Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Rosemary

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-08 · Updated 2026-04-08

Tender pork shoulder braised with sweet apple compote and aromatic rosemary, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, onion, garlic 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.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 large, finely chopped onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 medium, peeled and diced apples
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 2 tablespoons, chopped rosemary
• 1 teaspoon, dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and place it in the slow cooker. Season evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
2. Step 2: Add the finely chopped onion, minced garlic, diced apples, apple cider, chopped rosemary, and dried thyme on top of the pork, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
3. Step 3: 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.