Top-down view of bronzed pork nestled beside soft fennel wedges, surrounded by glossy cider sauce and vivid ruby watermelon relish, with emerald fennel fronds scattered over the top.

Slow-Cooker Cider-Braised Pork with Watermelon-Cornichon Relish

Name: Slow-Cooker Cider-Braised Pork with Watermelon-Cornichon Relish
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 345 min
Total time: 370 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless pork shoulder trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks; 1 1/2 cups seedless watermelon divided into 1 cup finely diced and 1/2 cup cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 1 small fennel bulb cored and cut into wedges; fronds reserved; 2 medium shallot 1 thinly sliced and 1 finely minced; 2 cloves garlic clove smashed; 1/2 cup dry hard cider; 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons cornichon finely chopped; 1 tablespoon cornichon brine; 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon chopped; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves removed from stems; 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds lightly crushed; 1 bay leaf; 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar; 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil; 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt divided; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground; 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Fork-tender cider pork with sparkling watermelon-cornichon relish.

Category Main Course

Prep 25 minutes

Cook 345 minutes

Style French

Technique Slow-cooking

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily recipe · September 10, 2026

A little about this dish

French-inspired without becoming heavy, this slow-cooker pork shoulder is braised in dry cider, Dijon, fennel, and thyme until spoon-tender. Crisp watermelon is tossed with cornichons, tarragon, and vinegar, giving the rich pork a jewel-bright, salty-sweet finish.

Ingredients (for 2)

Boneless pork shoulder — 1 lb — trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
Seedless watermelon — 1 1/2 cups — divided into 1 cup finely diced and 1/2 cup cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Fennel bulb — 1 small — cored and cut into wedges; fronds reserved
Shallot — 2 medium — 1 thinly sliced and 1 finely minced
Garlic clove — 2 cloves — smashed
Dry hard cider — 1/2 cup
Low-sodium chicken stock — 1/2 cup
Dijon mustard — 1 tablespoon
Cornichon — 2 tablespoons — finely chopped
Cornichon brine — 1 tablespoon
Fresh tarragon — 1 tablespoon — chopped
Fresh thyme — 1 teaspoon — leaves removed from stems
Fennel seeds — 1/2 teaspoon — lightly crushed
Bay leaf — 1
Champagne vinegar — 1 tablespoon
Extra-virgin olive oil — 2 teaspoons
Kosher salt — 3/4 teaspoon — divided
Black pepper — 1/4 teaspoon — freshly ground
Granulated sugar — 2 teaspoons

Preparation

Step 1 — 🍉🥒❄️

Combine 1 cup finely diced watermelon, the minced shallot, cornichons, tarragon, champagne vinegar, cornichon brine, sugar, and a pinch of kosher salt. Stir gently and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
Step 2 — 🐖🌿🫕

Place the fennel wedges, sliced shallot, smashed garlic, thyme, lightly crushed fennel seeds, and bay leaf in a 3-quart slow cooker. Set the pork shoulder on top.
Step 3 — 🍎🥣🧂

Whisk together the hard cider, chicken stock, Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. Pour it around the pork without washing the mustard off the meat.
Step 4 — ⏲️🔥🍲

Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 5 1/2 hours, until the pork is fork-tender but still holds its shape.
Step 5 — 🫗🍳📉

Transfer the pork and fennel to a platter. Strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan, skim off excess fat, and simmer over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until reduced to about 1/3 cup. Taste and adjust with the remaining kosher salt.
Step 6 — 🫒🔥✨

Place the pork on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with the olive oil and spoon over a little reduced cider sauce. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely, until the edges are bronzed and lightly crisp.
Step 7 — 🍽️🍉🌱

Fold the 1/2-inch watermelon cubes into the chilled relish. Spoon the cider sauce into two shallow bowls, then add the pork and fennel. Top with the watermelon relish and reserved fennel fronds.

A final fox tip

Keep the watermelon raw until serving so it stays crisp and luminous. For an alcohol-free version, replace the hard cider with unsweetened sparkling apple cider and add an extra teaspoon of vinegar. Children can help measure and gently toss the relish.