Our extended family gatherings have an unspoken rule of engagement: there will be barbecue. This Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is sweet, smoky, saucy, and inspired by the pulled pork sandwiches at one of our favorite local BBQ joints.
My sisters live in Kansas City, and whenever Ben and I come to visit, a stop for barbecue isnโt a suggestion. Itโs a direct order.
The competition is fierce and hotly debated between the top-rated spots.
Over the course of a few years, Iโve managed to try a pulled pork sandwich at every single one of them (all in the name of research of course).
My absolute favorite is made by a spot that operates out of a gas station (really!). Itโs melt-in-your-mouth tender, ultra smoky and savory, and topped with a crisp, creamy coleslaw that brightens it up.
Here in Milwaukee, pulled pork (and similarly, Crockpot BBQ Chicken) has become a go-to dish that I serve for gatherings.
Itโs an inexpensive way to feed a crowd, I can 100% prep it in advance, and any leftovers (ha!) are easy to portion, freeze, and can be used in a variety of ways from pulled pork tacos, to Pulled Pork Quesadillas, to even a power bowl.
Or do what Ben did the entire week I was fine tuning todayโs pulled pork and recording this Instant Pot Pulled Pork video AND making todayโs video (watch it below!): eat pulled pork sandwiches twice a day paired with Healthy Coleslaw and live your best life.
5 Star Review
“This was fantastic! I made it for dinner tonight and my 2 year old son (who eats NOTHING) had seconds! My husband asked if this can be a weekly staple!”
— Amanda —
How to Make The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This easy slow cooker pulled pork (like my Chile Verde Pork) cooks away all day almost entirely unattended.
Its flavor is spectacular, thanks to a slow cooker pulled pork BBQ sauce that will convince your friends that you are a meat whisperer.
- Instead of using bottled barbecue sauce or ketchup (both of which are usually loaded with corn syrup or similar sugar), I worked off of my easy homemade Barbecue Sauce.
- Itโs made with pantry spices, tomato paste, honey, and a dash of hot sauce for some kick.
- Combined with the porkโs own cooking juices, these ingredients make for a slow cooker pulled pork taste that is lightly smoky and rich, with just the right amount of vinegar to balance it and cut the fattiness of the pork.
Which Cut of Meat is Used for Pulled Pork
Long, slow cooking is best for fattier, tougher cuts of pork such as pork shoulder, which is the traditional choice.
Fat = flavor. The fat renders, the meat breaks down and becomes juicy, and your pork tastes delicious.
- Pork Shoulder. If you want meat so tender you can shred it with a spoon, slow cooker pork shoulder is the way to go. (Taste Instant Pot Carnitas and tell me I’m right!) Youโll also see this cut referred to as pork butt (which for all intents and purposes is the same thing).
- Pork Loin. Leaner than pork shoulder, it doesnโt make for pulled pork that is as juicy and tender, but it is usable in a pinch. Honestly, I do not love pork loin for crockpot pulled pork. I think youโll be disappointed. Try this Instant Pot Pulled Pork instead! It uses pork loin, and the Instant Pot traps enough moisture to keep the pork tasting juicy.
- Pork Tenderloin. DO NOT make slow cooker pork tenderloin. Just donโt. Itโs far too lean of a cut, will very likely taste dry, and the pork will be difficult to shred. Instead, try this lovely Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Mustard Pork Tenderloin, or Stuffed Pork Tenderloin.
The Ingredients
- Pork. The star of the show! For unparalleled juiciness and melt-in-your-mouth taste, make slow cooker pork shoulder. (See above for more info).
Tip!
You can put raw pork in the slow cooker, but it does need to be thawed first. If it isnโt, it can become unsafe to eat, because the pork will spend so much time at room temperature as it thaws.
- Onion. It breaks down so much youโll almost forget it’s there, but it works quietly in the background to make the pork taste more complex.
- Tomato Paste. Its concentrated flavor gives the sauce backbone.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. The acid helps cut and balance the richness of the pork.
- Honey + Brown Sugar. Some sweetness is essential for BBQ flavor (and a much better option than corn syrup!).
