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.
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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!
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:
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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:
Make sure to save the leftovers for Easy Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese.
The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
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
- 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
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)
This recipe is amazing!!! My hubby typically uses a smoker to make pilled pork and this crock pot recipe is absolutely the best alternative to smoking the meat. I used smoked sea salt and it gave it that hint of smoked flavor and I also added a teaspoon of ground mustard. Otherwise followed the recipe. Thank you for this!! Will definitely be making again!!!
Hi Kerri! Thanks so much for this, it makes me so happy! We worked really hard on developing this recipe and we love it too!
This recipe sounds great! I’m embarrassed to ask this but I have Frozen pork loin chops in the freezer. Would these work for this recipe? Thanks in advance!
Hi Abby! While you could certainly use the seasonings and make some delicious pork chops, in order to make pulled pork you will need to use a pork shoulder that will shred after cooked 🙂
If I’m cooking 14 lbs. of pork would I need to lengthen the cooking time?
Perhaps. What size slow cooker are you using? I’m thinking that you should cut it into chunks that are a few inches each and maybe divide into two slow cookers? Then maybe 8-10 hours on low…
Hi – do you need to rotate the roast in the slow cooker or occasionally spoon the liquid over it, or just rub the seasoning on the meat and only let the bottom part sit in the vinegar and water? Thanks
Hi Janice! Good question!! I’m actually going to update this post with some notes as I’ve made it several times since then and have a few extra tips. It will be totally fine and totally delicious if you do nothing else just because there is moisture in the cooking process by having it in the slow cooker. However, if you cut it up into chunks so that more of it is sitting in the liquid, it will be that much easier to shred when it’s done.
Thanks for the quick reply – making it tomorrow and looking forward to yumminess!
does this recipe have a bar- b – que flavor to the pork? i’m having a bar b que meatball entree so not sure i want another bar b que selection. it doesn’t call for bar b que sauce so trying to decide. it does sound wonderful!
Hi Lori! It does have a bit of a smoky flavor and tends to go well with BBQ sauce.
Could I use white vinegar instead of apple cider will that make a big difference?
Hi Lori! Yes, it should be fine, however, I would reduce it by half as it will be more acidic than apple cider.
Hi
I’d love to try this recipe but substitute the sugar. Would maple syrup or honey work?
Thanks 🙂
Nicole
Hi Nicole! Yes, I think honey will work just fine. I would drizzle it over the pork after you put it in the slow cooker. Let me know how it turns out!
I’ve never cooked pork before and I’m so excited to try! At Trader Joe’s I could only find a 2 lb. pork roast. Will this cut work? Would you change the amount of act and spices? Thanks so much!!
*acv
Hi Molly! Pork shoulder (also called pork butt) works the best for pulled pork but you could either use the same seasonings and slice the pork roast or you may be able to shred the pork roast it may just take a little more elbow grease. Let me know how it turns out!
I like to make pulled pork quesadillas with my extra pulled pork. They go wild for it and it’s so easy.
Warm the wrap with a little butter, flip it in the pan then top with cheddar cheese, thinly sliced.
Then top with pulled pork, fold and serve with barbecue sauce for dipping.
I like to add avocado!
Sounds so delicious!
I’ve made this recipe twice in the last 2 weeks, that’s how much we like it! It was easy & perfect for a crowd. The flavor really comes out when I left it on warm past the 8 hours of initial cooking.
Thanks Lauren! So glad you like it!