Slow Cooker Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Carrots and Potatoes
A tender pork shoulder slow-cooked with a sweet maple glaze, served alongside roasted carrots and potatoes for a comforting weeknight dinner. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 minutes pairs pork shoulder, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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 maple syrup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 medium, chopped onion
- 1 lb, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks carrots
- 1.5 lbs, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks potatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 3 lbs pork shoulder dry with paper towels and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper; place in slow cooker with 1 medium chopped onion.
- Step 2: Whisk 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, and 4 minced garlic cloves in a small bowl, then pour over the pork shoulder to coat.
- Step 3: Arrange 1 lb peeled and chopped carrots and 1.5 lbs peeled and chopped potatoes around the pork, drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Step 4: Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours until pork is fork-tender.
- Step 5: Transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest for 15 minutes; slice and serve with vegetables.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow Cooker Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Carrots and Potatoes 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 Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Carrots and Potatoes?
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 Cooker Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Carrots and Potatoes?
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 Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Carrots and Potatoes 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 Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Carrots and Potatoes?
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
- ★★★★★
Made with what I had on hand and it still came out great.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
