Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Citrus Mojo
Tender pork shoulder braised in a vibrant citrus and garlic mojo sauce, served with boiled yuca for a true Puerto Rican feast. This puerto rican-inspired quick meals ready in about 500 minutes pairs pork shoulder, orange juice, lime juice 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, trimmed pork shoulder
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 large, peeled and cut into chunks yuca roots
- 1/2 cup water
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Whisk together orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, olive oil, white vinegar, dried oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl to make mojo sauce.
- Step 2: Place pork shoulder in slow cooker and pour mojo sauce over it, ensuring even coating. Add peeled yuca chunks around pork and pour in 1/2 cup water.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until pork is fork-tender and easily separates from bone.
- Step 4: Carefully remove pork and yuca to a serving platter. Strain cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding solids, and return liquid to slow cooker.
- Step 5: Simmer strained liquid on high for 10-15 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly. Slice pork and serve with reduced sauce and boiled yuca.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Citrus Mojo 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 Garlic and Citrus Mojo?
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 pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Garlic and Citrus Mojo?
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 Garlic and Citrus Mojo 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 Garlic and Citrus Mojo?
Puerto Rican quick meals 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
- ★★★★★
Loved it! Perfect for a Sunday dinner, and the slow cooker made it so easy.
- ★★★★★
This recipe was a hit with my family! The citrus mojo really brightened up the pork.
- ★★★★☆
Great recipe, took minimal effort and the flavors were spot on.
