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    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

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    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!!
    3.76 from 1110 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
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jamie says

      January 26, 2021 at 9:38 am

      This is the best pulled pork! I love it just the way it is, but could this be done in an instant pot?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        February 14, 2021 at 1:11 pm

        yep! Here is the IP version.

        Reply
    2. Brenda Hartman says

      January 15, 2021 at 10:03 pm

      Do the left overs freeze well?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        January 15, 2021 at 10:30 pm

        Yes they do!! Double wrap to protect from freezer burn.

        Reply
    3. Terri says

      January 03, 2021 at 8:06 pm

      We absolutely love this recipe. Makes great tacos too! I will never use any other recipe for pulled pork.

      Reply
    4. Rich says

      December 16, 2020 at 10:11 pm

      I do this recipe every year for a work party and the guys love it! Most of them have said it’s the best pulled pork they have ever had!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        January 06, 2021 at 8:04 am

        Yay!

        Reply
    5. Will says

      December 12, 2020 at 10:19 am

      How long would you cook on high if you are in a time crunch?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        January 06, 2021 at 8:06 am

        I don't really recommend it for this recipe, but you could start it on high for the first 2 hours then switch to low and that might cut off a little time.

        Reply
    6. Monique Rose says

      November 08, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      Hi, looking forward to trying this recipe for the first time tomorrow night. I have a 7lb pork shoulder. How much longer do I have to cook it in the crockpot?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 09, 2020 at 11:02 am

        Hi Monique! I would try to cut it into smaller pieces, otherwise it might cook unevenly. How long it will take will depend on several things, but I'd start it on high for a couple of hours then switch to low. It's don't when it reaches an internal temp of 205 degrees F.

        Reply
        • Laura says

          December 12, 2020 at 7:53 am

          This is a great recipe! Thank you for sharing. If my pork shoulder is double the size, do I double all the ingredients? Thank you!

          Reply
          • Jennifer says

            January 06, 2021 at 8:06 am

            yep I would double

            Reply
    7. Fleur says

      October 25, 2020 at 8:33 pm

      Does the vinegar taste through the recipe my grandson's friend made a pulled pork recipe and all I could taste was the vinegar

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        October 26, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        I've never noticed a vinegar flavor and have never gotten any feedback that it's been an issue.

        Reply
    8. Ornella says

      September 29, 2020 at 5:18 pm

      Hello, do you leave the pork rind on the roast when you make this recipe or do you take it off?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        October 04, 2020 at 8:45 pm

        Do you mean like the netting? I took it off.

        Reply
      • David says

        April 05, 2021 at 12:28 am

        The rind is the skin. From the images it appears the rind has been removed, is that correct?

        Reply
    9. Vickie Griffin says

      August 14, 2020 at 4:32 pm

      Jennifer, if I cut the ingredients to half for the 2.38 pound pork shoulder do I keep the apple cider vinegar and water the same amount or cut that in half also? The cooker I have is a large one not sure what size but I'm worried about the liquid content and the cook temperature and time. Sorry not an very experienced cooker.

      Reply
    10. Sue Wilson says

      June 19, 2020 at 1:51 pm

      This has been my go to recipe for Pulled Pork for years. Every time I take it to share, I get asked for the recipe. I do not use any of the brown sugar though as I do not care to add sugar unless it's necessary for the recipe, and this one is fine without it.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        June 21, 2020 at 9:37 pm

        Thank you so much for sharing Sue! I'm so glad you love it and it's good to know it works well without the sugar!

        Reply
        • Jessica Lapinski says

          June 29, 2020 at 1:34 pm

          Will regular vinegar work?

          Reply
          • Jennifer says

            July 03, 2020 at 7:17 am

            If you use regular vinegar I suggest reducing by half as it's much stronger with a different flavor profile.

            Reply
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    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
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    As seen on...

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    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!

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