Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More
    • The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More
    • 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
    • 45-Minute Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Budget-Friendly Recipes
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Videos
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Ingredients
  3. Pork Recipes
  4. 23 Recipes That Start With a Pork Shoulder

23 Recipes That Start With a Pork Shoulder

Updated February 13, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Charcoal-grilled Pork Shoulder with Fresh Herbs and Roasted Garlic
Credit: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Randy Mon

Whether you're roasting it, slow-cooking it, or stuffing it into tacos, you can't go wrong with this affordable fan-favorite cut of pork. From savory posole to meaty and majestic nachos, here are 23 reasons to pick up a pork shoulder for dinner this week.

Start Slideshow

1 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Adobada

Adobada image
Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Thom Driver; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Adobada Recipe

Adobada is a general term that refers to meat (often pork) that is marinated in a very thick, flavorful, chile-based mixture. When cooked in a hot pan—note, this is key, your pan needs to be hot— the meat will develop a delightfully charred, crisp exterior while maintaining a succulent interior. This flavor-packed pork recipe is an amazing start for tacos; simply spoon the meat into warm corn tortillas and serve with minced onion, cilantro, and lime juice.

1 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Sous Vide Barbecue Pork

Sous Vide Barbecue Pork image
Credit: Daniel Agee; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Mark Driskill

Sous Vide Barbecue Pork Recipe

Utilized in professional kitchens for years, sous vide is a largely hands-off cooking method, based in incredibly precise temperature control, that many home cooks are beginning to embrace for seamless, simple meal prep. After the initial investment in obtaining the necessary equipment, sous vide provides a no-fuss, foolproof route to incredible flavor and consistency.

2 of 23

3 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Instant Pot Pork Shoulder

Instant Pot Pork Shoulder image
Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Instant Pot Pork Shoulder Recipe

3 of 23

Advertisement

4 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Roast

slow-cooked-bbbq-pork-roast
Credit: Whitney Ott

Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Roast Recipe

The slow cooker makes fall our new favorite season for barbecue. This pork shoulder simmers in a vinegar- and ketchup-laced liquid until tender and juicy. Top with pickled red onions. Pile the pork onto game-day sandwiches or baked sweet potatoes.

4 of 23

5 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Posole

Posole
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Posole Recipe

Posole is a traditional Mexican soup, which boasts exuberant flavors of hominy, chiles, pork shoulder, and corn tortillas. Top your bowl with cilantro and thinly sliced radish to make it a year-round favorite!

5 of 23

6 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Smoked Beer-Braised Pork Shoulder Tacos

Smoked Beer-Braised Pork Shoulder Tacos
Credit: Victor Protasio

Smoked Beer-Braised Pork Shoulder Tacos Recipe

The pork is especially flavorful if you rub on the spices well ahead of time and let the roast stand in the refrigerator overnight. Copeland uses Arrowood smoked lager for this recipe (it’s local for her), but you can use any smoked beer; if you can’t find one, try a nut ale, a porter, or just 1 1/2 cups chicken stock. Though the oven method here produces tastier results, you can also make the pork in a slow cooker; brown the meat on the stovetop first, and cook with the beer on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

6 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

BBQ-Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes

BBQ-Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

BBQ-Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Maximize the space in your hot oven by roasting several sweet potatoes at once. You could also use the same method to roast beets or a head of garlic. The foil traps in the steam for moist, tender sweet potato flesh. Refrigerate the remaining foil-wrapped spuds for up to one week. To turn this popular side into a meal, we stuff the potatoes with saucy barbeque pork tenderloin, a “hacked” version of an hours-long barbeque pork shoulder. You could sub the pork for chicken, or go vegetarian with a baked bean filling and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese.

7 of 23

8 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Cuban Nachos

Cuban Nachos image
Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Julia Levy; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson

Cuban Nachos Recipe

Although these pork and black bean nachos require a bit more attention than your basic platter of loaded nachos, they’re well worth the effort. These are the nachos to make when you really wanna go next-level and impress a group. With the succulent pork, Swiss cheese and mustard sauce, and bread-and-butter pickles, this crowd-pleasing play on a Cuban sandwich packs a powerful load of flavor.

