This Cider Braised Pork Shoulder is so tender and delicious. I serve with slow-cooked carrots over mashed potatoes or whipped butternut squash for the ultimate comfort fall dinner.

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Ever since the first cold wisps of fall I’ve been dying to braise something. Anything. Everything.

So last week I picked a beautiful sunny yet slightly chilly day, I hit play on my favorite playlist and took out my favorite dutch oven.

If I had to pick my favorite thing to braise, it would be a pork shoulder. Or venison. But being that I had a pork shoulder that I had planned to throw in the slow cooker to make carnitas with, but didn’t because that would involve me going down into our basement storage area and find it, and well, as you can see I’d rather braise in my Staub.

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Being that I live in Michigan there’s a cider mill right around the corner from us,  so come fall, we always have apple cider in our fridge. Therefore I knew exactly what I was making for dinner with my pork shoulder – and it wasn’t sandwiches.

Ingredients for Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

To Make This Cider Braised Pork You Will Need:

  • avocado oil
  • bone-in pork shoulder
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • onion
  • carrots
  • celery
  • garlic
  • apple cider
  • low-sodium chicken broth
  • fresh thyme sprigs
  • rainbow carrots

pat pork dry with paper towel

Prep The Pork Shoulder:

Preheat your oven to 300°F (or 150°C).

Always pull a large piece of meat 30 to 60 minutes before searing it. Doing this will take the chill off of it, because you don’t ever want to sear cold meat. Next pat it dry with paper towels.

season every side with salt and pepper

Then place 2 tablespoons of avocado oil into a large 7-quart Dutch oven and heat to medium-high. While the pot is preheating season all sides of the pork shoulder generously with kosher salt and black pepper.

add oil to large dutch oven and sear on all sides

Next, sear the meat for 3 to 5 minutes on all sides.

seared pork shoulder in pot

If the roast is sticking, give it another minute and try again.

prep veggies

While your searing the pork, roughly chopped up 1 large onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks and then smash and peel 4 large cloves of garlic.

remove seared pork, transfer it to a plate and set off to the side

Once you’ve seared the pork, remove to a clean plate and set off to the side.

add veggies to pot and scrape bottom of the pot with a wooden spatula

Next add in all the chopped vegetables and garlic, and use a wooden spatula to stir while scraping the bottom of the pot.

nestle the seared pork into the pot with the veggies

Nestle the pork shoulder into the vegetables in the pot.

pour in apple cider and broth

Pour in 2 cups of apple cider and 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth.

add in sprigs of thyme

Lastly, add in 8 sprigs of fresh thyme.

cover and braise for 3 hours

Cover and slide into your preheated oven for 3 hours.

prep rainbow carrots

In the last 10 minutes of cooking, prep 10 rainbow carrots. If you can’t find them, you can of course use regular carrots.

cider braised pork shoulder in pot

After braising for 3 hours, remove the pot from the oven and preheat your oven to 375°F (or 190°C). The pork will be fall-apart-tender and your home should be smelling incredible.

remove pork shoulder to cutting board

Carefully remove the pork shoulder to a carving board with a juice groove. I use tongs and a large spatula to help lift it out of the pot. Remove the bone and discard.

cut pork into 8 large chunks

Use a knife to cut into 8 large chunks. If it falls apart while cutting it (which it may very well) no worries.

bowl of veggies from pot

Using a slotted spoon, remove the veggies, garlic and thyme stems and transfer to a bowl. They’ve done their job flavoring the braising liquids. Allow these to cool before throwing away.

strain braising liquids into a fat separator

Pour the braising liquids into a fat separator. After a few minutes, the fat will rise to the top.

pull spout from fat separator and pour in only the braising liquids

Pull the plunger out of the spout and pour the braising liquids back into the pot leaving the fat in the separator cup.

add the braised pork back in

Use tongs to add the pork back into the pot with the braising liquids.

add in the rainbow carrots

Then add in the rainbow carrots. Place the pot, leaving it uncovered, back into the oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until the carrots are fork tender.

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder in pot with parsley

The carrots will cook and the pork will get a little crispy on the top.

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Serve the cider braised pork and tender carrots over mashed potatoes, cauliflower puree or whipped butternut squash.

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Spoon some of the apple cider braising liquids over top and season with a little freshly ground black pepper, and a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley and thyme.

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

This luscious and tender cider-braised pork is simple, scrumptious and perfect for cooler fall or chilly winter days.

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Enjoy! And if you give this Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
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Yield: 6 servings

Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Pork shoulder is braised low and slow in apple cider and vegetables until perfection. Served with carrots over mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort dinner.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 4 pounds bone-in pork shoulder
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves peeled fresh garlic, smashed
  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 8 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 10 rainbow carrots, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (or use regular)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 300°F (or 150°C).
  • Always pull a large piece of meat 30 to 60 minutes before searing it. Doing this will take the chill off of it, because you don’t ever want to sear cold meat. Next pat it dry with paper towels.
  • Then place 2 tablespoons of avocado oil into a large 7-quart Dutch oven and heat to medium-high. While the pot is preheating season all sides of the pork shoulder generously with kosher salt and black pepper.
  • Once the oil is hot, sear the pork for 3 to 5 minutes on all sides. While your searing the pork, roughly chopped up 1 large onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks and then smash and peel 4 large cloves of garlic.
    Once you’ve seared the pork, remove to a clean plate and set off to the side.
  • Next add in all the chopped vegetables and garlic, and use a wooden spatula to stir while scraping the bottom of the pot. Nestle the pork shoulder into the vegetables in the pot. Pour in 2 cups of apple cider and 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth. Lastly, add in 8 sprigs of fresh thyme. Cover and slide into your preheated oven for 3 hours.
  • In the last 10 minutes of cooking, prep the rainbow carrots. After braising for 3 hours, remove the pot from the oven and preheat your oven to 375°F (or 190°C). Carefully remove the pork shoulder to a carving board with a juice groove. I use tongs and a large spatula to help lift it out of the pot. Remove the bone and discard. Use a knife to cut into 8 large chunks. If it falls apart while cutting it (which it may very well) no worries.
  • Using a slotted spoon to remove the veggies, garlic and thyme stems and transfer to a bowl, let cool before discarding. Pour the braising liquids into a fat separator. After a few minutes, the fat will rise to the top. Pull the plunger out of the spout and pour the braising liquids back into the pot leaving the fat in the separator cup.
  • Use tongs to add the pork back into the pot with the braising liquids. Then add in the rainbow carrots. Place the pot, leaving it uncovered, back into the oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until fork tender.
  • Serve the cider braised pork and tender carrots over mashed potatoes, cauliflower puree or whipped butternut squash. Spoon some of the apple cider braising liquids over top and season with a little freshly ground black pepper, and a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley and thyme.

Notes

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on SimplyScratch.com should only be used as a general guideline.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 422kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 124mg, Sodium: 252mg, Potassium: 1222mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 20573IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 94mg, Iron: 3mg