The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

How to make The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork! Everyone is sure to love this amazing slow cooker pulled pork.  The perfect blend of spices make it tender and so flavorful.

How to make The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is a big claim but I can tell you I’ve tried a lot of pulled pork recipes and this one is at the top of my list!   So simple yet plenty of flavor!  This has been enjoyed as sandwiches, as tacos, as nachos and even just on it’s own.  Short of going through a major process of slow smoking the meat, this slow cooker version will be your new favorite and the best go-to option for slow cooker pulled pork without all the work!  And it’s perfect for busy days when you need to have a meal for entertaining.  I’ve made this many times for many crowds, and it’s always gone by the end of the night.

This recipe has also been converted for those of you that love pressure cookers and it’s pretty amazing if I do say so myself!

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What makes this the best slow cooker pulled pork?

Just the right blend of spices (most you should have on hand) rubbed into a pork shoulder roast make for a flavorful meat that has a tiny bit of kick but is generally mild enough for even picky eaters.  Want some bold flavor? Up the spices to your liking… if you like spicy you can up the cayenne!!  And I love setting out several different types of BBQ sauce so that everyone can make their own flavor combos.

Check out my video showing you just how easy it is to make this slow cooker pulled pork recipe:

What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?

• pulled pork is generally made using pork shoulder
• there are two pieces to the shoulder usually available at the store – the butt and the picnic shoulder
• the first generally works the best, but I’ve had great results with the picnic shoulder too

What is also love is that…..

There is no need to brown anything up ahead of time which makes this a quick start meal.

How long do you cook pulled pork in a slow cooker?

Throw it in early in the day and let it slow cook for at least 8 hours (or even longer) for best results.

For meat like this to properly shred, it needs to reach an internal temperature of 205 degrees F.  It will seriously fall apart.  If your meat is hard to shred, it’s not done yet.

A little bit of apple cider vinegar goes in here too and it really does the trick to break down the meat to make it more tender plus gives it just the right zip of extra flavor.  I haven’t tested it another way, but I’m guessing apple juice would work well also.

A few of my favorite sides to serve up alongside this pulled pork are:

• Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Southwest Pasta Salad
• Grilled Baked Potatoes
• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

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The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

8 hrs

Total Time

8 hrs 15 mins

 

How to make the best slow cooker pulled pork! The perfect homemade spice blend makes it great for sandwiches, tacos and more!!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12

Calories: 150 kcal

Author: Slow Cooker Gourmet

Ingredients

• 4 pound pork shoulder
• 2 tablespoons paprika (try smoked paprika for more of that smoked flavor)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup water

Instructions

1. Mix together all of the dried spices and rub into all sides of the pork
2. Place vinegar and water in bottom of slow cooker
3. Carefully add pork (so you don't wash off spices)
4. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours
5. Remove pork and shred (remove any large fatty pieces and discard)
6. Add juices from slow cooker as desired

Recipe Notes

Tip 1: Save a bit of seasoning and toss it with cooked pulled pork to add extra kick (but just a tad, you don't want to ruin the delicious flavors of the meat!)
Tip 2: If you want brown crispy ends you can put shredded meat on foil lined baking sheet and broil for a couple of minutes in the oven (watch carefully!)

Nutrition Facts

The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 61mg 20%

Sodium 266mg 11%

Potassium 351mg 10%

Total Carbohydrates 3g 1%

Sugars 2g

Protein 18g 36%

Vitamin A 13%

Vitamin C 1%

Calcium 1.7%

Iron 7.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Click here to convert to Instant Pot.  Amazing Instant Pot Pulled Pork is everything it claims to be! Amazing!

Useful tools for making this pulled pork include:

• pulled pork shredder claws
• meat thermometer (a great investment if you cook any types of meat, I use mine almost every day)