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)
hi I was wondering if its best to cook on the bone or not?
Hi Charmaine! I’ve done both with this recipe, and although the bone-in version might have slightly more flavor, I’ve never noticed much of an overall difference, so I’d go with whichever you prefer!
Hi there I’m new to slow cooking – can you please tell me if I take the find off the pork shoulder before putting all the spices on ?
Hi Simone! When making in the slow cooker, I go ahead and remove any netting and trim off any excess or tough fat around the edges.
Delicious! I made this for my boyfriend and me to give it a try before we serve it for a family party. We tried it on Hawaiian buns and wrapped in lettuce leaves. The lettuce leaves were awesome! Thank you for an all time favorite.
That sound perfect! Thanks Micki!
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Hi Rosie! I’m so sorry that happened to you!! Were you on a mobile device? Even though we watch like a hawk, sometimes those spammy ads sneak their way in before we can get them shut down. It actually has nothing to do with my Amazon affiliate program, as what happened to you is of no benefit to me or my site and is just as frustrating for me as it is for you when it happens. I am following up on this and hopefully will get them taken care of for good. Thanks for letting me know!
Hello Jennifer –
I just wanted to follow up and let you know that I made about 25 pounds of this (in batches) for our graduation party. I froze 5lb increments in freezer bags. Thawed out and reheated gently in the roaster… turned out wonderfully! Thank you!
Hooray! Thanks for letting me know!
Hi Jennifer,
This was so good! I only had 1 lb of pork butt so just used half the ingredients, it was actually perfect for only 2 people. My husband said it was the best pulled pork I’ve ever made. Will definitely be making this again.
I’m so glad you liked it Anne! And, good to know it works in smaller portions too!
I tried this and really didn’t like it….the pork was just SO plain. I hope others find it to work out better than I did!!
Hi Jade! Thanks for the feedback. People seem to love this one, I’ll bet you’d just prefer a much spicer pork. I also have a Caribbean Jerk Pulled Pork but you may want to add some extra spice to that one as well.
I’ve actually made this twice now, and added a bit of honey bbq sauce at the very end for some extra liquid and flavor; maybe something like that would help you, Jade? 🙂 I can’t do anything spicy so I went with honey bbq, but maybe a spicier sauce would be perfect for you!
I really REALLY liked the result. It was delicious !!! My kids, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We added once it was cooked some BBQ sauce but it wasn’t necessary as the meat was delicious as is … we’ll do it again for sure !! Next time we’ll have some friends over so they can enjoy that too !!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sebster! It’s a family favorite of ours as well! Thanks for trying it!
Hello…What type of rolls or crusty buns do you serve your pulled pork on?
Also, what sides do you typically serve with pulled pork sandwiches? Thank you,
It kind of depends but especially if I’m serving a crowd I like to set out some small slider buns, some hard rolls and some soft homestyle hamburger buns for a good variety. I prefer the sliders myself. It’s also a treat on Hawaiian Rolls.
I have pork tenderloin at the moment. Can I use it for this recipe? If so, what alterations, if any would you suggest?
Yes, I have several readers use a pork tenderloin or roast with great success and I don’t believe that made any adjustments.