Slow-Cooked Apple Cider Pork Shoulder

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-12 · Updated 2026-04-12

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender pork shoulder braised in a sweet apple cider reduction with caramelized onions and carrots for a comforting weeknight dinner. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, apple cider, apple cider vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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: 20 min Cook: 480 min Serves 6 American cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 pounds pork shoulder
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1, thinly sliced onion
2, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch coins carrots
3 cloves, minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels and season all sides with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear the pork shoulder for 3 minutes per side until deeply browned, then transfer to the slow cooker.
Step 3: Add 1 sliced onion, 2 sliced carrots, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup apple cider, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon honey to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until the pork is fork-tender.
Step 5: Remove the pork and let it rest for 15 minutes. Strain the cooking liquid, discarding solids, and return it to the slow cooker. Simmer on high for 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 6: Slice the pork and serve with the reduced sauce and vegetables.