Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Apple and Sage

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-10 · Updated 2026-04-10

Fall-apart tender pork shoulder braised with tart apples and fresh sage, creating a rich, savory-sweet sauce perfect for mashed potatoes. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 260 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, honey, apple for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 485 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
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 medium apple
• 4 tbsp sage
• 1 large onion
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp 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: Pat pork dry and season with salt and pepper. Sear in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per side.
2. Step 2: Remove pork and set aside. Melt butter in the same pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent.
3. Step 3: Dice apples into 1/2-inch cubes. Add to pot with honey, 2 tbsp sage, and cook for 3 minutes until apples soften slightly.
4. Step 4: Return pork to pot. Add chicken broth, cover, and transfer to a 275°F (135°C) oven. Braise for 4 hours until pork is fork-tender.
5. Step 5: Remove pork and set aside. Skim excess fat from the pot. Whisk flour into the remaining liquid until smooth, then cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining sage and simmer until thickened. Slice pork and serve with sauce and apples.