Crockpot Pulled Pork Recipe

This recipe for crockpot pulled pork is easy to make in the crock pot or the instant pot! It’s a great recipe for a crowd and it’s sure to become a staple dish in your house as it has in mine!

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I love a good pulled pork sandwich and lately I’ve realized how versatile pulled pork is. I’m super excited to show you two ways to use this recipe, in this post I show you how to make the traditional Kansas City style bbq pulled pork sandwich. Click over to get the recipe for pulled pork tacos with cilantro lime aioli, they are ahhmazing!

EXPERT TIP: One of the tricks to infusing flavor into the pork roast is to cut little slits into the roast and then stick garlic slivers into it.

This recipe makes a ton so its great for family gatherings or just to have a lot of leftovers. Enjoy!

No. When making pulled pork in the slow cooker I add a small amount of extra liquid for flavor but it’s not a necessity. Because there is a good amount of fat and water in pork shoulder roasts you don’t have to add extra liquid when making pulled pork. I add 1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce for added flavor, but technically you could put it in without any liquid and it would still cook just fine.

Yes! For this recipe we will place a pork shoulder or “butt” roast in the slow cooker raw for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. A slow cooker on low temperature is usually around 190 degrees, which means it’s hot enough to cook food without it being contaminated.

crockpot pulled pork recipe

The Best Crockpot Pulled Pork

crockpot pulled pork recipe

This easy recipe for pulled pork made in the crock pot/slow cooker or the instant pot is sure to become a family favorite!

Prep: 20min

Total: 4h20min

Serving Size: 1

Nutrition Facts: calories 592 calories, Carbohydrate 19 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 166 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 36 grams fat, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 45 grams protein, Saturated Fat 13 grams saturated fat, servingSize 1, Sodium 870 milligrams sodium, Sugar 16 grams sugar, Trans Fat 0 grams trans fat, unSaturated Fat 19 grams unsaturated fat

Ingredients:

  • 4lb Shoulder Pork Roast
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
  • 4 large cloves Garlic
  • 2 teaspoons Paprika
  • 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Coarse Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 cup your favorite BBQ Sauce

Instruction:

  1. Make the rub by combining paprika, brown sugar, salt and pepper; mix with a fork. Set aside.
  2. Slice garlic into 8-10 slivers. Cut slits in pork roast and insert garlic slivers. Pat rub mixture on pork roast. Place the roast in the crockpot or instant pot. Pour Worcestershire sauce over pork roast.
  3. Slow Cooker: Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4.
  4. Instant Pot: Cook at high pressure for 120 minutes.
  5. After cooking time check the doneness with a meat thermometer, it should be between 195°-205° to pull easily. If it’s not done enough try extending the cooking time for 30 minutes in a slow cooker and 10 minutes in a pressure cooker.
  6. If you use a bone in roast remove it and any fat that may remain. With 2 forks shred the pork. Add BBQ sauce and stir. Pile pork onto your bun or rolls, add coleslaw if you like for some crunch and additional flavor. Enjoy!

Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Pulled Pork Recipe

crockpot pulled pork recipe

Dr. Pepper Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is the perfect way to serve a crowd. It’s easy, tender, delicious and everyone always loves it!

Prep: 5min

Total: 245min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 276 kcal, Carbohydrate 10 g, Protein 30 g, Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 104 mg, Sodium 393 mg, Sugar 8 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 pork butt/pork shoulder roast (4-5 pounds)
  • salt, pepper, & garlic powder
  • 1 onion (sliced, optional)
  • 1 can Dr. Pepper
  • ¾ cup barbecue sauce (or to taste)
  • Rolls & coleslaw for serving

Instruction:

  1. Place the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker. Rub the outside of the roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
  2. Pour the Dr. Pepper over the pork and cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 7-8 hours.
  3. The meat will be very tender. Using 2 forks, shred the pork and place back in the juices.
  4. Add barbecue sauce to taste. Allow to cook an additional 30-60 minutes if desired.
  5. Serve on crusty rolls with coleslaw.

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

crockpot pulled pork recipe

This easy slow-cooker pulled pork is a perfect way to feed a crowd. It cooks in the sauce, making it a one-pot meal with maximum flavor, minimum effort.

Prep: 10min

Total: 6h

Yield: 8 serving(s)

Nutrition Facts: calories 430 Calories, Fat 29 g, Saturated Fat 10 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 106 mg, Sodium 632 mg, Carbohydrate 13 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 8 g, Protein 27 g

Ingredients:

  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 3/4 c. ketchup
  • 3 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. mustard powder
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 (3- to 4-lb.) pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Coleslaw, for serving
  • Buns, for serving

Instruction:

  1. Combine onion, ketchup, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar and spices in the bowl of a slow cooker. Season pork shoulder all over with salt and pepper then add to slow cooker, covering it with ketchup mixture. Cover and cook until very tender (the meat should fall apart easily with a fork!), on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.
  2. Remove pork from slow cooker and transfer to bowl. Shred with two forks and toss with juices from the slow cooker. Serve on buns with coleslaw.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Recipe – Ultra Juicy & Easy!

FAQ

Do you need liquid in slow cooker for pulled pork?

You don’t technically HAVE to add liquid into your slow cooker for pulled pork because the pork will generate moisture. However, we do recommend adding some kind of liquid to the crock pot to make sure things stay nice and moist.

What is the best liquid to cook pulled pork in?

Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

What is the secret to tender pulled pork?

Cooking the pork low and very slow is the secret to the juiciest and most tender pulled pork. Serve the pork as is or feel free to stir in your favorite barbecue or other sauces at the end of cooking.

What is the best liquid to keep pulled pork moist?

Try brine: Choose a wet marinade rather than a dry one. Dry rubs may work fine but brine or a wet rub will add that extra moisture along with the flavor that will penetrate deep inside the meat. Keep a spray bottle handy: Keep spraying the meat during smoking or reheating to replace the lost moisture.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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