- Hot Sauce. Spicy to balance the sweet.
- Worcestershire Sauce. The umami ingredient.
- Liquid Smoke. Such a fun ingredient to use! (I love it for Instant Pot Ribs). It gives the pork an โI spent all day fussing over thisโ taste, with zero fuss at all. (If you prefer, you can omit it, but I think youโll be happy youโre your purchase.)
TIP!
Liquid smoke is inexpensive and available in the spice section of most major grocery stores or online here.
- Smoked Paprika + Garlic Powder + Mustard Powder. To make the sauce taste boss.
- Cornstarch. A slurry thickens up the porkโs own cooking juices and makes them a part of the sauce. You donโt lose a drop of goodness.
The Directions
- Add the the onion, tomato paste, vinegar, honey, and spices to the slow cooker.
- Whisk together.
- Season the pork with salt and pepper.
- Add the pork to the slow cooker and spoon the sauce all over the top.
- Cook pulled pork on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW for 8 to 10 hours.
- Remove the pork. Add the cornstarch slurry, stir, and cook for 20-30 minutes until it thickens.
- Shred the pork and stir it together with the thickened BBQ sauce. ENJOY!
TIP!
For easy entertaining, let your guests serve themselves right out of the slow cooker. Like this Italian Beef, people can make sandwiches to their preferences (no bun, extra slaw, etc.), and youโll have your hands free to enjoy the gathering.
What to Serve With Pulled Pork
- Easy Baked Beans. CLASSIC with barbecue.
- Slaw. The Picnic Slaw in The Well Plated Cookbook is fresh and fabulous.
- Grilled Vegetables. Perfect for a summer meal! Grilled Corn Salad would be a popular choice. For some green, try Grilled Asparagus or Grilled Brussels Sprouts.
- Sweet Potato Salad. A unique and scrumptious cookout classic. Plus, bacon!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftover pulled pork for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm over the stovetop or in the microwave, with a splash of water or chicken broth to keep the pork from becoming too thick or dry.
- To Freeze. Portion the pork into freezer safe containers of your desired size. Freeze for up to 3 months (Iโve gone even longer). Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Meal Prep Tip
Pulled pork reheats beautifully! You can make the shredded pork up to 1 day in advance. Reheat it in the crockpot with a splash of water or broth added to thin the sauce as needed.
Leftover Ideas
Pulled pork is delish for more than sandwiches!
- Tuck it into tortillas for pulled pork tacos or a Pulled Pork Quesadilla.
- Enjoy it over a salad (this BLT Chopped Salad would be delish).
- Swap it for the chicken in these Chipotle Burrito Bowls.
- Turn it into a breakfast hash with these Cauliflower Hash Browns and a fried egg.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Glass Mixing Bowls. Stackable, durable, and microwave-safe.
- Magnetic Measuring Spoons. So easy to keep organized in your kitchen drawer.
- Whisk. Smaller size for easier storage and less splashing when mixing.
The Best Slow Cooker
This 6-quart crock pot has an easily programmable timer and a locking lid for transporting meals on the go.
Keep this crockpot pulled pork recipe handy. Once you try it, I suspect it will become a go-to in your family too!
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Video
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Ingredients
FOR THE PULLED PORK:
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons mustard powder
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha or hot sauce of choice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional for the pork
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke optional but super good
- 1 3-to 4-pound boneless pork shoulder or pork butt
- Ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch plus 3 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry
FOR SERVING:
- Buns
- Healthy Coleslaw
- Pickles
Instructions
- In the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, whisk together the onion, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, honey, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, garlic powder, mustard powder, sriracha, 1 teaspoon salt, and liquid smoke (if using), until smoothly combined.
- Salt the pork all over with a generous amount of kosher salt and ground pepper.
- Add the pork to the slow cooker and spoon the sauce all over the top to cover it.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW for 8 to 10 hours, until the pork is fall-apart tender. Transfer the pork to a large bowl, leaving the cooking liquid in the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry. Pour into the slow cooker, then whisk to combine. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH, whisking every so often, until the sauce is thickened to your liking, about 20 to 30 minutes.
