Description
Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder is a cozy, one-pot fall dish featuring tender pork slow-cooked in apple cider, aromatic herbs, onions, and crisp apples for a flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth meal.
Ingredients
4–5 lb pork shoulder roast or Boston butt 2 tablespoons neutral oil (canola or vegetable) 2 cups fresh apple cider 2 cups chicken stock or broth 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon dehydrated minced onion 1 head of garlic, top sliced off opposite root 3 rosemary sprigs 4 thyme sprigs 1 red onion, cut into thick slices 2 firm, slightly tart apples (Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Gala), peeled and cut into wedges Kosher salt Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Trim excess fat from pork and cut into 4 pieces if desired. Pat pork dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear pork 4-5 minutes per side until deeply browned. Whisk together apple cider, chicken stock, Dijon mustard, and dehydrated onion. Tie rosemary and thyme into a small bundle. Place pork back into the Dutch oven and pour in braising liquid. Add garlic and herb bundle, cover, and place in oven. Braise for about 3 hours, flipping halfway, until pork is nearly fork-tender. Remove pork and arrange onions and apples around it, cover, and return to oven for 30-45 minutes. Let pork rest in braising liquid for 30 minutes before serving. Squeeze garlic into liquid or over pork and adjust seasoning.
Notes
Use bone-in for extra flavor or boneless for easier slicing. Trim excess fat if pork is very fatty. Select firm, slightly tart apples like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Gala. Resting the pork in braising liquid ensures maximum juiciness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 120mg