Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder (Nordic Comfort Food)

Melt-in-your-mouth slow-roasted pork shoulder. This hands-off Nordic recipe requires only 5 minutes of prep and delivers incredibly tender meat.

Published: 7/22/2026

Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder

In Finland, this cut of meat is known as kassler (pork collar or pork neck), but in the US, a boneless pork shoulder or pork butt works identically. It is a very forgiving, nicely marbled cut of meat that stays incredibly juicy when slow-roasted in the oven.

Ingredients (6 servings)

• 2.2 lbs (1 kg) boneless pork shoulder or pork butt
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 cup (240 ml) water or beef broth

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Season the pork roast generously on all sides with the kosher salt and black pepper.
3. Place the meat into a roasting pan or a Dutch oven. Add the smashed garlic cloves to the pan.
4. Pour the water (or broth) into the bottom of the pan to keep the environment moist.
5. Cover the pan tightly with a lid or heavy-duty aluminum foil.
6. Roast in the oven for about 2 to 2.5 hours. The meat should be extremely tender.
7. For the final 20 minutes of roasting, remove the foil/lid to allow the top of the pork to brown and get slightly crispy.
8. Let the meat rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Serving

Serve the tender pork slices with its own pan juices, alongside mashed potatoes or roasted root vegetables.

Pro Tips

• Resting is Crucial: Do not skip the resting period. Cutting into the hot roast immediately will cause all the juices to run out, leaving the meat dry.

Categories: mains, comfort-food, meat-dishes