Slow Cooker Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables
Tender pork shoulder melts off the bone with a sticky-sweet honey and apple cider glaze, paired with roasted carrots and parsnips. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 minutes pairs pounds pork shoulder butt, honey, apple cider vinegar 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
- 2.5 pounds pork shoulder butt
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 medium, peeled and sliced 1-inch thick carrots
- 3 medium, peeled and sliced 1-inch thick parsnips
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat pork shoulder dry with paper towels, then rub with 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tsp thyme. Place in slow cooker.
- Step 2: Whisk honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and 2 tbsp water in a bowl until smooth. Pour over pork.
- Step 3: Arrange carrots and parsnips around pork. Sprinkle remaining garlic and thyme over vegetables. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil.
- Step 4: Cook on LOW for 8 hours until pork is fork-tender and vegetables are caramelized at edges.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow Cooker Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables 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 Cooker Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables?
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 pounds pork shoulder butt from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow Cooker Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables?
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 Cooker Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables 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 Cooker Honey-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables?
American slow cooker 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
- ★★★☆☆
It was fine. Came out a bit bland for my taste.
- ★★☆☆☆
Didn't come together the way I expected. Flavors were flat.
- ★★☆☆☆
Didn't come together the way I expected. Flavors were flat.
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