Traditional Braised Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables
Fall-apart pork shoulder simmered with parsnips, carrots, and thyme in a rich herb-infused broth until deeply flavorful. This french-inspired slow cooker ready in about 180 minutes pairs trimmed of excess fat pork shoulder, medium, quartered yellow onion, fresh thyme for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 510 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
- 1.5 lbs, trimmed of excess fat pork shoulder
- 2 medium, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks parsnips
- 4 medium, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks carrots
- 1 medium, quartered yellow onion
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1.5 cups chicken stock
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat pork shoulder dry and season with salt and pepper. In a heavy pot, melt butter over medium-high heat and brown pork on all sides (8 minutes total). Remove pork and set aside.
- Step 2: Add onion to pot and cook 5 minutes until softened. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute to form a paste. Gradually whisk in chicken stock and thyme, scraping up browned bits from pot bottom.
- Step 3: Return pork to pot, add parsnips and carrots. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 2.5 hours until pork is tender enough to pull apart with a fork.
- Step 4: Remove pork and vegetables; strain broth into a saucepan. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to reduce until slightly thickened. Return pork and vegetables to pot, spooning broth over them.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Traditional Braised Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables take to make?
Total time is about 180 minutes (30 min prep + 150 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 Traditional Braised 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 fresh thyme from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Traditional Braised 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 Traditional Braised 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 Traditional Braised Pork Shoulder with Root Vegetables?
French 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
- ★★★★★
Loved it! So flavorful and the root vegetables absorbed all the delicious sauce.
- ★★★★★
The slow cooker made it so easy. The flavors developed beautifully, and the pork fell off the bone.
- ★★★★★
A delicious family favorite. My kids loved the braised pork and the carrots and potatoes turned out amazing.
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