There is something mighty satisfying about a slow cooker supper that asks almost nothing of you beyond a few minutes at the counter. This 4-ingredient slow cooker diced pork shoulder recipe is the kind of plain, practical meal that fits right into a busy week, turning an affordable cut of pork into tender, flavorful bites with hardly any fuss. It has that old-fashioned Midwestern sensibility too: simple pantry ingredients, steady low heat, and a hearty result that feels like comfort at the end of a long day.
Spoon this pork over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, steamed rice, or creamy grits to catch every bit of the savory juices. A side of green beans, glazed carrots, sweet corn, or a crisp cabbage slaw rounds it out nicely, and a piece of warm crusty bread or a pan of biscuits makes the meal feel extra complete.
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Diced Pork Shoulder
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds raw diced pork shoulder
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 packet dry onion soup mix, about 1 ounce
1 cup barbecue sauce
Directions
1. Scatter the sliced onion across the bottom of the slow cooker, then add the raw diced pork shoulder over the top.
2. Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over the pork, then spoon the barbecue sauce across the top.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the pork is very tender and cooked through.
4. Stir well to coat the pork in the sauce and softened onions. Taste and serve hot over your favorite side dish.
Variations & Tips
For a sweeter version: Use a honey or brown sugar style barbecue sauce if your family likes that sweet-and-savory flavor. It gives the pork a stickier glaze and goes especially well with cornbread or baked beans.
For a smokier flavor: Choose a hickory or mesquite barbecue sauce. That little change gives the dish more cookout character without adding any extra work.
To keep the sauce from thinning too much: Pork shoulder gives off plenty of juices as it cooks, so resist the urge to add extra liquid at the start. If you want a thicker sauce at the end, leave the lid off for 15 to 20 minutes on high and stir once or twice.
To make it stretch further: Serve the pork over rice, noodles, or potatoes, or tuck it into sandwich buns for an easy second meal. Leftovers reheat beautifully and can also be spooned into baked potatoes the next day.