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Introduction
This Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pork Roast is the perfect comfort food for cozy family dinners, holidays, or lazy weekends. Tender pork shoulder slowly cooks with sweet apples, rich brown sugar, and fresh apple cider until it becomes melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The apples break down into a naturally sweet sauce that coats every bite of juicy shredded pork with warm autumn flavor. Best of all, the slow cooker does most of the work, making this recipe both simple and satisfying.
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of excess hard fat
- 2 cups apple cider (not vinegar)
- 2 large apples, cored and sliced (such as Gala or Honeycrisp)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
Instructions
- Arrange the sliced apples in an even layer on the bottom of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. The apples help keep the pork moist while adding natural sweetness to the sauce.
- Place the pork shoulder on top of the apples. If one side has a thicker fat cap, position it facing upward so the fat slowly bastes the roast during cooking.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top and sides of the pork. Press it gently onto the meat so it sticks and forms a sweet glaze as it cooks.
- Carefully pour the apple cider around the sides of the pork roast instead of directly over the top. This helps keep the brown sugar coating in place while adding moisture to the slow cooker.
- Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the pork is extremely tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Once fully cooked, use two forks to pull the pork into large, soft shreds directly in the slow cooker. Stir the meat together with the softened apples and cooking juices so everything becomes coated in the rich, sweet glaze.
- For thicker juices, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces slightly.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness if desired by adding a little more brown sugar or a splash of apple cider. Serve hot with plenty of the apples and juices spooned over the top.
Conclusion
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pork Roast is a hearty, flavorful meal that combines savory pork with the sweet taste of apples and cider. The long, slow cooking process creates incredibly tender meat and a rich homemade glaze that tastes like fall in every bite. Serve it with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or warm rolls for a comforting dinner everyone will love.
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