This Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder With Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glaze comes together in about 10 minutes and is a total set-it-and-forget-it recipe for a quick and easy weeknight dinner that your family will love!
Ingredients Breakdown
Let’s dive into what you’ll need to make this masterpiece of a dish! Here’s the ingredient list:
- 4 pound pork shoulder (boneless pork butt): The star of the show! This cut becomes incredibly tender as it cooks low and slow.
- 4 cloves garlic, grated: For that aromatic kick that infuses the meat with flavor.
- 2 teaspoons ground sage: Complements the pork beautifully.
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt: Just a couple of pinches here to really bring out the flavors.
- Freshly ground black pepper: Because everything is better with a bit of spice.
- 4 bay leaves: These add depth while cooking.
- 1/2 cup water: Keeps everything moist and helps with cooking.
- 1 cup dark brown sugar: For that sweet and savory balance in the glaze.
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar: Adds acidity that wonderfully balances the sweetness.
- 1/4 cup soy sauce: Brings in that umami flavor.
- 2 tablespoons mustard powder: This gives a nice tang and depth.
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch: A little thickening agent to help out our glaze.
Feel free to make substitutions! For example, if you don’t have pork shoulder, pork loin or even chicken can work here too, though the cooking times will differ a bit. Play around with the flavor profile to make it your own!
Let’s Get Cooking!
Ready to create some magic? Here’s how to make this delicious dish step by step!
Prep the pork: Place the pork shoulder in your slow cooker and smoosh it around with your hands, adding the grated garlic, sage, salt, black pepper, bay leaves, and water. Trust me, getting a little messy is part of the fun!
Cook the pork: Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on High for about 4 hours. You’ll know it’s done when the pork is tender and practically falls apart when you poke it!
Make the glaze: In a measuring cup, whisk together the brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, mustard powder, and cornstarch until smooth. This step is key because the glaze is what transforms the pork shoulder into pure ambrosia!
Combine the glaze: Pour this amazing mixture into the slow cooker over the pork, then let everything cook for an additional hour. The aroma wafting through your kitchen is sure to make you weak in the knees!
Serve it up: Carve the pork against the grain into individual portions and serve it up with roasted carrots, steamed veggies, or fluffy white rice, whatever tickles your fancy.
There you go! A total of about five hours, and you have a feast that’s sure to impress.
If you loved this Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder, be sure to check out my Bacon Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin, my Teriyaki Chicken, or my Couscous Salad!
What Makes This Recipe Special
Quick & Easy
It comes together in under 10 minutes! Seriously, you just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it do the magic for you. This makes it perfect for those evenings when you’re juggling a million things at once.
Minimal Cleanup
Since you’re essentially throwing everything in one pot, this dish results in minimal cleanup. Just the slow cooker and a whisk, easy peasy!
Budget-Friendly
With affordable, everyday ingredients, you won’t break the bank making this delicious meal. Most of these ingredients can be found in your pantry, making it easy on your wallet.
Comfort Food
This dish is absolutely loaded with tons of flavor. The rich, sticky glaze pairs perfectly with the tender pork, making it the ultimate comfort food that warms you right up!
Make-Ahead Friendly
This pork shoulder is the perfect candidate for meal prep. Feel free to make it ahead of time; it stores beautifully in the fridge and actually tastes even better the next day! You can easily reheat without losing any of the deliciousness.
Serving Suggestions and Storage
What to Serve With This Dish
This Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder is incredibly versatile! Pair it with roasted carrots, buttery mashed potatoes, or even a fresh side salad. Your options are truly endless! Feeling adventurous? Try it in tacos or sandwiches for a fun twist!
Storage Tips
- Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
- Reheating: The best method to reheat this dish is in a microwave, on medium power. Stir occasionally until heated through. If you want to be fancy, you could also reheat it on the stovetop with a splash of broth to keep that juicy flavor alive.
- Freezer-friendly: Yes! You can freeze the glazed pork shoulder for up to 3 months. Just be sure to allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight freezer bag.
Cooking can be intimidating, but this Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder With Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glaze makes it simple and satisfying. It’s the kind of meal that brings people together, and you’ll find it becomes a staple in your household, just like it is in mine. Give it a try, and you might just find that you’ve stumbled upon your new favorite weeknight dinner!
So there you have it. Your ticket to pork perfection is right at your fingertips! Enjoy! Follow us on Pinterest for daily meal inspiration!
Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder With Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients
Method
- Place the pork shoulder in your slow cooker and mix with grated garlic, sage, salt, black pepper, bay leaves, and water.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on High for about 4 hours, until the pork is tender and falls apart.
- In a measuring cup, whisk together brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, mustard powder, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Pour the glaze mixture into the slow cooker over the pork and cook for an additional hour.
- Carve the pork against the grain into portions and serve with your choice of sides.