Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Cumin and Garlic
Tender pork shoulder slow-cooked with cumin, garlic, and smoked paprika for a rich and flavorful Spanish-style dish perfect for sharing. This spanish-inspired pork ready in about 255 minutes pairs pork shoulder, boneless and trimmed, extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves, minced 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, boneless and trimmed
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme sprigs
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. Rub 3 lbs pork shoulder with 2 tbsp olive oil, 6 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until evenly coated.
- Step 2: Place the pork shoulder in a roasting pan, add 1 cup chicken broth and 3 sprigs fresh thyme around the meat.
- Step 3: Cover tightly with foil and slow-cook in the oven for 3 1/2 to 4 hours until the pork is fork-tender and shreds easily.
- Step 4: Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. Drizzle with 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice before shredding and serving with pan juices.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Cumin and Garlic take to make?
Total time is about 255 minutes (15 min prep + 240 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 Cumin and Garlic?
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 extra virgin olive oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Cumin and Garlic?
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 Cumin and Garlic 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 Cumin and Garlic?
Spanish pork 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.
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