Slow-Roasted Pork with Garlic, Oregano, and Lemon
Succulent pork shoulder slow-roasted with garlic, fresh oregano, and bright lemon for tender, flavorful meat. This greek-inspired pork ready in about 280 minutes pairs pork shoulder (bone-in), garlic cloves, minced, fresh oregano, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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 (bone-in)
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. In a small bowl, combine 6 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano, 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp lemon zest, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper to make a marinade.
- Step 2: Pat 3 lbs bone-in pork shoulder dry with paper towels. Rub the garlic-oregano-lemon marinade all over the pork, making sure to coat evenly. Let marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor.
- Step 3: Place the pork shoulder in a roasting pan and roast in the preheated oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, basting every hour with pan juices, until the meat is fork-tender and an internal temperature of 190°F is reached.
- Step 4: Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing or shredding. Serve with roasted vegetables or a fresh salad.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Roasted Pork with Garlic, Oregano, and Lemon take to make?
Total time is about 280 minutes (70 min prep + 210 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-Roasted Pork with Garlic, Oregano, and Lemon?
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 (bone-in) from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Roasted Pork with Garlic, Oregano, and Lemon?
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-Roasted Pork with Garlic, Oregano, and Lemon 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-Roasted Pork with Garlic, Oregano, and Lemon?
Greek pork 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.
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