Braised Pork Shoulder is the one-pot, comfort meal that is perfect on those nights when you need something warm and cozy. Fall apart tender and cooked in flavorful apple cider, this pork is absolutely amazing. It's easy to make, perfect for the any time of year, and everyone loves it!
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If you need other ideas for simple main dishes, you've come to the right spot! Try my Herb Roasted Chicken, Instant Pot Pot Roast, or my Cornish Hens! All so good, all so simple!
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Is there anything better that a one-pot comfort food recipe that's super easy and it beyond incredible. I think not. This Braised Pork Shoulder will make your house smell like a million dollars - the apple cider along with thyme and sage braise the pork and it's just incredible.
The prep comes together in no time. The pork shoulder is simply seared with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. The deglazing comes from chicken broth and the apple cider. The herbs go in along with the onion and garlic. During the last hour of cooking, slices of tangy Honey crisp apples add another wonderful layer of flavor.
It's a wonderful dish for slow weekends, perfectly comforting and delicious enough to serve for a dinner party, and is even fantastic for freezing for easy meals in the future. You can serve this Braised Pork Shoulder a number of ways and everyone loves it. Don't sleep on this recipe. It's a keeper.
What You'll Need
- Pork Shoulder Roast or Pork Butt Roast - You can use either. Shoulder roasts are typically leaner and pork butt usually has more fat. They're both great for this!
- Fresh Apple Cider, Chicken Broth, Whole Mustard - For the flavorful braising liquid.
- Yellow Onion and Honey Crispy Apples - Onion and apples go with pork like peas and carrots.
- Dried Thyme Leaves, Ground Sage, Ground Cinnamon, Bay Leaves - The herbs and spices. You'll get wonderfully earthy, slightly warm flavors from this combination.
Dutch Oven: My Forever Love Letter
You need a dutch oven. Of all of my kitchen tools, my dutch oven is something I use more than almost anything. I make bread in it, use it for soups, and make my kitchen smell like a gourmet restaurant when I use it to braise things like this braised pork shoulder.
I cannot recommend getting one enough. I am a huge fan of the enameled cast iron because that's what I know and love. As long as it's the heavy cast iron, it will get hot and retain heat. That's the key and will up your game in the kitchen!
Buy Now → 
How To Make It
To say I'm excited about this recipe is an understatement. Simple ingredients, simple prep, and maximum flavor. That is my kind of meal!
I'm gonna give you a brief rundown here, but the details and specifics will live in the recipe card below. All you have to do is:
- Season and sear the pork.
- Deglaze and braise.
- Shred and serve.
Those are the most basic of steps, but by adding the apples and mustard and the spices, your kitchen is going to smell like a million dollars. Simple, basic, method, but phenomenal outcome!
Serving Ideas
I could eat this Braised Pork Should straight out of the dutch oven. And, I do. However, etiquette rules and such would probably suggest doing a more proper serving situation.
Serve this pork over mashed potatoes or cauliflower for more of a classic option. My kids looove it over buttered noodles. Tossed with a long pasta like tagliatelle, this braised pork would look beautiful, as well.
I'm always going to be pro-crusty bread when there is a sauce. This braising liquid is pure liquid gold. Spoon it over the top of the pork, dip a lovely piece of bread in it. You cannot go wrong.
Other serving ideas for this braised pork shoulder are:
- Roasted Green Beans
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Roasted Asparagus
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Buttered Noodles
Leftover Ideas
The leftovers you can create with this braised pork shoulder recipe are incredible. I have a tendency to just grab a small bowl and reheat it in the microwave and devour. That said, this pork is gonna be great a number of ways the next day. Here are a few ideas:
- Pork sliders on Hawaiian rolls
- In a lovely flour tortilla topped with a little cotija cheese
- On top of a simple green salad for an easy lunch at work
- Tossed with your favorite pasta or noodle
- In between two slices of bread with your favorite cheese for the most epic grilled cheese ever
Instant Pot Instructions
Follow the Braised Pork Shoulder recipe as written, using the high sauté function on the Instant Pot to sear the pork. Remove the pork as written in the instructions and deglaze with the broth and cider. Add the mustard and herbs and return the pork to the cooker bowl with the onions and garlic. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 60 minutes, with natural release. After the lid has released, add the apples and set to high pressure cook for an additional 5 minutes using a quick release.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Use a cast iron skillet or the sear function on the slow cooker prior to cooking. Do not skip this step because it adds a ton of flavor! Once the pork is seared, add it to the slow cooker and pour the braising liquid over the top. Add the onions, garlic, herbs and spices, cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or low for 7-8 hours. Add apples toward the end of cooking and continue until they’re just tender. Braised pork shoulder is meant to be simple, so just cook it in whatever makes life easier for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Braised Pork Shoulder recipe gluten and/or dairy-free?
This recipe is both gluten and dairy-free!
What is the difference between pork shoulder and pork butt?
A Pork Shoulder and Boston Pork Butt are both cuts from the shoulder of a pig. However, a pork shoulder is typically a leaner cut while the pork butt has more intramuscular marbling. For this recipe and because we are braising for a long time, either cut would be wonderful. Choose what you love.
Is bone-in or boneless pork shoulder better?
This is total person preference. Bone-in pork shoulders/butts will give you more flavor and will make the sauce richer. However, if you don't want to mess with the bone, don't worry about it. A boneless pork roast will still give you an amazing end result. You do you, boo!
What are the storing instructions for this Braised Pork Shoulder?
This braised pork will stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
However, this recipe is also a great one to freeze. In airtight containers in the freezer, this pork will stay good up to 3 months. All you have to do is thaw and heat.
Braised Pork Shoulder Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb pork shoulder roast or Boston butt roast
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups apple cider NOT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
- 1 med yellow onion, quartered
- 1 head garlic, top ¼" trimmed off
- 2 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon ground sage
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple, peeled and sliced
Instructions
- Liberally season the pork roast with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. ln a dutch oven over medium-high heat, sear the pork on all sides in the avocado oil. Remove the roast and set it aside.
- Pour the chicken broth and apple cider into the dutch oven. Using a spatula, make sure the browned bits are scraped up and incorporated into the cider and broth. Stir in the sage, thyme, and cinnamon along with the whole grain mustard.
- Return the pork to the dutch oven along with the bay leaves, onion, and the head of garlic. Into a preheated 325° oven the pork goes for two hours.
- After two hours, turn the pork over and carefully, pull it apart just a bit. It's not finished at this point. We just want to pull it apart a little so that wonderful braising liquid can get into the nooks and crannies. Return the pork to the oven.
- At the 3 hour mark, add the peeled apple slices and return everything to the oven for 30 minutes to 1 hour or until the pork is fall apart tender.
- Remove the roast from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Shred the meat and top with the braising liquid. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you guys make this Braised Pork Shoulder, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Braised Pork Shoulder recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. It makes my heart so happy! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
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Rex Tackett says
When I’m looking for a good recipe I never go wrong with Rufus. Great way to prepare a pork shoulder. Flavorful and moist. This method puts flavor in pork all the way to the center. Easy cook.
Rufus says
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it!