Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cinnamon
Fall-apart tender pork shoulder braised with sweet apples and warm cinnamon, ideal for cozy family meals. This general-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 minutes pairs trimmed of excess fat pork shoulder, peeled, cored, and sliced apple, diced onion 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
- 3 lbs, trimmed of excess fat pork shoulder
- 2, peeled, cored, and sliced apple
- 1, diced onion
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Place trimmed pork shoulder in a slow cooker. Top with 2 sliced apples, 1 diced onion, and 4 minced garlic cloves.
- Step 2: Sprinkle 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper over the pork. Pour 1 cup chicken broth and 1/2 cup apple cider over the top.
- Step 3: Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until pork is fork-tender. Remove pork and slice. Skim excess fat from cooking liquid, then return sliced pork to pot to simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cinnamon 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 Cinnamon?
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 diced onion from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Cinnamon?
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 Cinnamon 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 Cinnamon?
General 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
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★★★★☆
Tasty recipe. I'd add a bit more seasoning next time.
- ★★★☆☆
It was fine. Came out a bit bland for my taste.
