Caramelized Onion Braised Pork Shoulder

Braised for hours in a caramelized onion sauce with lots of hearty potatoes, this braised pork shoulder cooks up fall-apart tender and makes a great meat entree for any occasion.

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Let me go on record to say that I would set up permanent residence in a pot of this pork shoulder if that was even remotely possible.

I blame it on the caramelized onions and all that fall-apart meaty goodness, I mean can ya blame me??

This is one of those fall dinners that cooks itself for hours on hours and the smells it fills your house with alone is worth the wait.

And the prize at the end is the most tender pork shoulder you’ll ever have the pleasure of falling apart on your plate with the absolute best flavor thanks to that mess of caramelized onions.

This Pork Shoulder Features…

• Fall-apart tender braised pork shoulder
• Flavorful caramelized onions simmered in white wine and beef broth
• Tender golden potatoes

Making the Pork Shoulder

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

• Unsalted butter
• Sweet onions
• Garlic
• White wine
• Pork shoulder
• Beef broth
• Rosemary
• Bay leaf
• Golden potatoes

Choosing Your Pork Shoulder

You will need about 2-1/2 to 3 lbs pork shoulder for this recipe. Both boneless or bone-in work great with this recipe, however, bone-in may take a little longer to cook. Make sure to cook pork until it pulls apart easily with a fork.

To prep the pork for cooking, pat pork dry with paper towels and use a knife to trim off any excess fat on the outside.

Tips for Perfect Pork Shoulder

1. Caramelize onions over medium-low heat – it takes time and patience to caramelize onions so don’t be tempted to bump up the heat.
2. Pan sear pork shoulder – get a good sear on all sides of the pork shoulder before braising. This builds the flavor base for the entire dish.
3. Braise pork shoulder 3-1/2 to 4 hours at 300F – this low and slow cook time is essential for breaking down the pork shoulder into a tender cut of meat.
4. Add potatoes during last hour of cooking – adding the potatoes at this point will keep them from overcooking.

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on this pork.

• Use different vegetables – sweet potatoes, carrots, russet potatoes, butternut squash, parsnips, or beets would all be great veggie options.
• Make it nonalcoholic – replace the white wine with additional beef broth and 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar.
• Try a different herb – try fresh sage or thyme.

Serving Suggestions

I recommend serving this braised pork shoulder like you would any pot roast. It goes great alongside mashed potatoes, polenta, buttered noodles, or with some crusty bread slices.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

This pork shoulder stores well in refrigerator up to 6 days. Reheat individual servings in microwave on high 1-2 minutes until heated through.

To freeze pork shoulder, allow to cool completely then transfer to a container and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw pork in refrigerator and reheat individual servings in microwave.

More cozy fall dinners you’ll love!

• Braised Short Ribs with Gremolata
• Apple Cider Pork Shoulder
• Red Wine Beef Short Rib Ragu

Save this recipe for later using the ‘save to recipe box’ button. If you make it, please let me know by leaving a comment + star rating below the recipe card. This only takes moments and helps support my website so much!