cooking liquid, and discard bay leaves.
- Step 6: Return pork to slow cooker, simmer on high for 15 minutes to thicken sauce.
- Step 7: Serve hot with the reduced sauce.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Adobo Pork Shoulder with Citrus take to make?
Total time is about 495 minutes (15 min prep + 480 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 Slow-Cooked Adobo Pork Shoulder with Citrus?
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 trimmed pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Adobo Pork Shoulder with Citrus?
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 Slow-Cooked Adobo Pork Shoulder with Citrus 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 Slow-Cooked Adobo Pork Shoulder with Citrus?
Puerto Rican slow cooker 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
- ★★★★★
I've tried many slow cooker recipes and this is hands down the best.
- ★★★★★
I've tried many slow cooker recipes and this is hands down the best.
- ★★★★★
This has become our go-to slow cooker dish. We make it weekly.
