How to Make a Pork Roast and Gravy in the Oven

This easy recipe for roasted Pork Roast and Gravy delivers a fork-tender roast covered in a beautiful gravy that’s perfect for Sunday dinner. The cooking process provides a perfectly seared pork roast, which makes the most flavorful gravy. Serve it up with some fluffy mashed potatoes and watch your family grin from ear to ear. 

If you have never made a pork roast and homemade gravy in the oven, this is your nudge to change that. I learned how to make this recipe from my Mom, and she from hers. This is one of those meals that when you walk into the house, the aroma hits you, and your tummy starts rumbling. It smells heavenly as it bakes, and the best part is the homemade gravy it makes. This is a pure comfort food recipe and one I have enjoyed my whole life.

Pork Roast and Gravy

Made with a few simple ingredients, this pork roast and gravy cooks up slowly at a low temperature so you get fall-off-your fork, tender chunks of meat bathed in a rich and thick gravy made from the pan drippings. Serve with a green salad or a warm vegetable and mashed potatoes and you have the perfect meal.

This post is sponsored by Iowa Pork but my opinions and my lifelong love of pork recipes and Iowa Pork is all my own.

Old Fashioned Pork Roast and Gravy

Fancy enough for a special occasion, Sunday night supper, or even a dinner party but simple enough to serve every day, you can’t go wrong whenever you serve this pork roast and gravy.

Easy to make ahead and reheat the next day, this pork recipe gives you some flexibility if you need to get a few things off your to-do list. Leftovers taste great the next day too but you most likely won’t have any.

If you love pork roast in gravy, you are sure to love these recipes too: The Forgotten Pork Roast, Apple Glazed Smoked Ham, and these Breaded Pork Cutlets.

Pork Roast

This roast recipe calls for you to roast the pork at a low temperature for a couple of hours. This creates a soft and tender piece of meat. You may be tempted to increase the temperature to cook it faster but I don’t recommend you do so. If you are looking for a pork recipe that cooks up quickly, try this Sweet Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin or this Pork Loin Roast With Balsamic Cranberry Sauce.

Ingredients for This Homemade Pork Roast Gravy Recipe

For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card.

For the the Roast:

• Pork Shoulder Roast – Use a roast weighing between 4 and 5 lbs. Mine had a bone but a boneless pork roast also works.
• Salt & Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper and salt bring out the flavor in this roast recipe.
• Water

To Make the Gravy for Pork Roast:

• Water – I like to use the potato water. About 30 minutes before my roast is done, I boil my potatoes on the stove. I use that potato water in my homemade gravy.
• Milk – Any type of milk will work to make this gravy recipe. The higher the fat content the richer the gravy.
• Flour – Use all-purpose flour to thicken up the gravy.
• Salt and Pepper  – Add salt and black pepper to taste.

How to Cook a Pork Roast in the Oven

There are just a few simple steps to preparing this pork roast.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place roast in a roasting pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and rub into the roast.

Next, add water to the bottom of the pan.

Place the roaster, uncovered in the preheated oven, and bake for about 20 minutes per pound or until the roast’s internal temperature reads 170 degrees F with a meat thermometer.

Now it’s time to make the homemade gravy. Combine milk and flour in a jar or small bowl and mix until all lumps are gone. Shaking or using an emulsion blender works great too.

Remove the pork roast from the roasting pan and set it aside. Letting the roast rest before cutting is always a good idea.

Place the roasting pan with the pork drippings on top of the stove on medium heat, and add 2 cups of water Bring to a slow boil.

Pour the milk mixture into the bubbling drippings.

Whisk until incorporated. Turn the heat to low.

The gravy will thicken as it cooks.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve this delicious pork roast with mashed potatoes and lots of delicious gravy over top.

Note: I cooked my almost 5-pound Pork Shoulder Roast for 2 ½ hours at 325 degrees. Mine measured 170 degrees internally and the outside was brown and crisp and the inside was moist and tender. I love the rich brown color on the outside because it makes the best pork gravy!

Allow the pork to come to room temperature and then store leftovers wrapped in aluminum foil or an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. This tender pork roast will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this roast pork and gravy recipe make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

What is a Pork Shoulder Roast?

Pork shoulder is a cut that becomes exquisitely tender and loaded with rich flavors when cooked properly. Its versatility allows it to be used in a wide range of recipes. Preparing pork shoulder is so simple, but it’s important to know what to look for when selecting it at the meat counter.

You will find that the cut of pork known as pork shoulder is labeled with various names when sold at grocery stores, such as picnic roast, Boston butt, blade roast, and pork butt. This versatile cut lends itself to diverse cooking techniques, including braising, smoking, roasting, grilling, and slow cooking. Pork Shoulder is most popular for making pulled pork.

FAQs about roast pork

• Does pork roast get tender the longer you cook it? Yes, pork roast usually gets more tender the longer you cook it especially if you are cooking at a low temperature. However, you want to make sure you don’t overcook the roast and dry it out.
• Is it better to cook a pork roast slow or fast? The best way to cook a pork roast is based on the recipe you are following and the specific cut of meat. Low and slow are typically the key to a tender and juicy pork roast.
• Is it best to cook a pork roast covered or uncovered? I always cook my pork roast uncovered. It browns the outside and gives it a super tasty “crunch.” Also, the browning will ensure you have a rich and flavorful gravy.
• Do I need to sear the pork roast before roasting? For this recipe, you do not need to sear the pork before roasting it.
• What is the best way to cook pork so it is tender? Slow cooking at a low temperature will give you tender pork but it depends on the cut of meat you are using and the recipe.
• How long to cook a 4 lb pork roast at 250 degrees? Depending on whether the 4 lb roast is bone-in or a boneless pork roast the cooking time will vary.  Bone in roast usually needs between 6 and 8 hours while a boneless cut will need about 3-4 hours.

Substitutions

Remember that when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, you don’t need to be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Make it your own!

• Use cornstarch instead of flour for your slurry and add it to the pork drippings.

• Switch up the pork and use a pork butt or pork loin roast instead. Note the cooking time may vary.

• For a dairy-free gravy use chicken broth, chicken stock, or beef stock instead of milk.

Tips & Tricks

• Allow the pork to come to room temperature before cooking it. This promotes even cooking.

• To add a different flavor to the pork, sprinkle it with garlic powder and onion powder in addition to the salt and pepper.

• Add a touch of sweetness to the gravy and pour in a splash of white wine.

the Love of Pork

Even though I didn’t grow up on a farm in Iowa like my husband did, growing up we ate pork a lot. My Mom’s Pork Chops and Mushroom Gravy were one of my favorite comfort meals as a kid and I still make them all of the time for my kids. Little do they know, that while they are enjoying my pork recipes, I am internally smiling because I am aware of Pork’s nutritional value.

More Pork Recipes to Love

There are so many different cuts of pork to enjoy and I have many pork recipes on my website for you to enjoy. Different cuts require different cooking techniques and internal cooking temperatures too. Iowa Pork makes it easy for you to figure out those internal temperatures with their Pork Cooking Temperature Guide.

Be sure to follow along with Iowa Pork on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for delicious pork recipes year-round!

This simple recipe slow cooks your pork roast to perfection. Topped with the thick delicious gravy, everyone will be asking for seconds.