Spiced Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder Slow Cooker
Fall-apart tender pork shoulder glazed with maple and warm spices, slow-cooked to perfection. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 495 minutes pairs trimmed boneless pork shoulder, pure maple syrup, apple cider vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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, trimmed boneless pork shoulder
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 large, sliced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Step 1: Whisk together maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
- Step 2: Place trimmed pork shoulder in slow cooker. Arrange sliced onion and minced garlic around pork. Pour glaze mixture evenly over pork and vegetables, then add chicken broth to bottom of slow cooker.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until pork is fork-tender and easily pulls apart.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Spiced Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder Slow Cooker take to make?
Total time is about 495 minutes (15 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 Spiced Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder Slow Cooker?
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 pure maple syrup from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Spiced Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder Slow Cooker?
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 Spiced Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder Slow Cooker 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 Spiced Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder Slow Cooker?
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
- ★★★★★
Doubled the garlic (as one does) and it was amazing.
- ★★★★★
Substituted chicken for tofu and it worked beautifully.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 480-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
Related recipes
Slow-Cooked Herb-Roasted Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables
Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables and Rosemary
Smith's Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder with Apple Cider Glaze
Texas-Style Pulled Pork Sliders
Maple-Glazed Pork Shoulder with Apple and Sage
Slow-Braised Pork Shoulder with Apples and Low-Sodium Broth
