This slow cooker pulled pork recipe always yields fantastic results every single time, no matter what cut of pork you use! Just rub the pork with a perfect blend of seasonings, sear the outside, and pop it into the crockpot! Go about your day and this delicious meal will be ready to go when you get hungry!
Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
This pulled pork recipe is one of my favorite easy dishes because you can truly just set it and forget it! Plus, it's perfect for serving a large group, bringing to potlucks, or even enjoying on a picnic!
It's an ideal dish for hosting because you can prepare it in the morning and it will be ready to serve for dinner! This way, you still have the whole day to get anything else ready without having to worry about the main course!
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🥘 Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Ingredients
The key to this tasty pulled pork is the seasoning rub! Use fresh herbs and spices for the best flavor!
- Brown Sugar - 3 tablespoons of light brown sugar, divided into 1 tablespoon and 2 tablespoon portions.
- Smoked Paprika - 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika.
- Cumin - ½ teaspoon of ground cumin.
- Salt - 2 teaspoons of salt.
- Pepper - ½ teaspoon of pepper.
- Garlic Salt - ½ teaspoon of garlic salt. You can also use garlic powder if that's what you have on hand.
- Rubbed Sage - ½ teaspoon of rubbed sage.
- Oil - 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Pork - 3-4 pound boneless pork shoulder. Go ahead and trim off any excess fat. Of course, this recipe will work well with a wide variety of different cuts, so use whatever you like!
- Water - ¾ cup of water.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - ½ cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Tomato Paste - 3 tablespoons of tomato paste.
- Honey (optional) - 2 tablespoons of honey for some sweetness.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This easy pulled pork recipe is so simple that you'll never want to make it another way again! Just grab your slow cooker, a small bowl, and a frying pan to sear the meat!
This recipe is for 10 servings, so add on some yummy sides and get ready to serve a crowd!
Make the Seasoning Mix
- Mix the seasonings. In a small bowl combine 1 tablespoon of light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons each of smoked paprika and salt, and ½ teaspoon each of cumin, pepper, garlic salt (or garlic powder), and rubbed sage. Rub the spice mixture all over your 3-4 pound pork, coating all sides.
- Sear the meat. In a large frying pan, heat 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned pork and sear all of the sides, until browned (about 5 minutes). Transfer pork to a plate and set aside.
Prepare the Sauce Mix
- Mix the sauce. Add ¾ cup of water, ½ cup of apple cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar (add optional 2 tablespoons of honey, if desired) to the drippings in the frying pan. Then, whisk or stir ingredients together to make a thin sauce.
- Cook. Transfer the sauce from the frying pan into your slow cooker and add the seasoned pork. Cook on low for eight hours, or on high for six hours.
- Shred the meat. Once cooked, pull the meat apart (add salt or pepper, to taste). Add your favorite barbecue sauce, then pan fry for a nice crispy texture on the edges of your pulled pork (optional).
Serve on your favorite kaiser roll buns, some quick homemade brioche buns, or these pretzel buns (yum!), and top with another big dollop of BBQ sauce. Take a look at my post on what to serve with pulled pork for some yummy recipes and ideas to round out your meal! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- Optional things we like to add at times include pineapple juice, mustard, crushed red pepper flakes, and liquid smoke. Simply add what you like to customize the flavor!
- If desired, you can wrap your seasoned pork and let it sit in the fridge overnight to intensify the flavors. If you do this, I recommend taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking to bring it back to room temperature.
- You can definitely serve this pulled pork after it is done in the crockpot. However, if you like, you pan fry the shredded meat to make the edges nice and crispy!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Leftover pulled pork can be kept in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 4-5 days.
You can also place the pork (once cooled) into a container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Just transfer it to the fridge and let it thaw out overnight when needed.
Reheating Pulled Pork
Place your pulled pork into a baking dish and add a splash of broth, if needed. Cover it tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 250°F (120°C) until hot, about 20-30 minutes.
To reheat in the slow cooker, just add the pork back into the crockpot along with some broth or drippings. Cook on low heat until heated through.
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❓ FAQ
You should aim for about 5 ounces per serving, or 3 people per pound of pulled pork. However, remember to keep in mind that the pork will lose about half of its weight during the cooking process.
To calculate how much pork to buy, simply multiply the number of guests by .33 which will give you how much cooked pork you need. Then, multiply that number by 2 to determine the weight of the raw pork you need to buy!
Pork butt or pork shoulder are my favorite options for preparing pulled pork. These cuts have a rich flavor and are incredibly tender and juicy! Choose one that has a lot of marbling, as this melts off and creates a ton of flavor! However, you'll still want to trim off any excess fat around the edges.
While nothing bad will happen if you don't add any liquid, I do recommend having some. The pork itself will generate moisture, but the added liquid will help to ensure that the meat stays moist and juicy!
🐷 More Tasty Pork Recipes
- Moo Shu Pork - A tasty homemade version of this popular Chinese takeout dish!
- Pan Seared Pork Chops - Delicious pork chops are seared to perfection and super flavorful!
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork - If you are in a time crunch, this pulled pork recipe can help you out!
- Pork Belly Burnt Ends - These bite-sized pieces of pork are truly addicting!
- Smoked Pork Belly - Get the smoker started and get ready to enjoy some satisfying pork!
- BBQ Baked Pork Spareribs - Juicy ribs are baked in the oven and coated with your favorite barbecue sauce!
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📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 3-4 lbs pork (boneless shoulder is recommended, trim excess fat)
Seasoning Mix/Rub
- 3 tablespoon light brown sugar (divided, 1 tablespoon and 2 Tbsp)
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon rubbed sage
The Sauce
- ¾ cups water
- ½ cups apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon honey (optional)
Instructions
Seasoning Mix
- In a small bowl combine 1 tablespoon of the light brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic salt (or garlic powder), and rubbed sage. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork, coating all sides.
Sear
- In a large frying pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add the pork and sear all of the sides, until browned (about 5 minutes). Transfer pork to a plate and set aside.
Sauce Mix (with drippings)
- Add water, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste and remaining 2 tablespoon of the light brown sugar (add optional honey, if desired) to the drippings in the frying pan, whisk or stir ingredients together to make a thin sauce. Transfer the sauce from frying pan into your slow cooker and add pork.
Cook, Pull & Serve
- Cook on low for eight hours, or on high for six hours.
- Once cooked, pull meat apart (add salt or pepper, to taste). Add your favorite barbecue sauce, then pan fry for a nice crispy texture on the edges of your pulled pork (optional).
Equipment You May Need
Video
Notes
- Optional things we like to add at times include pineapple juice, mustard, crushed red pepper flakes, and liquid smoke. Simply add what you like to customize the flavor!
- If desired, you can wrap your seasoned pork and let it sit in the fridge overnight to intensify the flavors. If you do this, I recommend taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking to bring it back to room temperature.
- You can definitely serve this pulled pork after it is done in the crockpot. However, if you like, you pan fry the shredded meat to make the edges nice and crispy!
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
MIKAEL says
Au top !!!