Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Cumin and Orange

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender pork shoulder slow-cooked with warm cumin and bright orange zest, creating a juicy and aromatic Spanish-inspired main dish. This Spanish-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, ground cumin, orange zest 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 480 min Serves 6 Spanish cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1.5 kg, boneless pork shoulder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp orange zest
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
5, minced garlic cloves
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 large, sliced onion
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup chicken broth

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp orange zest, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Rub this spice mixture all over the 1.5 kg pork shoulder.
Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork shoulder on all sides for 3-4 minutes per side until well browned. Transfer to a slow cooker.
Step 4: Add 1 large sliced onion, 5 minced garlic cloves, and 4 sprigs fresh thyme around the pork in the slow cooker.
Step 5: Pour 1/2 cup fresh orange juice and 1 cup chicken broth over the pork.
Step 6: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until the pork is fork-tender and shreds easily.
Step 7: Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks, mixing with the cooking juices before serving.