Italian Pork Roast – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Are you looking for the perfect pork roast recipe? Roasted all day, left falling apart and tender enough to cut with a fork; this Italian Pork Roast just might become your favorite pork roast with the very first bite.

Italian Pulled Pork

The first time I made a slow cooker red wine roast beef (over ten years ago now), my husband requested that I please put that roast on the menu at least once a month. I was more than happy to oblige.

My family was still talking about that meal two days later. So, naturally, I decided to play with a pork version of that Italian flavor-inspired roast.

When I cooked that first five-pound pork roast, I expected to have a huge amount of leftovers. However, almost everyone went back for seconds and I wound up with less than half of the roast left for another meal.

Served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a Strawberry Spinach Salad, I can’t recall when I’ve heard so many compliments on a meal from adults and children alike.

If you are fortunate enough to have leftovers, the Italian pulled pork is awesome combined with potato, onion, and apple to make a whole new meal of Roasted Italian Pork with Apples and Potatoes.

Italian Pork Roast

This pork roast recipe is an absolutely hassle-free dinner. Less than 10 minutes are required to prep the roast; then just sit back and enjoy how wonderful it smells as it cooks through the day.

Cooking this roast in a slow-cooker makes it easier than you ever imagined to roast pork to perfection. This Italian-inspired slow cooker roast starts with a 7lb pork shoulder (shoulder blade is my favorite cut of meat for this roast recipe).

After layering thinly sliced onions on the bottom of a crock-pot, cook the roast with the onions, a blend of fragrant Italian herbs and spices, water, and red wine for 9 to 10 hours.

I love that with barely any effort, this pork roast tastes like you spent hours slaving over the meal. 

Italian Roast Pork

I typically use a cabernet when I make this recipe but merlot, pinot noir, or any decently dry red wine will do. While the roast slowly cooks it will absorb all that delicious red wine and herb flavor, growing tender and juicy while you don’t lift a finger.

Shred the pork (it’ll practically fall apart on its own) and leave the roast to continue resting in its own juices until you’re ready to serve.

This Pork Roast Recipe was specifically designed for the slow-cooker. There are certainly plenty of tasty ways to cook Shoulder Pork Roast in the oven as well! 

Italian Pork Roast Recipe

Layer the onions in the bottom of a large crock-pot or dutch oven. Rinse the roast and pat dry with paper towels. Place the roast in the crock-pot (fat side down initially).

Sprinkle half the spices over the roast and lightly rub them into the meat. Turn the roast over (fat side up) and cover with the remaining spices. Pour the water and the wine into the pot and cover.

Cook on low for 9-10 hours or on high for 6-7 hours, until the meat is falling apart. When the meat is done cooking, shred gently and then toss in the juices to keep it moist until ready to serve.

Can I Freeze Pulled Pork?

Yes! To freeze pulled pork for future meals, let it cook completely then scoop it into freezer safe bags along with the remaining juice left at the bottom of the pot. You can freeze the bags flat in the freezer then thaw before reheating.

I love when I end up with leftovers because it’s so convenient to have pork roast in the freezer for easy weeknight meals. My family loves this meal so much that we hardly ever end up with many leftovers to freeze, but a girl can dream!

Slow cookers or crockpots are an appliance of which I have more than one. If you are an avid slow cooker user like I am, you might understand the need for more than one. So, let’s talk about my favorites:

First up is this 6-quart slow cooker that has a locking lid. These crockpots are fantastic for transporting foods. Mine has gone everywhere from church potlucks to barbecues, game nights to Thanksgiving dinner. However, fair warning, these slow cookers run crazy hot. Low is closer to a boil than a simmer, the warm setting actually simmers. So trust me when I say HIGH is high.

My everyday slow cooker is this 8-quart Crockpot. It’s my go-to appliance for cooking large roasts and big batches of chili. Fun fact: did you know that a full 4-quart cooker, actually cooks more slowly than a half-full 8-quart cooker?

For just cooking a few pounds of chicken to shred for enchiladas or other smaller recipes, this 3-quart version is perfect.

Thanksgiving has become a breeze since I have mastered how to hold all of the side dishes using these medium-sized round slow cookers.

If you aren’t a fan of the idea of keeping more than one slow cooker in the house, these CrockPockets are a game-changer when it comes to preparing and holding multiple dishes at the same time. They slide into a standard 6-quart crockpot, dividing it into two sections that are perfect for serving different side dishes or keeping taco fillings warm for parties.

If you enjoy this Italian Red Wine Pork Roast, here are a few more easy pork roasts that you might enjoy!

My favorite oven pork roast is probably this Herb Rubbed Pork Roast. That recipe is one of the easiest ways to learn how to cook a pork roast in an oven. It takes just 1.5 hours and comes out marvelous every time. 

As much as I enjoy my oven pork roasts, sometimes I want a recipe I can prep in advance and not think about until it’s time for dinner. On these days, slow cooker pork roasts are there to save the day.

Spicy Honey Lime Pork Roast is sweet, tangy, and spicy all at once. It makes for a nice change from all the herb-flavored pork roasts I make while being just as simple and delicious.

There’s a special place in my heart for the combination of brown sugar and balsamic vinegar and it really shines in this Crock-Pot Balsamic Brown Sugar Pork Roast. Deep caramel flavor with a hint of tang, it’s another no-frills pork roast recipe that’s sure to please.

For a pork roast recipe full of fruity summer flavor look no further than this Slow Cooker Peach Salsa Pork Roast by Foodie with Family. It also includes roasted sweet potatoes which are one of my favorite side dishes to enjoy with pork.

If you’re a fan of Mexican flavors, you need to give Mexican Spice Rubbed Pork Roast a try as well. Like the herb rub roast, it doesn’t take too long in the oven and is another simple way to cook pork roast without much fuss.

{originally posted 10-5-12 – recipe notes and photos updated 11/4/24}