8 of 23

9 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder Recipe

If you want to dress up the humble pork shoulder roast, ask your butcher to butterfly it. Sprinkle the spice rub all over both sides of pork; roll and tie it with kitchen string before browning.

9 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Brown Rice Noodle Bowls with Tofu, Pork, and Kimchi

Brown Rice Noodle Bowls with Tofu, Pork, and Kimchi
Credit: Brian Kennedy; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Brown Rice Noodle Bowls with Tofu, Pork, and Kimchi Recipe

Little bits of crisped pork belly offer chewy bites in the bowl, but easier-to-find ground pork is delicious, too. If you happen to have some leftover cooked pork shoulder, you can toss that in the soup as well.

10 of 23

11 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos

Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos
Credit: Victor Protasio

Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos Recipe

This is going to become your new go-to on taco night. Pork shoulder becomes meltingly tender as it slow-cooks in the chile- and garlic-infused citrus sauce. Searing the pork in a skillet for just a minute adds a depth of flavor you don't otherwise get in a slow cooker. Mildly spicy ancho chile (dried poblano peppers) adds authentic chile flavor to the sauce. Look for dried chiles in the produce or bulk spice department in large supermarkets. To serve taco truck–style, tuck the carnitas into warm corn tortillas and keep the toppings simple with diced white onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Pair with slaw on the side.

11 of 23

12 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Many Onions Pork Shoulder

Many Onions Pork Shoulder
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kay Clarke

Many Onions Pork Shoulder Recipe

Don't be intimidated by the size of the pork roast that you're working with; your slow cooker  is going to do pretty much all of the work for you. Wake up in the morning, take a few minutes to brown the pork, and then set it and forget it--you'll be on your way to something exceptional.

12 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Smothered Vinegar Pork Shoulder with Apples and Kale

Smothered Vinegar Pork Shoulder with Apples and Kale
Credit: Rob Culpepper; Styling: Hagen Stegall

Smothered Vinegar Pork Shoulder with Apples and Kale Recipe

Settle in tonight for a cozy, comforting dinner of Smothered Vinegar Pork Shoulder with Apples and Kale. The pork is wonderfully tender and the kale-apple mixture provides the perfect complement to this the meal.

13 of 23

14 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Cracklin'-Fresh Picnic Ham with Apple-Cranberry-Pomegranate Salsa

Cracklin'-Fresh Picnic Ham with Apple-Cranberry-Pomegranate Salsa
Credit: Melina Hammer; Styling: Iain Bagwell

Cracklin'-Fresh Picnic Ham with Apple-Cranberry-Pomegranate Salsa Recipe

Ask your butcher: While a holiday ham traditionally consists of a cured, brined, or smoked cut of pork from the hind leg, we're taking liberties with the word "ham" and choosing the best cut for this job: the shoulder. Order a skin-on fresh picnic ham, aka the picnic cut, a forgiving, economical joint that will give you the juiciest results.

14 of 23

15 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Southern Barbecue Bowl

Southern Barbecue Bowl
Credit: Hector Sanchez Styling: Lydia Purcell

Southern Barbecue Bowl Recipe

This is a riff on the Korean rice dish bibimbap, in which various toppings are arranged over a bed of rice. Here, Southern Barbecue bowl must-haves such as pinto beans, charred corn, and roasted pork shoulder top brown rice.

15 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Pork Shoulder Roast with Figs, Garlic, and Pinot Noir

Pork Shoulder Roast with Figs, Garlic, and Pinot Noir
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Randy Mon

Pork Shoulder Roast with Figs, Garlic, and Pinot Noir Recipe

Stuffing this roast with figs and garlic slivers will make you feel like a modern-day Julia Child, and the results are stunning: mosaic-like slices infused with rich fruit and wine flavors.

16 of 23

17 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Honey-Soy Braised Pork Shoulder

Honey-Soy Braised Pork Shoulder
Credit: Andrew McCaul; Styling: Suzette Kaminski

Honey-Soy Braised Pork Shoulder Recipe

17 of 23

18 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings
Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings Recipe

Start by slow-cooking pork shoulder in an aromatic bath of pineapple, beer (try a floral, spiced white ale like Hoegaarden or Blue Moon), and canned chipotles in adobo. Then shred the meat and set out a taco bar full of fresh flavors, bright colors, and crunchy textures. You can't go wrong here. We like bowls of crumbled cheeses, sliced radishes, chopped onions, avocado, shredded cabbage, and plenty of fresh cilantro.

