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Savory Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork Easy Weeknight Recipe

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A tender and flavorful slow cooker pork shoulder recipe featuring a perfect balance of sweet brown sugar and tangy balsamic vinegar, ideal for easy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (50 g)
  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (80 ml)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for browning)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or water (120 ml)

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels and trim excess fat if needed, leaving some for flavor.
  2. Season all sides generously with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
  3. Optional: Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and brown the pork on all sides for 3-4 minutes per side until golden crust forms. Transfer to slow cooker.
  4. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and minced garlic until sugar dissolves slightly. Pour over pork in slow cooker.
  5. Pour chicken broth or water around the pork to keep it moist.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or on HIGH for about 4 hours until pork is fork-tender.
  7. Remove pork and shred with two forks, discarding large pieces of fat.
  8. Return shredded pork to slow cooker and stir to coat with sauce.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot.

Notes

Browning the pork before slow cooking adds extra flavor but can be skipped for convenience. If sauce is too thin, remove pork and simmer sauce on stovetop for 5-10 minutes or add a cornstarch slurry to thicken. Turning pork halfway through cooking helps even flavor absorption. Optionally add a splash of apple cider vinegar at the end to brighten the sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker pork, brown sugar pork, balsamic pork, easy weeknight dinner, pork shoulder recipe, slow cooker recipe, savory pork

Find it online: https://bouncybowl.com/savory-slow-cooker-brown-sugar-balsamic-pork-easy-weeknight-recipe/