My sister begs me to make this for family gatherings. It is sweet, savory, and uses only 4 ingredients


 

Ingredients

  • 3–4 lb boneless pork shoulder or pork loin roast, trimmed of excess fat

  • ½ cup honey

  • ½ cup Dijon mustard (or yellow mustard for a milder flavor)

  • 1½–2 tsp kosher salt

Directions

  1. Prep the pork: Pat the roast dry with paper towels and place it in a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker.

  2. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, mustard, and salt until smooth. Taste and adjust the salt as needed—the mixture should be balanced, lightly sweet, and slightly salty.

  3. Coat the roast: Pour the honey mustard sauce evenly over the pork, turning it once or twice with tongs to coat all sides. If the roast has a fat cap, place it fat side up so it bastes the meat while cooking.

  4. Cook low and slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7–9 hours or HIGH for 3½–4½ hours, until the pork is tender and shreds easily. The sauce will darken to a rich, glossy golden color with caramelized edges.

  5. Rest and slice: Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice or shred according to your preference.

  6. Finish the sauce: While the pork rests, skim any excess fat from the sauce. For a thicker, stickier glaze, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  7. Serve: Return the pork to the sauce and toss gently, or arrange slices on a platter and spoon the sauce over the top. Serve hot with extra sauce on the side.

Tips & Variations

  • Mustard swap: Use yellow mustard for a milder flavor or coarse-grain mustard for added texture.

  • Adjust sweetness: Reduce honey to ⅓ cup and increase mustard slightly for a less sweet roast.

  • Make ahead: Prep the sauce the night before and refrigerate; pour it over the pork in the morning and start the slow cooker.

  • Leftovers: Keep for 3–4 days in the fridge; reheat gently in a covered skillet with a splash of water.

  • Smaller roasts: Works with a 2 lb roast—reduce salt slightly and check doneness an hour earlier.

  • Temperature tips: If your slow cooker runs hot, aim for the lower end of the cook time range to keep pork juicy.