18 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Soy and Cola-Braised Pork Shoulder

Soy and Cola-Braised Pork Shoulder
Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Soy and Cola-Braised Pork Shoulder Recipe

Serve this East-meets-West pulled pork on hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls with shaved cucumber and carrot ribbons tossed with rice vinegar. Or stuff it into tortillas for Asian-style tacos with matchstick-cut cucumber and carrot.

19 of 23

20 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder

Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder
Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder Recipe

This will become your new go-to pork shoulder slow-cooker recipe, thanks to the sweet and tangy soy-and-vinegar flavor profile. Pull the pork, and serve it Southern-style over grits or sandwiched between buns, and ladle on plenty of sauce.

20 of 23

21 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Cider Pork Roast with Apple-Thyme Gravy

Cider Pork Roast with Apple-Thyme Gravy
Credit: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Cider Pork Roast with Apple-Thyme Gravy Recipe

Pork shoulder roast needs long, slow heat to get tender, and this one, topped with a rich apple gravy, is especially succulent. The dish is delicious with cheesy mashed potatoes and a big green salad.

21 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Cuban Pork Shoulder with Beans and Rice

Cuban Pork Shoulder with Beans and Rice
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr

Cuban Pork Shoulder with Beans and Rice Recipe

You don't have to presoak the beans for this hearty dinner--they go straight into the cooker and end up perfectly tender 8 hours later. Since you blend up a whole orange, peel and all, you should look for Florida oranges, which have thinner skins than the thick-peeled fruits from California.

22 of 23

23 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Charcoal-grilled Pork Shoulder with Fresh Herbs and Roasted Garlic

Charcoal-grilled Pork Shoulder with Fresh Herbs and Roasted Garlic
Credit: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Randy Mon

Charcoal-grilled Pork Shoulder with Fresh Herbs and Roasted Garlic Recipe

5 to 7 hours, plus at least 1 day to brine.

Grilling this roast over charcoal is a little complicated, but the results are worth it-the crust is crisper and the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender. You can do the pork on a gas grill instead, though: Cook it at 275° with all burners turned on except the one beneath the pork; set a drip pan on the turned-off burner. The recipe is from Dana Ewart and Cameron Smith, chefs and caterers in Canada's Okanagan Valley, in British Columbia. They serve it as part of their open-air feasts at God's Mountain Estate, a vineyard and B&B near Penticton.

23 of 23

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 23 Adobada
    2 of 23 Sous Vide Barbecue Pork
    3 of 23 Instant Pot Pork Shoulder
    4 of 23 Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Roast
    5 of 23 Posole
    6 of 23 Smoked Beer-Braised Pork Shoulder Tacos
    7 of 23 BBQ-Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes
    8 of 23 Cuban Nachos
    9 of 23 Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder
    10 of 23 Brown Rice Noodle Bowls with Tofu, Pork, and Kimchi
    11 of 23 Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos
    12 of 23 Many Onions Pork Shoulder
    13 of 23 Smothered Vinegar Pork Shoulder with Apples and Kale
    14 of 23 Cracklin'-Fresh Picnic Ham with Apple-Cranberry-Pomegranate Salsa
    15 of 23 Southern Barbecue Bowl
    16 of 23 Pork Shoulder Roast with Figs, Garlic, and Pinot Noir
    17 of 23 Honey-Soy Braised Pork Shoulder
    18 of 23 Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings
    19 of 23 Soy and Cola-Braised Pork Shoulder
    20 of 23 Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder
    21 of 23 Cider Pork Roast with Apple-Thyme Gravy
    22 of 23 Cuban Pork Shoulder with Beans and Rice
    23 of 23 Charcoal-grilled Pork Shoulder with Fresh Herbs and Roasted Garlic

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email
    MyRecipes

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    MeredithMyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright MyRecipes. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.myrecipes.com

    Sign in

    View image

    23 Recipes That Start With a Pork Shoulder
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.