There are evenings in August when the air still hangs heavy, the day runs long, and the very best kind of supper is the one that has quietly minded itself for hours. This 3-ingredient slow cooker pork shoulder steak recipe is the sort of practical Midwestern cooking that never goes out of style: a sturdy cut of meat, a simple sauce, and low, steady heat turning it all tender and rich by dinnertime. Thick-cut bone-in pork shoulder steaks are especially good for this kind of meal, giving you deep flavor and a little of that old-fashioned comfort that feels like something your folks or grandparents would have appreciated after a day of work.
Serve these saucy pork shoulder steaks over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or plain white rice to catch every bit of the dark, savory glaze. On the side, green beans, sweet corn, coleslaw, or a simple cucumber salad make a fine plate, and a slice of soft bread or a warm biscuit never hurts when there’s good slow-cooked sauce left in the pot.
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Weeknight Delight
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 thick-cut bone-in pork shoulder steaks, about 3 to 3 1/2 pounds total
1 cup dark amber barbecue sauce
1 packet dry onion soup mix
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker if needed, then arrange the pork shoulder steaks in an even layer, overlapping just enough to fit.
2. Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over the pork, then spoon the barbecue sauce across the top so the meat is well coated.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the pork is very tender and the sauce has thickened around it.
4. Carefully transfer the pork to a platter or serve straight from the slow cooker, spooning the sauce over the top. If you like, skim excess fat from the surface before serving.
Variations & Tips
Sweeter Supper: If your family likes a sweeter sauce, use a honey or brown sugar style barbecue sauce. It gives the pork a deeper glaze and a touch more summer cookout flavor without adding another ingredient.
For Extra Onion Flavor: Tuck a sliced onion under and around the pork if you don’t mind stepping beyond the strict three-ingredient idea. The onions melt down beautifully and enrich the sauce.
Make It Boneless: Boneless pork shoulder steaks work too, though bone-in cuts usually bring a little more flavor and stay especially juicy during a long slow cook. Start checking a bit earlier if the boneless pieces are thinner.
Serving Tip: This is a saucy dish, so plan a starch underneath it. Mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles will stretch the meal and make sure none of that rich sauce goes to waste.
Leftover Idea: Shred the extra pork and pile it onto sandwich buns the next day. A spoonful of the leftover sauce on top makes an easy lunch that tastes like you planned ahead.