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Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder: A Juicy Comfort Food Delight

This Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder is a cozy one-pot dinner, perfect for fall, featuring tender pork cooked in apple cider.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Resting Time 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • large dutch oven

Ingredients
  

Pork and Braising Liquid

  • 4-5 lb pork shoulder roast or boston butt roast Refer to notes for boneless or bone-in options.
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 2 cups fresh apple cider Not apple cider vinegar.
  • 2 cups chicken stock or broth
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon dehydrated minced onion
  • 1 head garlic Top sliced off opposite of the root end.
  • 3 springs rosemary
  • 4 springs thyme
  • 1 medium red onion Cut into thick slices.
  • 2 medium firm and slightly tart apples Peeled and cut into wedges.
  • kosher salt For seasoning.
  • freshly cracked black pepper For seasoning.

Instructions
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Preheat an oven to 325 F.
  • Start by trimming the pork of excess fat, if there are large fat caps. Cut the pork into 4 large pieces, or leave it whole if it's bone-in.
  • Pat the pork pieces dry with a paper towel and season liberally all over with kosher salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, arrange the pork in a single layer. Sear for 4-5 minutes per side until the pork is deeply browned. Repeat on all sides. Depending on the size of your dutch oven, you may need to do this in batches.
  • While the pork is searing, whisk together the cider, stock or broth, dijon, and dehydrated minced onion together and set aside. Use kitchen twine to tie the rosemary and thyme together in a small bundle.
  • Once the pork is browned all over, pour in the braising liquid. Arrange the herbs and garlic head in the pot with the pork, cover and place in the oven.
  • Braise for 3 hours or so (start checking at 2 and a half hours for boneless), flipping the pork halfway through. Once the pork is just shy of fork tender, remove the pork from the oven and arrange the onions and apples around the pork. Cover and return to the oven for another 30-45 minutes. The pork should be very tender at this point.
  • Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest in the braising liquid for 30 minutes before serving. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of the husk into the broth or onto the pork. Season braising liquid to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the juices spooned over the pork, apples, and onions.

Notes

Refer to notes for optimal apple varieties: Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Gala, etc. Do not use Granny Smith, Red, or Golden Delicious apples as they tend to fall apart.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 25gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder, braised pork, comfort food, fall recipes, one-pot meals, pork shoulder
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