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
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.
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 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.
