Slow-Cooked Rosemary & Garlic Pork Shoulder with Apples

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

Fall-apart tender pork shoulder braised with aromatic herbs and sweet apples, creating a deeply flavorful dish that requires minimal effort for maximum comfort. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 375 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, olive oil, onions for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, 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

• 1.5 lb pork shoulder
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 large onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 medium apples

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season the pork shoulder with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the pork shoulder for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply browned, transferring it to a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Step 2: Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the skillet, then add 2 chopped onions and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 2 tbsp chopped rosemary, 1 tbsp dried thyme, 1 tbsp tomato paste, and 1 tsp Dijon mustard to the skillet, stirring for 1 minute to combine. Pour in 1 cup chicken broth and 1/2 cup apple cider, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
4. Step 4: Add the apple slices to the slow cooker, then pour the sauce mixture over the pork. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours until pork is fork-tender.