• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Slow Cooker Gourmet

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Find a Recipe
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker Recipes » Pork Recipes » The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    Published: Aug 10, 2018 · Modified: Mar 22, 2021 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links

    The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    270556 shares
    • Facebook3767
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    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.pulled pork sandwich on a black plate with a gray checked napkin in the background

    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!

    glass bowl of spice blend for slow cooker pulled pork

    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:

    pork shoulder rubbed with spices in a slow cooker to make slow cooker pulled pork

    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.

    pulled pork in a black slow cookerA 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.pork shredded in a slow cooker with the pulled pork shredder claws

    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
    pulled pork sandwich on a plate

    The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

    Jennifer Draper
    How to make the best slow cooker pulled pork! The perfect homemade spice blend makes it great for sandwiches, tacos and more!!
    3.74 from 1100 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 8 hrs
    Total Time 8 hrs 15 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 150 kcal

    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
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • ¾ cup water

    Instructions
     

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

    Notes

    • Add extra kick:  save a bit (don't overdo it) of seasoning and toss it with cooked pulled pork.
    • For brown, crispy ends, put shredded meat on foil lined baking sheet and broil for a couple of minutes in the oven (watch carefully!)
    • Shred meat with 2 forks, potato masher, shredder claws, or electric mixer.
    • If meat is difficult to shred, it's not done yet. Put it back in the slow cooker for a bit longer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 18gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 266mgPotassium: 351mgSugar: 2gVitamin A: 650IUVitamin C: 0.8mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @slowcookergourmet or tag #slowcookergourmet!
    Important nutritional disclaimer

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

    pulled pork sandwich on bun on black plateUseful 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)

     

    « Slow Cooker Tailgate Chili
    Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes »
    270556 shares
    • Facebook3767
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. G says

      March 22, 2022 at 8:39 am

      Excited to try this! I’d like to serve this for a lunch party. Can it cook all night or what’s the longest you’ve cooked the pork before?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        April 11, 2022 at 10:01 am

        Yes, it can cook all night on low.

        Reply
    2. April says

      March 09, 2022 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      This was the best pulled pork I've ever made. I omitted the vinegar and did a cup of water because we are not vinegar fans. It was perfect and not mushy (I hate mushy bbq) I kept it in my slow cooker on warm and added back juices as needed since we eat at different times. 😋

      Reply
    3. Peri says

      February 04, 2022 at 11:12 am

      5 stars
      My quest for the perfect slow cooker pulled pork recipe is over!! This recipe checks all the boxes.

      Reply
    4. Cassie says

      January 20, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      Does the pork butt need to be covered in liquid, halfway or just a bit? I never get this right

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        January 26, 2022 at 5:30 pm

        It's ok for it not to be fully covered. When possible, I'll flip it the last couple hours of cooking.

        Reply
    5. Mike says

      August 02, 2021 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe!!

      Reply
    6. Bronwyn says

      June 21, 2021 at 5:52 am

      Is it possible to convert this to oven cooking. I don’t have a slow cooker or pressure cooker!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        June 21, 2021 at 4:42 pm

        Yes, although I don't have exact instructions as I've never tested it this way.

        Reply
      • Kris says

        July 22, 2021 at 8:00 am

        Absolutely!! But place it in an pan and wrap the pork in foil. On 375 for 6-8 hours if the bone in wait until the bone sticks out. If you go to get pull the bone and the meat doesn’t fall off right away. It’s not done.

        Reply
    7. Amber says

      June 16, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      So im making this tomorrow but my butt is 7lbs. What adjustments should i make

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        June 21, 2021 at 4:40 pm

        I would double the other ingredients.

        Reply
    8. Roselanni Van Leishout says

      June 06, 2021 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      My hubby and I found this recipe on pinterest a few years ago and it is our go to recipe now for pulled pork tacos. It is perfect! We fell in love with authentic Mexican tacos but its so expensive to go to the restaurant, and when we discovered this recipe it was perfect! We seriously eat this ALL THE TIME in a lot of different meals! Tacos, burritos, pulled pork sandwiches with bbq sauce, we even save some of the meat to throw in to ramen and its so flippen good. Its seriously our favorite recipe! We had never tried smoked paprika before this recipe either, and now it is a big staple in our house, haha. Thank you! I really need to try your other recipes, because if they are as good as this one I'll be in heaven.

      Reply
    9. FANNY says

      April 28, 2021 at 9:58 am

      IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPICES FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MEAT

      Reply
      • KB says

        May 31, 2021 at 7:27 am

        I didn't think so either. But I was surprised

        Reply
    10. Patty says

      February 05, 2021 at 2:49 pm

      Can you add barbecue sauce to this while cooking?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        February 14, 2021 at 1:08 pm

        Yes you can if you like. It will get fairly runny, so I prefer adding to serving.

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I love creating fresh recipes that are quick and simple to make so that I can help you get dinner on the table without the fuss!

    More about me →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
    • Slow Cooker Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
    • Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

    As seen on...

    Simple Seasoning Blends

    Make these simple homemade seasoning blends using spices you probably have on hand! Use their amazing flavors in many of my delicious and easy recipes!

    • The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning
    • Ranch Seasoning
    • Curry Seasoning
    • Homemade Cajun Seasoning

    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I love creating fresh recipes that are quick and simple to make so that I can help you get dinner on the table without the fuss!

    More about me →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
    • Slow Cooker Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
    • Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

    As seen on...

    Simple Seasoning Blends

    Make these simple homemade seasoning blends using spices you probably have on hand! Use their amazing flavors in many of my delicious and easy recipes!

    • Chili Seasoning Recipe
    • Moroccan Spice Blend
    • Homemade Seasoning Blends

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Nutrition Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 My Gourmet Creations, LLC by Spark Media Concepts, LLC

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    270556 shares
    • 3767