This slow cooker 4-ingredient apple cider pork roast is the kind of recipe that makes your whole house smell like fall in the best possible way. The first time I made it, my neighbor actually knocked on the door just to ask what was in my slow cooker because the aroma of apples, warm spices, and roasting pork had drifted out onto the sidewalk. It’s a true “set it and forget it” dinner: just pork, apple cider, apples, and a little brown sugar. The cider slowly bathes the roast all day, leaving it so tender it falls apart with a fork and develops a glossy, sticky glaze once you finish it on a sheet pan. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, Sunday dinners, or anytime you want something cozy without a lot of effort or ingredients.
Serve this apple cider pork roast piled onto a platter or right from the foil-lined baking sheet, spooning the soft stewed apples and amber pan juices over the top. It’s especially good with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, or buttered egg noodles to soak up all the sauce. Add a simple green side like sautéed green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, or a crisp salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the sweetness. Leftovers are fantastic tucked into toasted rolls with a little mustard or slaw for easy sandwiches the next day.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pork Roast
Ingredients
3 to 4 lb boneless pork shoulder or pork butt roast, trimmed of excess hard fat
2 cups apple cider (not apple cider vinegar)
3 large apples, peeled, cored, and thickly sliced
1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
Directions
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set it aside for later. This will be for glazing and serving the roast once it comes out of the slow cooker.
Scatter the sliced apples evenly over the bottom of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. This creates a soft, fruity bed for the pork and helps flavor the juices.
Place the pork roast on top of the apples in the slow cooker, fat side up if there is a visible fat cap. Pat it dry with paper towels so it browns and glazes better later.
In a measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the apple cider and brown sugar until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Pour this mixture all around and over the pork roast in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the pork is very tender and easily pulls apart with a fork. Every slow cooker runs a little differently, so start checking toward the earlier end of the time range.
