Slow Cooker Lechón Asado-Style Pork Shoulder

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-17 · Updated 2026-04-17

A tender slow-cooked pork shoulder infused with garlic and citrus, inspired by traditional Puerto Rican lechón asado, perfect for weeknight meals. This Puerto Rican-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, orange juice, adobo seasoning 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.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs pork shoulder
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp adobo seasoning
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 4 cloves, minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1, quartered onion
• 1/4 cup olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Place 3 lbs pork shoulder in a slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 tbsp adobo seasoning, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp oregano, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Pour over pork.
2. Step 2: Add 1 quartered onion and 1/4 cup olive oil to the slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until pork is tender and falls apart.
4. Step 4: Remove pork and strain cooking liquid into a saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat for 10 minutes until reduced by half.
5. Step 5: Slice pork and serve with reduced sauce and strained onions.