- While the sauce thickens, shred the pork with two forks or, if it is cool enough to handle, with your fingers.
- Stir the shredded pork back into the thickened sauce in the slow cooker. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired (you may need an extra pinch of salt or some additional hot sauce if you enjoy a kick). Spoon pork on top of buns with coleslaw and pickles to create a sandwich, or serve it any way you like.
Notes
- TO STORE. Refrigerate leftover pulled pork for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT. Rewarm over the stovetop or in the microwave, with a splash of water or chicken broth to keep the pork from becoming too thick or dry.
- TO FREEZE. Portion the pork into freezer safe containers of your desired size. Freeze for up to 3 months (Iโve gone even longer). Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
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Pork is so versatile, so you can do so much with different cuts and preparations. Here are some of my favorite pork recipes:
What a great recipe Erin, I can easily see this being one of my husband’s new favorite dishes. Thanks!
Teehee… I’m glad you said it would prob work to lure woman and animals too. The title alone had me plotting ways to get an invitation to yours for dinner. Really need to figure out that Beam me up Scotty thing!
Extra brownie points to you making sure hubby is fed and watered. What a treat. Great recipe, can’t wait to try.
This was fantastic! I made it for dinner tonight and my 2 year old son (who eats NOTHING) had seconds!!! I made regular cornbread and piled the pork on top and it was delish! My husband said “Can this be a weekly staple!?”
Amanda, I can say enough how happy comments like these make me! I’m thrilled to pieces that your family loved this meal, and honored that you gave the recipe a try! Thanks for letting me know and have a wonderful evening. Enjoy the leftovers, if you have any :-)
Despite my best intentions, the first meal my fiancรฉ and I shared in the house he just bought was from Panda Express. But this was the second meal, and it MORE than made up for it. Thanks so much for the idea!
Jessica!!! I’m so excited you guys liked this and totally honored that it was the first home cooked meal to come out of your new kitchen. Thanks so much for letting me know (and enjoy any leftovers
I found your blog by accident and I must say I can read it all day long, unfortunately not while I’m at work….
Have you tried this recipe with other proteins? I’m not a huge fan of pork, but I’m wondering how the flavors would work with chicken? Any thoughts? My husband loves pork though, so I might just have to make this for him anyway ;)ย
Hi Courtney! I haven’t, but I think that chicken thighs would be a great substitution. You will likely have to adjust the cooking time, but the flavor should be tasty!
I made this for dinner last night. ย Everyone seemed to like it for the most part but we all agreed the amount of added salt is a bit much. ย Next time I’ll add less. ย It was my first time doing pork loin and I should have monitor it’s progress closer ย as it cooked a bit long and was tougher than I hoped. ย But I will ย definitely try again. ย Instead of pancakes, ย I made regular cornbread to top with the pulled pork.ย
Hi Amy! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and for the feedback. I’m glad you liked it enough to give it another shot, and serving it with corn bread sounds fabulous!
We are North Carolina barbecue lovers, but this recipie had us from the word “go.” Funny that you originally served it with roasted veggie; we served it on a bed of roasted cauliflower and broccoli, and loved it. Thanks for making our cold winter Sunday so special.
I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was perfect for your Sunday meal, Jeff! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. :)
This looks tasty! Would pork tenderloin work with this recipe? Also, the pancakes in the photo are on a sheet pan but you made them on a griddle?
Hi Lisa! I recommend using pork shoulder (or at least pork loin) for this recipe, as pork tenderloin can very quickly overcook and become tough. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Made this for a lake weekend and it was PERFECT. Everyone loved it and it was so easy to reheat leftovers. Flavor is spot on. Thanks!
So happy to hear, Janie! Thank you for this kind review!
Hi. Iโm not the best cook so I follow recipes to the T. Where does the shirasha come into play? Itโs in the ingredient list but not the directions.
Thanks!
Jennifer.
Hi Jennifer! Oops, I will get that fixed. It goes in the first step with the other ingredients. Hope you enjoy it!
Do you remember how much your pork shoulder weighed?
Hi Hannah! It should weigh about 3-4 pounds. Hope you enjoy it!