Go Back

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork is a tender, flavorful main dish made with pork shoulder cooked low and slow in a sweet, tangy, and savory sauce. Brown sugar adds caramel-like sweetness, balsamic vinegar brings brightness, and garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme give the pork plenty of depth. The meat becomes fall-apart tender and soaks up the rich cooking juices, making it perfect for an easy family dinner.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Family Dinner, Main Course, Pork Recipes, Slow Cooker Meals
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pounds pork shoulder or pork butt trimmed of large pieces of excess fat
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Method
 

  1. Trim any large pieces of excess fat from the pork shoulder and place the pork in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and dried thyme.
  3. Continue stirring until the brown sugar is mostly dissolved and the sauce is evenly combined.
  4. Pour the sauce evenly over the pork, using a spoon to coat the top and sides of the meat.
  5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on Low for 8–10 hours or on High for 4–5 hours, until the pork is very tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.
  6. Carefully transfer the cooked pork to a cutting board or large plate.
  7. Shred the pork into bite-sized pieces using two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat.
  8. Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid remaining in the slow cooker.
  9. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir it into the warm balsamic sauce.
  10. Let the pork sit in the sauce for several minutes before serving so it can absorb additional flavor.
  11. Spoon the pork onto plates and drizzle some of the sauce over the top. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes.

Notes

For a thicker glaze, transfer some cooking liquid to a saucepan and simmer until reduced, then spoon it over the pork. Leftovers are delicious in sandwiches, tacos, or rice bowls.