This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is the perfect slow cooker meal. The pork is cooked low and slow in lots of spices until it falls apart, then it is tossed with bbq sauce. It is perfect for piling onto buns, over nachos, or even over baked potatoes. It is super easy, crazy delicious, and a total crowd-pleaser.
Looking for a non-pork version? Try this Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken!
Every week, I’ll ask my kids and husband to each give one idea for dinner that week. And guaranteed, at least once a month, one of my boys will ask for pulled pork.
I’m just glad that it’s actually super easy to make. And it’s one of those dinners that is perfect for a busy day/night, because you can start it in the morning and it’s ready for dinnertime.
I also love that this recipe makes enough to serve my family, with plenty for leftovers. This is one of those dinners that the leftovers will always disappear!
Ingredients
- Pork: When looking for pork for pulled pork, the best to get is pork shoulder. This is sometimes labeled as a picnic roast or a butt roast.
- Spice Rub: I’m making my own spice rub. It has brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and cumin. You probably have all of these on hand already, which makes this spice rub super easy to
- Chicken Broth: I like to use chicken broth, but you could use beef broth if desired.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The vinegar is for flavor, but it also helps to cut the richness of the pork.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This is just used as a flavor enhancer.
- BBQ Sauce: I’m keeping things easy by using a store bought bbq sauce to finish it all off. Make sure you use a bbq sauce that you know you love.
How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
STEP 1: Mix together your spice rub. I like to do this with a small whisk to make sure there aren’t any clumps of brown sugar or spices.
STEP 2: Cut your pork into large chunks. This just helps the pork to not only cook a little faster, but you can add more of the spice mix, as well. Take that spice rub and coat each piece of pork with it. I like to use my hands so that I can cover all of the pork and make sure it’s pressed in.
STEP 3: Mix together the chicken broth, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in the bottom of your slow cooker. Then add the pork. Cook this on low for about 6 hours, or until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily.
STEP 4: Remove the pork to a cutting board and use 2 forks to shred it.
STEP 5: Discard all but about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid left in the slow cooker. Add add the shredded pork back into the slow cooker.
STEP 6: Stir in the bbq sauce. Switch the slow cooker to high and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Tips and Tricks
The most traditional way to serve this is as pulled pork sandwiches. (We like to serve them with coleslaw on top plus a little extra bbq sauce.) But you can get creative and serve it on nachos, baked potatoes, or even just by itself!
You can cook this for less time on high, but I highly suggest keeping it as a slow cook on low. The pork really needs that extra time to break down and become tender.
Leftovers can be kept covered in the refrigerator. You can reheat it in the microwave, or on the stove. You may need to stir in some extra bbq sauce.
More Pork Recipes
Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
Slow Cooker Ribs
Pork Carnitas
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 cups prepared bbq sauce
Instructions
- Cut the pork into large chunks, about 3-4 inches each.3-4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and cumin.1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon chili powder, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 tablespoon onion powder, 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Rub the seasoning mix over all sides of the pieces of pork. (I like to use my hands to make sure every part gets covered.)
- In the bottom of a slow cooker, mix together the chicken broth, cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.1/2 cup chicken broth, 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Place the pork in the slow cooker. Place the lid on the slow cooker, and turn the heat on to low.
- Cook for 6 hours, or until the pork pulls apart easily with a fork.
- Once tender, remove the pork from the slow cooker to a cutting board. Use 2 forks to shred the meat.
- Discard all but about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid left over in the slow cooker.
- Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and mix in the bbq sauce. Turn the heat to high and cook until heated through, about 15-20 minutes.1 1/2 cups prepared bbq sauce
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