Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pork Roast

Sponsored by America's Test Kitchen, I received compensation for this post but all opinions are mine.

Slow Cooker Cider Braised Pork Roast is a wonderful fall meal that has a delicious cider and apple butter gravy.

2 pork roasts in slow cooker in a cider gravy

Not very often do I get to review a slow cooker cookbook. I was very excited to pick something out of this new cookbook from America's Test Kitchen called The Complete Slow Cooker and share it with you. This recipe for Slow Cooker Cider Braised Pork Roast caught my eye right away. It's a recipe I've never seen before and had to try. This time of year, I'm all about using as much apple cider and apple butter in my cooking as possible!

photo of the complete slow cooker book by america\'s test kitchen

The book has about 400 recipes in it from appetizers to desserts. Every recipe has so much detail, with each recipe you will find that it has a 'why this recipe works' paragraph. I loved that information in the book, to me it explains the thinking process of the recipe and explains why some steps are necessary.

The recipe takes a large pork butt and has you cut it in half then tie it with twine. I've never done this with pork before. The tying of the roast makes for a beautiful presentation since this helps the meat slice more uniform. If you skip this step then you probably will have to serve this pork shredded, which still will be delicious!

2 pork roasts, seasonings, cider, apple butter on a wooden table.

The first step is to brown the roast, then remove to a plate. Then onions and garlic are browned in the skillet then a roux is made with the oil left in the pan then adding flour and apple cider. Then that roux is added to the slow cooker and apple butter is stirred in. The roasts are added on top of that mixture. I cooked my roast for 7 hours on high, though the recipes states you can cook on low for 9-10 hours instead.

cooked pork roasts in a slow cooker with gravy

The gravy was a little sweet but still savory, great over the pork and mashed potatoes.

slices of pork roast on a plate with gravy

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▢
Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger

▢ 4 1/2 lbs. boneless pork butt roast 4-5 lb roast; trimmed and halved
▢ 3/4 tsp. Salt divided; to taste
▢ 1/4 tsp. pepper to taste
▢ 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
▢ 1 cup onion (1 medium); chopped
▢ 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
▢ 4 garlic cloves minced
▢ 3 sprigs fresh thyme
▢ 1/2 cup apple cider
▢ 1/2 cup apple butter
▢ 2 bay leaves
▢ 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar

Pat the pork dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
Tie 3 pieces of kitchen twine around each piece of pork to create 2 evenly shaped roasts.
Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking.
Brown roasts on all sides, 7 to 10 minutesp; transfer to plate.
Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt to fat left in skillet and cook over medium heat until onion is softened and lightly browned, 5-7 minutes.
Stir in flour, garlic, and thyme sprigs and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in apple cider, scraping up any browned bits and smoothing out any lumps; transfer to slow cooker.
Stir in apple butter and bay leaves into slow cooker.
Nestle roasts into cooker, adding any accumulated juices.
Cover and cook until pork is tender and fork slips easily in and out of meat [9-10 hours on LOW or 6-7 hours on HIGH.]
Transfer roasts to carving board tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 20 minutes.
Strain sauce into a fat separator and let sit for 5 minutes; discard solids.
Combine defatted sauce and vinegar in bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Remove twine from roasts, slice meat against the grain into 1/2-inch-thick slices, and arrange on serving dish.
Spoon 1 cup sauce over meat and serve, passing remaining sauce.
Serve and enjoy.