Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cider Glaze
Tender pork shoulder braised for hours until it falls apart, coated in a sweet-tart glaze made from apple cider and apple jelly that caramelizes beautifully on the edges. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 minutes pairs pork shoulder, large, diced onion, minced garlic 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.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork shoulder
- 1 large, diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup apple jelly
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker, then arrange the diced onion and minced garlic around it.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 cups apple cider, 1/2 cup apple jelly, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth.
- Step 3: Pour the cider mixture evenly over the pork and vegetables, ensuring the pork is mostly covered.
- Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the pork is fork-tender and pulls away from the bone.
- Step 5: Remove the pork and let rest for 10 minutes. Strain the cooking liquid into a small saucepan and simmer over medium-high heat for 15 minutes until the sauce reduces by half and thickens to a syrupy consistency.
- Step 6: Slice the pork and brush generously with the reduced glaze, then serve with the remaining sauce.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cider Glaze take to make?
Total time is about 500 minutes (20 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 Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cider Glaze?
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 Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cider Glaze?
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 Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cider Glaze 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 Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cider Glaze?
American 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
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
