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Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Apple cider braised pork shoulder with slow oven braising until fall-apart tender. Pork is browned first, then cooked with apples, thyme, and rosemary for a caramelized cider pan sauce.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 lb boneless pork shoulder Use pork shoulder for best shred texture.
  • 2 cup hard or fresh apple cider
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 3 apples Cored and quartered.
  • 1 onion Sliced.
  • 4 clove garlic Smashed.
  • 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 mashed potatoes for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Prep and season
  1. Preheat oven to 325F, then season the pork generously with salt and pepper so the surface browns deeply.
Brown and build the braise
  1. Sear pork in olive oil in a Dutch oven on all sides until deeply browned, using a visible crust as your cue.
  2. Remove pork, then sauté onion and garlic in the drippings for 3 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Whisk apple cider, chicken broth, Dijon, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar, then pour the mixture into the pot, scraping up browned bits.
  4. Return pork to the pot, then add apples, thyme, and rosemary so they nest around the meat.
Braise and serve
  1. Cover and braise in the oven for 3-1/2 to 4 hours until fall-apart tender, indicated by meat that pulls apart easily with a fork.
  2. Shred the pork in the juices, then serve over mashed potatoes with spooned sauce and softened apple pieces.

Notes

For the best sauce, let the shredded pork sit in the hot cider juices for 10 minutes after braising so it thickens slightly before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Freeze shredded pork and sauce up to 2 months; thaw in the fridge overnight and rewarm gently. For a lower-sugar option, reduce or omit the brown sugar and rely on the apples for sweetness.